The Book Thief Chapter 44 Summary

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).