Contents
Chapter 79 - The Rib-Cage Planes
Overview
Liesel commits to writing her life in the basement, sustained by nightly sessions and Hans’s accordion. Amid recurring air raids, she nearly completes her book by October 2. Death foreshadows an imminent bombing of Himmel Street and reveals Liesel’s final line, signaling approaching tragedy and the power—and burden—of words.
Summary
Liesel begins writing her memoir in the Hubermanns’ basement, pushing through soreness to complete eleven pages the first night. Rosa discovers her there and orders her upstairs soon, but Liesel returns nightly, carrying the book everywhere and aiming for ten pages a night to capture her life.
As she writes, Hans often plays the accordion nearby, and Liesel reflects on his music as breath and solace, likening Hans to an accordion. Her manuscript grows, mixing past events and present moments in the basement.
After ten nights, Munich is bombed again. Liesel, asleep downstairs with her book, is woken by Hans, and together they bring Frau Holtzapfel to the shelter. Memories surface of Rudy retrieving a book from the icy river and asking for a kiss, anchoring the story in her closest relationships.
By October 2, Liesel has nearly finished, leaving only a few blank pages. She structures the book into ten parts titled after influential books and stories. Death then shifts the focus forward five nights, foreshadowing the bombing run over Himmel Street and imagining Liesel rereading her words amid Max’s painted images and an imagined Führer descending the steps.
The chapter closes with Liesel’s final line—“I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right”—as the world outside whistles and the rain runs stained, signaling the bombs already on their way.
Who Appears
- Liesel MemingerWrites her memoir nightly in the basement, nearly finishing by October 2 as raids recur.
- Hans HubermannSupports Liesel; plays the accordion as she writes; wakes her and fetches Frau Holtzapfel during a raid.
- Rosa HubermannFinds Liesel writing in the basement and prods her back upstairs, gruff but watchful.
- DeathNarrator; foreshadows the imminent bombing and presents Liesel’s final line.
- Rudy SteinerAppears in Liesel’s recollection of rescuing a book from the river and asking for a kiss.
- Frau HoltzapfelBrought to the shelter by the Hubermanns during an air raid.
- Max VandenburgAbsent but present in Liesel’s mind through his basement paintings and memories.
- Adolf Hitler (imagined)Figures in Liesel’s vision, descending the basement steps as she rereads her words.