Why does Hans hide Max in his basement?

To honor a debt to Max's father

Book Thief Accordion Quiz: Hans Hubermann's Music

This book thief accordion quiz squeezes out a tune in a basement during wartime. Play 10 interactive questions on Markus Zusak's 2005 novel narrated by Death, Liesel on Himmel Street in Molching, foster father Hans Hubermann, the accordion that belonged to Erik Vandenburg, a promise that leads Hans to hide Max, reading lessons at night and music during air raids.

Start Book Thief Accordion Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Author
Who wrote The Book Thief?
Narr
Who narrates The Book Thief?
Girl
Who is the book thief?
Street
On which street does Liesel live?
Hans
What instrument does Hans Hubermann play?
Owner
Who originally owned the accordion?
Debt
Why does Hans hide Max in his basement?
Read
What does Hans teach Liesel at night?
Raid
When does accordion music comfort people?
Job
What is Hans's trade?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Who wrote The Book Thief?
Answer: Markus Zusak
Published in 2005.
Q2: Who narrates The Book Thief?
Answer: Death
An unusual narrator.
Q3: Who is the book thief?
Answer: Liesel Meminger
A foster child.
Q4: On which street does Liesel live?
Answer: Himmel Street
In Molching.
Q5: What instrument does Hans Hubermann play?
Answer: The accordion
Warm and comforting.
Q6: Who originally owned the accordion?
Answer: Erik Vandenburg
A soldier who saved Hans.
Q7: Why does Hans hide Max in his basement?
Answer: To honor a debt to Max's father
Erik saved his life.
Q8: What does Hans teach Liesel at night?
Answer: To read
After her nightmares.
Q9: When does accordion music comfort people?
Answer: During air raids
In shelters.
Q10: What is Hans's trade?
Answer: House painter
He also plays music for money.

Music, Memory and a Debt

Markus Zusak's The Book Thief, published in 2005 and narrated by Death, follows Liesel Meminger, a foster child living on Himmel Street in the town of Molching during the Second World War. Her foster father, Hans Hubermann, is a kind house painter who plays the accordion.

The accordion once belonged to Erik Vandenburg, a Jewish soldier who saved Hans's life in the First World War. Honoring that debt, Hans hides Erik's son Max in his basement, at great risk.

When Liesel has nightmares, Hans sits with her and teaches her to read. His accordion music brings warmth to the household and comfort to neighbors in air-raid shelters, making the instrument a symbol of kindness, memory and courage.

What This Quiz Teaches

Book fans will enjoy these questions.

Who wrote the novel
Who narrates it
Who owned the accordion
Why Max is hidden
What the music means

Did You Know?

Rosa Hubermann is gruff but loving.
Rudy Steiner is Liesel's best friend.
Liesel steals books throughout.
Max writes a book for Liesel.
A 2013 film adapted the novel.