Maus II is the sequel to Maus I, which begins with Vladek later in his life getting divorced from his second wife Mala. Vladek eventually dies in the novel. The book has two separate plots, one which takes place at the time Art Spiegelman is writing the novel, and another which takes place with Vladek and Anja trying to survive their time at Auschwitz. It shows how Vladek uses his wits to escape death for himself, his friends, and his wife at the camps.