Analysis Of The Shoulder Shrug, By Zusak

After Liesel steals her second book she pulls it out and her father sees The Shoulder Shrug (Zusak 126). However, he tells her it will be their secret and he will not tell her mother (Zusak 126). Although her father will keep the secret, she is worried about the mayor's wife who saw her take the book (Zusak 132). Much to Liesel’s surprise, when she delivers the laundry to the major's wife doesn't scold her; instead the she allows Liesel to use her library (Zusak 134). Later Liesel finds out the mayor and his wife lost their son, probably, in World War I and she sees their grief (Zusak 145).

Rudy and Liesel continue with their friendship through becoming partners in crime (Zusak 149). They meet up with Arthur and Andy, and then the four of

them become a group of food thieves (Zusak 151). As they continue their crimes Liesel and Rudy confess to each other they feel guilty (Zusak 164) However, their thieving comes to a slow because Arthur, the main thief, moves away (Zusak 166).
The start of World War II is growing since Jews are beginning to be persecuted (Zusak 138). Back in World War I Liesel’s father, Hans was saved by a friend named Erik who taught Hans how to play the accordion and Eric was a Jew (Zusak 176). Erik died in the war, but had a son named Max (Zusak 179).Later Max’s family was separated from him because they were Jewish (Zusak 193). Luckily, his childhood friend, Walter, helped him by keeping him hidden (Zusak 184 and 190). However, Walter knows it won’t be long before the Nazis find them so Walter sends Max to Hans (Zusak 194-195).
Although Hans has nothing against Jews he has attempted to join the Nazi Party (Zusak 183). Later he sees the terrible things people are doing to Jews people and demands to be put off the joining list (Zusak 182). Max goes to Hans’s house and asks if plays the accordion in which Hans says yes (Zusak 185). The playing of the accordion indicates to Max that Hans is the same man who was his father’s friend, soon after Hans says yes Max enters Hans’s house (Zusak 185). Rosa also accepts Max in to the house, but they both know the dangers of having a Jew in their home (Zusak 198). Hans later explains to Liesel she must not tell anyone that Max is living with them and he explains the unfortunate consequences if people find out (Zusak 203).
After Max scares Liesel by being in her room he stays in the basement (Zusak 206-207). Liesel continues to notice that Max living there makes her parents tense because of the dangers of having a Jew in their house (Zusak 211). After avoiding Max because of her initial fright, she and Max begin to bond over books and their nightmares about their sad past (Zusak 217-220). As the pages continue Liesel turns twelve and gets a book called The Mud Men (Zusak 221-222). Later that night for her birthday Max gives her a short story he made for Liesel (Zusak 223-237). After that her and Max's friendship truly begin (Zusak 238).