Page 302 - The Book Thief

THE SNOWMAN

For Liesel Meminger, the early stages of 1942 could be summed up like this:

She became thirteen years of age. Her chest was still flat. She had not yet bled.
The young man from her basement was now in her bed.

Q&A
How did Max
Vandenburg end up
in Liesels bed?
He fell.

Opinions varied, but Rosa Hubermann claimed that the seeds were sown at

Christmas the previous year.

December 24 had been hungry and cold, but there was a major bonusno lengthy
visitations. Hans Junior was simultaneously shooting at Russians and
maintaining his strike on family interaction. Trudy could only stop by on the
weekend before Christmas, for a few hours. She was going away with her family
of employment. A holiday for a very different class of Germany.

On Christmas Eve, Liesel brought down a double handful of snow as a present
for Max. Close your eyes, shed said. Hold out your hands. As soon as the snow
was transferred, Max shivered and laughed, but he still didnt open his eyes. He
only gave the snow a quick taste, allowing it to sink into his lips.

Is this todays weather report?

Liesel stood next to him.

Gently, she touched his arm.