The Book Thief Chapter 44

The Floating Book, Part 2

• In December, Rudy finally gets a win!
• Rudy and Liesel are walking in the afternoon, and they see Franz.
• They move quickly to the river so he doesn't see them.
• But, they run into Viktor Chemmel the leader of the fruit-stealing gang.
• He stops them and takes The Whistler away from Liesel.
• She tells Viktor she doesn't care about the book. She's "already read it" (44.21).
• It's a lie, and Viktor can instantly see how much she wants it.
• He throws the book into the Amper River.
• Rudy and Liesel run along the river until they see the book.
• Rudy jumps in and saves the book.
• Go Rudy! Finally a win!
• He asks for a kiss.
• Death says, "He must have loved her so incredibly hard. So hard that he would never ask for her lips again and would go to his grave without them" (44.42).