Discuss some of the different ways in which Liesel and Max are “held together by the quiet gathering of words”

Liesel and Max are soulmates. Words are how their souls communicate. They are both orphans sharing a similar nightmare. They share nightmares as their first discussion together. Max has left his family and Liesel has lost her brother. Sharing their misfortunes the two become connected through sharing their souls and the printed word. Liesel teaches Max that he can express his scrappy personality through words and Max teaches Liesel never to give up. Both these traits prove essential themes in the story.