Ilsa and Liesel are fellow survivors during a time of upheaval. Although they are not related to each other, they share an appreciation for books and the ideals of freedom. In short, Ilsa and Liesel are friends or even co-conspirators living in a nightmarish regime.

According to the text, Ilsa is actually a grieving mother. She has never gotten over the loss of her son, Johann Hermann, during World War One. Initially, Liesel considers Ilsa a self-induced sadist, one who embraces penitential suffering as a defense mechanism against grief. Struggling with her own grief, Liesel verbally attacks Ilsa.

She accuses Ilsa of being melodramatic, pathetic, and hypocritical after Rosa is fired. So, the friendship between Ilsa and Liesel is initially fraught with tension and distrust. Ilsa and Liesel understand that they must live within the dictates of the Nazi regime; however, both detest what the regime represents. They eventually come to the realization that they must process their grief in constructive ways or risk being destroyed by their anger. Both eventually find common ground, and their friendship allows them to heal from their painful pasts.

For her part, Ilsa does not retaliate against Liesel's initial rage; instead, she does her best to protect her young friend from the ever-present dangers in their war-torn world. It is Ilsa who gives Liesel a dictionary and thesaurus so that the latter can fully benefit from her reading. Even after Liesel destroys a book in her library, Ilsa forgives her. She tells her young friend not to become entrenched in negative emotions, especially the kind that destroys hope and enthusiasm for life. Later, after the death of Liesel's family, Ilsa takes the young girl in.

The friendship between Ilsa and Liesel is a conduit of healing for both.

What is the relationship between Hans and Liesel in The Book Thief?

Hans Hubermann is basically Liesel's foster father once her biological father is taken to a concentration camp for his communist sympathies. Hans takes this new role seriously. While Rosa can be rather harsh with Liesel, Hans is far gentler. He teaches the young girl how to read and write, an illustration of his strong belief in the importance of education. Hans is also a figure of integrity; while he could make his life easier if he officially joined the Nazi party, his moral standards do not align with theirs. He even hides a young Jewish man in his home. The only temptation the Nazi party provides is protection for his family, which is the center of Hans' world.

These qualities make Hans a role model for Liesel to follow. Liesel shares with him a strong sense of empathy for those in pain. Both are also courageous figures, risking their lives for their principles. Liesel's taking books from Nazi rally burnings is one such act. Also, just as Hans helps Liesel and Max out of the goodness of his heart, Liesel soon opts to help others through her public readings of books during the bombings, allowing the terrified townspeople to take their minds off the horror of their shared situation.