In the beginning of the novel, Death tells the reader, "I am often reminded of The Book Thief... I have kept her story to retell... to prove to me that you, and your human
existence, are worth it” (15). After reading the novel, why do you think the book thief's
story proves that human existence is "worth it?" Do you agree with Death's view of
humanity- why or why not?

The greatest gift the sumerians gave the world was the invention of writing. the sumerians were a wealthy people. they needed some way to keep track of what they owned. they began drawing pictures. they used a reed as a pen. they drew on soft pieces of clay. the soft clay was then dried in the sun. the tablet became a permanent record. later, the sumerian drawings changed into wedge-shaped symbols. this kind of writing is called cuneiform. by putting symbols together, the sumerians could write entire sentences.