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Operation Kinderspion #1
Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II
An instant New York Times bestseller!
“Max in the House of Spies is everything you could hope for in a book,” -R. J. Palacio, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wonder, White Bird, and Pony
“Espionage! Secrets! Suspense! If you’ve ever dreamed of being a spy, this book is for you.” -Alan Gratz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Refugee and Projekt 1065
Max Bretzfeld doesn’t want to move to London.
Leaving home is hard and Max is alone for the first time in his life. But not for long. Max is surprised to discover that he’s been joined by two unexpected traveling companions, one on each shoulder, a kobold and a dybbuk named Berg and Stein.
Germany is becoming more and more dangerous for Jewish families, but Max is determined to find a way back home, and back to his parents. He has a plan to return to Berlin. It merely involves accomplishing the becoming a British spy.
The first book in a duology, Max in the House of Spies is a thought-provoking World War II story as only acclaimed storyteller Adam Gidwitz can tell it—fast-paced and hilarious, with a dash of magic and a lot of heart.
“Max in the House of Spies is everything you could hope for in a book,” -R. J. Palacio, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wonder, White Bird, and Pony
“Espionage! Secrets! Suspense! If you’ve ever dreamed of being a spy, this book is for you.” -Alan Gratz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Refugee and Projekt 1065
Max Bretzfeld doesn’t want to move to London.
Leaving home is hard and Max is alone for the first time in his life. But not for long. Max is surprised to discover that he’s been joined by two unexpected traveling companions, one on each shoulder, a kobold and a dybbuk named Berg and Stein.
Germany is becoming more and more dangerous for Jewish families, but Max is determined to find a way back home, and back to his parents. He has a plan to return to Berlin. It merely involves accomplishing the becoming a British spy.
The first book in a duology, Max in the House of Spies is a thought-provoking World War II story as only acclaimed storyteller Adam Gidwitz can tell it—fast-paced and hilarious, with a dash of magic and a lot of heart.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2024
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5301 people want to read
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Adam Gidwitz
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 414 reviews
January 19, 2024
A lot of children’s librarians started out as English majors. I’m not surprising anyone with this information, of course. And I’m no different than anyone else. When I was in college I dutifully went through my paces, learning such extraordinary new English terms as phallocentric patriarchy, post-colonial literature, magical realism, and more. That last one, magical realism, was the one that tended to flummox me. What precisely did it mean? I understood the definition you can now find on Wikipedia these days (portraying, “fantastical events in an otherwise realistic tone”) but where did the line fall between what was fantasy and what was magical realism? As I grew up and became a children’s librarian, this question followed me. I discovered that while most books for kids fall squarely into that “Fantasy” genre, there is the odd, occasional exception. Max in the House of Spies is an almost perfect example. Here we have WWII spy antics, hungry kangaroos, and a hero determined against all odds to help his parents, even if that means fooling Nazis. It also has two immortal creatures clinging to our hero’s shoulders, like a Greek chorus consisting entirely of a pint-sized Statler and Waldorf. I doubt anyone would disagree with me that this book is a fine example of magical realism. The real question then becomes, did it have to be?
Max is not happy. He’s an unwilling Kindertransport refugee, having been sent from Germany by his loving parents to London to stay with whatever family will take him in. Max is Jewish and separated now from his mother and father he’s incredibly worried. Those two are the people Max had sworn to protect (even though he’s just a kid himself). Vowing to find some way to return, Max is soon to discover that the family that has taken him in has distinct connections to Britain’s intelligence agencies. Now Max has a new goal: Become a spy for the British so that he can be sent back to Germany as soon as possible. Oh. And one more thing. He has two immortal creatures, a dybbuk named Stein and a kobold named Berg, permanently stuck to his shoulders for, potentially, the rest of his life. What could go wrong?
Now Adam Gidwitz isn’t being easy on himself when writing this book. He could easily have gone a sloppier route and written something relatively formless in the vein of the Spy School series n’ such. Instead, he’s willing to grapple with enough complexity to feel authentic, but not so much he loses his child readers along the way. Take, for example, the degree to which the adults are on board with Max’s plan to become an Allied spy against Germany. Each responsible adult in the book is vehemently opposed to this plan. Not only is this more believable, but it also makes each one of those adults more inherently sympathetic. No mean task! Then there are the other complications. Gidwitz gets amazingly complicated in the character of Uncle Ivor, a defiant communist at a time when Stalin was not in favor in England. I liked very much the different aspects of his character. Finally, Adam takes time to acknowledge that while fighting Nazis (a downright heroic thing to do) the English also had their own fair number of anti-Semites and history of colonialism to contend with. Two characters in the book, Max’s schoolmate Harold, whose family hails from India, and Sergeant Toby Thompson from Trinidad (with ample time taken to explain the Trinidadian Revolution) don’t get much page time, but when they do appear they are three-dimensional characters quick to puncture any glorified idealism you might have about England itself. It’s a bold choice for any writer, but Gidwitz makes it work.
I like spies, sure, but my favorite genre for kids can pretty much be summed up as “clever kids being clever”. Max certainly falls into that category, since time and again Gidwitz makes sure that the reader can see Max outsmarting bullies of various shapes and sizes. Honestly, I’ve been trying to think of Max’s literary predecessors in this respect. Which is to say, seemingly powerless kids that through wit, cunning, and/or sheer audacious intelligence keep wicked adults on the ropes. Peter Pan, alas, fits the bill and so do Maniac Magee and Styx Malone. It’s interesting, but normally this kind of character is met secondhand. The narrator will be a veritable Nick Carraway to their Gatsbys. Gidwitz, in contrast, makes Max our hero and doesn’t separate from him. How does he make that work? Enter the dybbuk and the kobol.
So my current working theory about Stein and Berg is that they serve as one of the few methods Gidwitz has at his disposal to enter the mind of his hero. Since Max travels on his own to England, he has no friend or close companion to confide in. The closest thing he has are these two spirits. But really, more than anything else they’re stand-ins for the child readers. When Max does something we don’t understand, the spirits kvetch to an amazing degree. They spell out what we, the readers, are thinking ourselves. But this begs the obvious question: Are they necessary?
I wrestled with this very question for a while with this book. As far as I was concerned, Gidwitz has conjured up a cracking good spy thriller. Granted it’s clearly the first in a series (it ends just as he enters Germany again) but the spy lessons that Max has to participate in are sublime. I’ll be honest and tell you that though maybe Berg and Stein fulfill some greater purpose in future titles involving Max, here they could come right out. Oh sure, there is admittedly a moment near the end where one of the spirits proves its usefulness to Max on his current trajectory. This moment is foreshadowed earlier in the book when Max is asking the spirits to tell him a piece of information he couldn’t possibly know, so that he can verify it and know that he isn’t going mad. But beyond that, the only other reason I could imagine Gidwitz included them was to say something about a spirit of Germany that preceded the Germans, and had a magic of its own. Who’s to say? All I can note is that if they bug you, don’t worry. Stick with the book. Like Max, you’ll find them easy enough to ignore over time.
Without a doubt, Max’s training sequences in this book are the best of the best. Bar none, my favorite parts to read. And if you glimpse the backmatter included in this book, you’ll see the author did his homework in this regard. It ends far too soon, but that just means kids will be clambering for more when a sequel is produced. And who knows? Maybe they’ll like the kobold and dybbuk more than I did. Gidwitz appears to be having fun with this book, and a writer who knows how to have fun is a writer who knows how to get kids to have fun reading their books. Fun, fact-filled, exciting, and unafraid to ask the tough questions, dip deep into this one when you can. Then get ready to want to read the next one immediately.
Max is not happy. He’s an unwilling Kindertransport refugee, having been sent from Germany by his loving parents to London to stay with whatever family will take him in. Max is Jewish and separated now from his mother and father he’s incredibly worried. Those two are the people Max had sworn to protect (even though he’s just a kid himself). Vowing to find some way to return, Max is soon to discover that the family that has taken him in has distinct connections to Britain’s intelligence agencies. Now Max has a new goal: Become a spy for the British so that he can be sent back to Germany as soon as possible. Oh. And one more thing. He has two immortal creatures, a dybbuk named Stein and a kobold named Berg, permanently stuck to his shoulders for, potentially, the rest of his life. What could go wrong?
Now Adam Gidwitz isn’t being easy on himself when writing this book. He could easily have gone a sloppier route and written something relatively formless in the vein of the Spy School series n’ such. Instead, he’s willing to grapple with enough complexity to feel authentic, but not so much he loses his child readers along the way. Take, for example, the degree to which the adults are on board with Max’s plan to become an Allied spy against Germany. Each responsible adult in the book is vehemently opposed to this plan. Not only is this more believable, but it also makes each one of those adults more inherently sympathetic. No mean task! Then there are the other complications. Gidwitz gets amazingly complicated in the character of Uncle Ivor, a defiant communist at a time when Stalin was not in favor in England. I liked very much the different aspects of his character. Finally, Adam takes time to acknowledge that while fighting Nazis (a downright heroic thing to do) the English also had their own fair number of anti-Semites and history of colonialism to contend with. Two characters in the book, Max’s schoolmate Harold, whose family hails from India, and Sergeant Toby Thompson from Trinidad (with ample time taken to explain the Trinidadian Revolution) don’t get much page time, but when they do appear they are three-dimensional characters quick to puncture any glorified idealism you might have about England itself. It’s a bold choice for any writer, but Gidwitz makes it work.
I like spies, sure, but my favorite genre for kids can pretty much be summed up as “clever kids being clever”. Max certainly falls into that category, since time and again Gidwitz makes sure that the reader can see Max outsmarting bullies of various shapes and sizes. Honestly, I’ve been trying to think of Max’s literary predecessors in this respect. Which is to say, seemingly powerless kids that through wit, cunning, and/or sheer audacious intelligence keep wicked adults on the ropes. Peter Pan, alas, fits the bill and so do Maniac Magee and Styx Malone. It’s interesting, but normally this kind of character is met secondhand. The narrator will be a veritable Nick Carraway to their Gatsbys. Gidwitz, in contrast, makes Max our hero and doesn’t separate from him. How does he make that work? Enter the dybbuk and the kobol.
So my current working theory about Stein and Berg is that they serve as one of the few methods Gidwitz has at his disposal to enter the mind of his hero. Since Max travels on his own to England, he has no friend or close companion to confide in. The closest thing he has are these two spirits. But really, more than anything else they’re stand-ins for the child readers. When Max does something we don’t understand, the spirits kvetch to an amazing degree. They spell out what we, the readers, are thinking ourselves. But this begs the obvious question: Are they necessary?
I wrestled with this very question for a while with this book. As far as I was concerned, Gidwitz has conjured up a cracking good spy thriller. Granted it’s clearly the first in a series (it ends just as he enters Germany again) but the spy lessons that Max has to participate in are sublime. I’ll be honest and tell you that though maybe Berg and Stein fulfill some greater purpose in future titles involving Max, here they could come right out. Oh sure, there is admittedly a moment near the end where one of the spirits proves its usefulness to Max on his current trajectory. This moment is foreshadowed earlier in the book when Max is asking the spirits to tell him a piece of information he couldn’t possibly know, so that he can verify it and know that he isn’t going mad. But beyond that, the only other reason I could imagine Gidwitz included them was to say something about a spirit of Germany that preceded the Germans, and had a magic of its own. Who’s to say? All I can note is that if they bug you, don’t worry. Stick with the book. Like Max, you’ll find them easy enough to ignore over time.
Without a doubt, Max’s training sequences in this book are the best of the best. Bar none, my favorite parts to read. And if you glimpse the backmatter included in this book, you’ll see the author did his homework in this regard. It ends far too soon, but that just means kids will be clambering for more when a sequel is produced. And who knows? Maybe they’ll like the kobold and dybbuk more than I did. Gidwitz appears to be having fun with this book, and a writer who knows how to have fun is a writer who knows how to get kids to have fun reading their books. Fun, fact-filled, exciting, and unafraid to ask the tough questions, dip deep into this one when you can. Then get ready to want to read the next one immediately.
November 12, 2023
4.5 Reviewed from ARC. The letter at the beginning of this book is key to framing it. This is an attempt to explore two questions: Why do Antisemites hate Jews? and How can a nation give itself over to a lie? Gidwitz does an amazing job of putting his investigation into a plot that is more adventurous than brooding. I appreciate that he avoids the binary of casting the Germans as evil and the British as virtuous egalitarians. British colonialism and bigotry are rife, and they are called out. He also does a credible job of working his way around the “adults wouldn’t let kids do that” pitfall of the juvenile spy genre. In part, this was accomplished because, as Uncle Ivor told Max, the individuals in power were all-too-willing to see people as tools and use them accordingly. Few people treated Max as a real person, rather than some sort of symbol. I’m not sure how much the dybbuk and kobold added to the story; they were wryly observant commentators but not active characters, which was a little disappointing. I’m still processing that ending, and I think I will be for a long time. The publisher information says gr. 3-7, but I do think that’s a disservice to the book and readers. Setting aside the horror and violence, very few third or fourth graders will have the background knowledge and appreciation of moral nuance to begin making sense of this complex story. Readers in grades 5-8 are likelier to find a haunting resonance.
March 5, 2024
I went into this book pretty blind because I love spy stories and middle grade books and this sounded like the perfect combination. Very early on we find out that the main character, Max, while being transported to England in 1939 against his wishes (because he's Jewish and his family's business has been closed following Kristallnacht) has two immortal creatures on his shoulders, a kobold and a dybbuk. The reader is given details about them, how they can talk to Max and he to them without anyone else hearing or seeing, but otherwise this book is straight historical fiction. It's quite an odd mashup and I spent the first 50 pages or so uncertain if it would work for me. Max is highly adaptable and his acceptance of Berg and Stein actually made it pretty easy for me to just accept them too.
I loved following Max as he navigates England. He's living with a Jewish family that is persecuted in different ways and he really struggles to find where he fits in. I don't want to tell too much about the actual spy portions of this story, but trust me when I say that Max proves that he is resourceful and clever, and that he is willing to risk all to try and get back to Germany and save his parents.
This has been set up as a duoology, which is quite possibly my favorite kind of series. It gives the reader a book of setup and a chance to get to know the characters, but ends with a cliff hanger, and instead of muddling through a middle book where not enough happens, we will (hopefully) pick back up with the action and speed to the finish line in book 2.
I think this is a book that will have wide appeal for middle graders and make for a great family read aloud on so many levels.
I've thought about this book nonstop since finishing. I think that its one I'll reread, probably before the second book releases, and might just bump it up to 5 stars.
I loved following Max as he navigates England. He's living with a Jewish family that is persecuted in different ways and he really struggles to find where he fits in. I don't want to tell too much about the actual spy portions of this story, but trust me when I say that Max proves that he is resourceful and clever, and that he is willing to risk all to try and get back to Germany and save his parents.
This has been set up as a duoology, which is quite possibly my favorite kind of series. It gives the reader a book of setup and a chance to get to know the characters, but ends with a cliff hanger, and instead of muddling through a middle book where not enough happens, we will (hopefully) pick back up with the action and speed to the finish line in book 2.
I think this is a book that will have wide appeal for middle graders and make for a great family read aloud on so many levels.
I've thought about this book nonstop since finishing. I think that its one I'll reread, probably before the second book releases, and might just bump it up to 5 stars.
April 18, 2024
"But Ewen is a slave to the stories he tells himself. I suppose everyone is, really."
Max said, "Huh?"
(...)
"We Brits tell ourselves stories like 'We are bringing Christian brotherhood to the world' while we enslave other human beings. We tell ourselves stories like 'We are bringing the masses freedom!'... while we get an entire continent addicted to opium. ... One of the worst crimes in history, if you ask me..."
Max asked. "Worst in history? Worse than the Nazis?"
"How do you compare crimes like that? I would hazard the Nazis are the worst, if you pressed me. The stories they tell are even more evil than the British ones. Most of the time..."
(...)
Max studied Uncle Ivor. ... A hundred thoughts drifted through Max's mind. About the stories we tell ourselves. And each other.
Another word for stories, Max thought, is lies.
"Do the English use propaganda?" Max wanted to know.
"We do," Ewen admitted. "We use it against the enemy, and we use it to rally our people, I admit. But it's to rally our people so we're not overrun by Nazi bombers and tanks! Not quite the same thing!"
(...)
Max said to Stein and Berg, "Is Ewen lying? About the way the English use propaganda?"
Stein replied, "In my experience, which spans all of human existence, you humans lie to everyone, all the time. Even yourselves."
Ewen continued, "...That's Hitler, mind you, not me. He goes on to say that it's the Jews who tell these big lies, whereas he will always tell the truth." Ewen's voice dripped with sarcasm when he said that. "But one thing to keep in mind, Max, is that a liar will always accuse his enemies of doing exactly what he himself is doing."
And Max thought, You mean like a British officer telling me that only the Nazis tell big lies?
I honestly didn't expect this book to do much for me. WWII is a subject that's been written about to Pluto and back, and while I'm not going to say that's a bad thing, I will say there's a level of numbness that comes from seeing it over and over. So I only picked this up because I have a friend who loves Gidwitz, and I got a copy of the book in a free giveaway at a local bookstore.
But this isn't a WWII book. Or rather, it's not just that. It's a story about the danger of the stories we tell ourselves. The violence, destruction, chaos, and despair that the human condition is willing and able to impose on another person. A whole group of people. The book takes the modern reader gently by the shoulders and goes "you know those stories you believe about yourself, your cause, your country? Are they true? Are they hiding something much darker? Are you comfortable with what lies beneath?" But it does it in such a way that it doesn't feel like historical characters are preaching to a modern audience, or even that historical characters hold modern sentiments. It feels real. It's authentic. It displays in gentle, powerful detail just how important stories are in the world. Both the true ones and the fictions. And especially the fictions.
And it's also a story about a clever refugee boy with two metaphysical beings living on his shoulders because that's just a fun time.
September 11, 2024
My earlier review disappeared. Suffice it to say, I'm on pins and needles waiting for the next book in the series. Belief needs to be suspended a bit that a twelve-year-old would be trained for a spy, but at some point I was all in, crazy kangaroos and all. The pages couldn't turn fast enough.
Popsugar24: #16 - A book set 24 years before you were born (1939)
52 Book Club: #19 - A buddy read (with Alyson)
Popsugar24: #16 - A book set 24 years before you were born (1939)
52 Book Club: #19 - A buddy read (with Alyson)
October 29, 2023
ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
True to Gidwitz's style of mixing historical occurences with fantasy elements. Purchase if his The inquisitor's tale, or, The three magical children and their holy dog is popular, and you want a similar treatment of WWII events.
True to Gidwitz's style of mixing historical occurences with fantasy elements. Purchase if his The inquisitor's tale, or, The three magical children and their holy dog is popular, and you want a similar treatment of WWII events.
April 7, 2024
My oldest and I loved this one. We can't wait to read book two!
March 4, 2024
I was RIVETED by this story. Spies and intrigue make for excellent reading, but even more so, I love that the author frames this story with a note at the beginning explaining that this is a book about asking and exploring two big questions - Why do people hate Jews? and How can a whole country believe a big lie? The author did a great job building a story that worked to enthrall readers while also getting them to ponder and think about these big questions.
Max is a great protagonist to follow - he is smart but makes some very questionable choices. Sent to England to England on the brink of war on the Kindertransport, he is worried about his parents back in Berlin. Fitting in in England is also a challenge. He is still learning the language and his accent makes him stand out. But as I said, he is a smart and determined kid, so he puts all of his efforts into finding a way to prove that he is a capable spy so the government will send him back to Berlin.
The adults in this book range in helpful to infuriating. Some want what is best for Max, while others, particularly those working for the government, see Max as nothing more than a useful tool in their mission to win the war.
Oh, and did I mention that there is a fantastical element? When Max leaves Germany, he doesn't leave alone - he is followed by two mythical beings: a kobold and a dybbuk. No one but Max can see or hear them, and they are a sort of Statler and Waldorf, heckling and commentating on everything that is happening to Max. They lend some comic relief to a very distressing and sometimes disturbing story.
And the cliffhanger at the end left me reeling! I need to know what happens next. I'm very much looking forward to the conclusion!
While this is a middle grade book, I think I would recommend it for the older end of that range - 10 and up. There is a lot of nuance and background that is useful to understand and get the most out of this story.
Max is a great protagonist to follow - he is smart but makes some very questionable choices. Sent to England to England on the brink of war on the Kindertransport, he is worried about his parents back in Berlin. Fitting in in England is also a challenge. He is still learning the language and his accent makes him stand out. But as I said, he is a smart and determined kid, so he puts all of his efforts into finding a way to prove that he is a capable spy so the government will send him back to Berlin.
The adults in this book range in helpful to infuriating. Some want what is best for Max, while others, particularly those working for the government, see Max as nothing more than a useful tool in their mission to win the war.
Oh, and did I mention that there is a fantastical element? When Max leaves Germany, he doesn't leave alone - he is followed by two mythical beings: a kobold and a dybbuk. No one but Max can see or hear them, and they are a sort of Statler and Waldorf, heckling and commentating on everything that is happening to Max. They lend some comic relief to a very distressing and sometimes disturbing story.
And the cliffhanger at the end left me reeling! I need to know what happens next. I'm very much looking forward to the conclusion!
While this is a middle grade book, I think I would recommend it for the older end of that range - 10 and up. There is a lot of nuance and background that is useful to understand and get the most out of this story.
March 20, 2024
terrific! can’t wait for the sequel
June 10, 2025
I read this last year right after it came out and forgot to leave a review.
I enjoyed it quite a bit and was very intrigued by the direction Adam Gidwitz was going with the exploration of what justifies a lie and how to balance lies and truth with lives on the line.
It's a big theme to tackle in a children's book, but Gidwitz handled even bigger thematic questions (such as "How can a good God allow suffering?") admirably in past books, and I'm excited to see what he does with this one!
The humor in Gidwitz's books always feels a little juvenile. His ethical dilemmas, thematic depth, and compassion for oppressed people groups such as the Jews are what keep me coming back!
I just started book two and am curious to see how Gidwitz resolves the story and character direction he set up in book one.
I enjoyed it quite a bit and was very intrigued by the direction Adam Gidwitz was going with the exploration of what justifies a lie and how to balance lies and truth with lives on the line.
It's a big theme to tackle in a children's book, but Gidwitz handled even bigger thematic questions (such as "How can a good God allow suffering?") admirably in past books, and I'm excited to see what he does with this one!
The humor in Gidwitz's books always feels a little juvenile. His ethical dilemmas, thematic depth, and compassion for oppressed people groups such as the Jews are what keep me coming back!
I just started book two and am curious to see how Gidwitz resolves the story and character direction he set up in book one.
June 18, 2025
3.5 stars
Review to follow.
Review to follow.
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March 31, 2024Adam Gidwitz is a master storyteller, and a genius at tackling tough topics with clarity, sincerity, humility, perfect doses of wit and humor, and regard for every human experience. This books has everything and something for everyone. A great read for middle schoolers that would surely prompt valuable discussion that relates to current events. Can’t wait for the second book!
September 18, 2025
Fun, ridiculous, but fun. Can you suspend your disbelief as to a 12-year-old, British-sponsored spy in WWII? If so, it's a good read.
I love the image on the kobold on the cover, vs the image if you google kobold in folklore, vs kobold in D&D. Totally different. But that's folklore, eh?
I kinda loved the layers--are the uncles good or evil? What about the British Empire? Vis-a-vis the Nazis, they are good, but on their own? So many different opinions offered here, and lots of real life heroes mentioned in passing if you wanted to dig into it.
This will be a series, and it ended with a bit of a cliffhanger. You're forewarned.
I love the image on the kobold on the cover, vs the image if you google kobold in folklore, vs kobold in D&D. Totally different. But that's folklore, eh?
I kinda loved the layers--are the uncles good or evil? What about the British Empire? Vis-a-vis the Nazis, they are good, but on their own? So many different opinions offered here, and lots of real life heroes mentioned in passing if you wanted to dig into it.
This will be a series, and it ended with a bit of a cliffhanger. You're forewarned.
notes-on-unfinished-books
September 1, 2024I read about 20 pages.
This is a cool, hilarious, fast-moving story about a WWII refugee with two mythological characters on his shoulders telling him what to do. It's funny and exciting, and I would love to finish it. I was initially skeptical about yet another Holocaust refugee story, but Gidwitz won me over immediately.
This is a cool, hilarious, fast-moving story about a WWII refugee with two mythological characters on his shoulders telling him what to do. It's funny and exciting, and I would love to finish it. I was initially skeptical about yet another Holocaust refugee story, but Gidwitz won me over immediately.
June 2, 2025
I loved reading this one!
Young Max is sent to England for his safety, along with hundreds of other children, on the Kindertransport from Germany during WW2. Along the way, he is accompanied by two tiny companions who seek to give him advice. Once he is settled in the home of a prominent English family, the reports of how Jews are being treated in his former home of Berlin become increasingly disturbing. Especially so, since Max himself is Jewish, and his loving parents are still in Germany…
The historical fiction parts were wonderfully written, and the spy theme made it a real page-turner! For some lightness in with the serious, there are the the characters Berg and Stein, who travel with Max on his shoulders. For me, they were a reminder of watching Statler and Waldorf on the Muppets as a child, with their constant, good natured heckling!
I can’t wait to read the sequel!
Young Max is sent to England for his safety, along with hundreds of other children, on the Kindertransport from Germany during WW2. Along the way, he is accompanied by two tiny companions who seek to give him advice. Once he is settled in the home of a prominent English family, the reports of how Jews are being treated in his former home of Berlin become increasingly disturbing. Especially so, since Max himself is Jewish, and his loving parents are still in Germany…
The historical fiction parts were wonderfully written, and the spy theme made it a real page-turner! For some lightness in with the serious, there are the the characters Berg and Stein, who travel with Max on his shoulders. For me, they were a reminder of watching Statler and Waldorf on the Muppets as a child, with their constant, good natured heckling!
I can’t wait to read the sequel!
July 26, 2025
I have a new book to pitch to my grandson. Maybe I can branch him out from Warriors into a spy thriller with magical realism, World War II themes that cover colonialism (Germany and England) and propaganda, as well as to spirits from Jewish culture. I like that the author dips into the complexity of the topics and doesn’t let it take away from the kid story that shows an intelligent boy who just wants to find his parents.
March 7, 2024
Adam Gidwitz better be writing the sequel quickly because I can’t WAIT for book 2!! (Also can’t wait to book talk this to kids.)
November 5, 2025
Mr. Gidwitz seamlessly wove fantasy into real history! Would read again, absolutely!!
November 21, 2025
NYT, November 21, 2025: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/bo...
March 18, 2024
I did love the style of the narration and the premise of the book was interesting. But this was too much of a "set up" novel. I would definitely pick up the sequel and am waiting for my son's opinion.
February 27, 2024
It’s easy to feel empathy for Max, an 11-year-old Jewish boy from Berlin, who is sent on the Kindertransport to England for his safety. But all Max wants to do is to get back to his parents, and so he sets out to return to Berlin as a spy for Britain.
Historical fiction is my favourite genre, and WWII my favourite era to read about, so a 5-star rating is not a huge leap. However, Max is so likeable, clever and brave, that one can’t be helped by being drawn into this story as Max begins his plan to get back home in a time when it’s dangerous and heartbreaking being Jewish. The two sarcastic beings (a kobold and a dybbuk) who live on his shoulders add a funny aspect to a difficult topic.
This would make a super read aloud for Gr 5+, or a book club or independent read for Gr. 6+. Thanks to Adam Gidwitz, NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Can’t wait for the sequel in this planned duology.
Historical fiction is my favourite genre, and WWII my favourite era to read about, so a 5-star rating is not a huge leap. However, Max is so likeable, clever and brave, that one can’t be helped by being drawn into this story as Max begins his plan to get back home in a time when it’s dangerous and heartbreaking being Jewish. The two sarcastic beings (a kobold and a dybbuk) who live on his shoulders add a funny aspect to a difficult topic.
This would make a super read aloud for Gr 5+, or a book club or independent read for Gr. 6+. Thanks to Adam Gidwitz, NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Can’t wait for the sequel in this planned duology.
March 11, 2024
I had really high hopes for this one but alas, its inaccurate view of the British people, the complete revisionist history and the confusing mythology woven into this book has made me unwilling to recommend to anyone.
Firstly, in the introduction, Gidwitz talks about unlearning everything you know about WWII including the concentration camps, but then a few pages in, the Monatgu family talks about the terrible condition of the concentration camps.
-the British are portrayed as scheming capitalists (including the Jewish ones), who are only slightly better than the Nazis.
-a Trinidadian character claims that the ONLY reason the British abolished the slave trade was because it was no longer profitable. He works for the British even though he hates them.
All around, this book made me really uncomfortable. It did motivate me to research the strikes in Trinidad of 1937 and the American sit-in’s of that same year. However, the way Gidwitz writes about the British people as well as capitalism itself, is really infuriating.
Definitely don’t recommend this book.
Firstly, in the introduction, Gidwitz talks about unlearning everything you know about WWII including the concentration camps, but then a few pages in, the Monatgu family talks about the terrible condition of the concentration camps.
-the British are portrayed as scheming capitalists (including the Jewish ones), who are only slightly better than the Nazis.
-a Trinidadian character claims that the ONLY reason the British abolished the slave trade was because it was no longer profitable. He works for the British even though he hates them.
All around, this book made me really uncomfortable. It did motivate me to research the strikes in Trinidad of 1937 and the American sit-in’s of that same year. However, the way Gidwitz writes about the British people as well as capitalism itself, is really infuriating.
Definitely don’t recommend this book.
February 12, 2024
Max in the House of Spies is a story about Max, a young boy from Germany who is Jewish during the 1940s. When things started to get dangerous for the German Jewish people, Max's parents send him to England for his safety. He stays with a family and then tries to become a spy to get back to Berlin to reunite with his parents.
I thought this book was just ok. I liked the concept and the time period. I think this is an important time period for children to learn about. And what kid doesn't love a spy story? There are also bits of magical realism throughout that were fun elements. Kids will definitely enjoy the little guys on Max's shoulders throughout the story. The characters were also fun and interesting.
My biggest complaint is that I just felt bored during a big part of it. I don't know if it was the pacing or what but something just dragged on for me. I wish there was more action sooner or the book itself was shorter.
I do think this is an important story to tell and I would recommend to children looking for spy stories or something about WWII.
Thanks so much to netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Dutton Books for Young Readers for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. While I didn't love this one, I think a lot of kids will.
I thought this book was just ok. I liked the concept and the time period. I think this is an important time period for children to learn about. And what kid doesn't love a spy story? There are also bits of magical realism throughout that were fun elements. Kids will definitely enjoy the little guys on Max's shoulders throughout the story. The characters were also fun and interesting.
My biggest complaint is that I just felt bored during a big part of it. I don't know if it was the pacing or what but something just dragged on for me. I wish there was more action sooner or the book itself was shorter.
I do think this is an important story to tell and I would recommend to children looking for spy stories or something about WWII.
Thanks so much to netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Dutton Books for Young Readers for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. While I didn't love this one, I think a lot of kids will.
March 10, 2024
This is the first of two books about Max Bretzfeld, a clever and resourceful Jewish boy. It is 1939 and 11-year old Max has just arrived in London via the Kindertransport. His parents are still in Berlin because they were not allowed to go with him, but the hope is that they will be reunited soon. However, Max is not alone; he is joined by a German kobold and Jewish dybbuk. This is Max's story about becoming a spy and returning to Germany. A wonderful story that's a lot of historical fiction and a dash of fantasy and humor that is both inspiring, insightful and impossible to put down. Don't miss the author's notes at the back! A great story!
March 23, 2024
So good, and it is the first book in what looks like will be a series. This series reminds me of the old Don Sturdy or Tom Swift books. It isn’t the typical WWII novel so it was easier for me to read. Looking forward to the next one.
Read
April 9, 2025
Trigger & Content Warnings
Eugenics discussed
Period-typical Nazism, racial slurs & antisemitism
Suicide discussed
Alcohol consumption & smoking mentioned
Physical assault of a child by a teacher (protagonist)
World War Two (theme) including depiction of the Holocaust, Kristallnacht, the Kindertransport & the Blitz
Bullying
Eugenics discussed
Period-typical Nazism, racial slurs & antisemitism
Suicide discussed
Alcohol consumption & smoking mentioned
Physical assault of a child by a teacher (protagonist)
World War Two (theme) including depiction of the Holocaust, Kristallnacht, the Kindertransport & the Blitz
Bullying
February 29, 2024
4.5 stars but I rounded up because WOW!!! I am thoroughly impressed with this book. Gidwitz portrays very serious and mature content in a way that tweens can grasp. He balances the seriousness of the time period and situations with silly sarcastic banter from a pair of immortal, invisible characters that find a new home on the shoulders of Max, the 12yr old boy main character. As Max leaves Nazi Germany with other Jewish children heading toward refuge in England, the pair of unlikely travel companions give much needed comedic relief to tense situations and heavy plot developments.
The topics in this book are mature, as they should be, children lived through and experienced first hand the evil of the third reich and nazi germany. Propaganda is discussed at length throughout the book, with the lines blurred, as they would have been in that day for a Jewish German tween. Racism is another main theme throughout the plot, it shows up in bullying, propaganda, identity questioning (the ww2 kind, not the modern day woke kind) and more. Additionally, it touches on the Jewish faith, religion, and mysticism throughout the book. The main character deals with antisemitism, bullying, war, death, separation and much more with stoicism and courage.
While this book is marketed to ages 9-12, I think some discernment should be shown depending on the reader. Some children may be able to handle it, some may not. Additionally, this could be a really great book to read simultaneously with your child and discuss themes and topics after each chapter.
Content warnings: language (2 instances of the D word), death, first hand retelling of krystalnacht, other mature WW2 themes.
This is the first book in a duology, one that I plan to own for myself. I think this is an amazing story help introduce late middle and early high school aged readers to the WW2 historical fiction in a way that brings to life the seriousness of that time period in history.
The topics in this book are mature, as they should be, children lived through and experienced first hand the evil of the third reich and nazi germany. Propaganda is discussed at length throughout the book, with the lines blurred, as they would have been in that day for a Jewish German tween. Racism is another main theme throughout the plot, it shows up in bullying, propaganda, identity questioning (the ww2 kind, not the modern day woke kind) and more. Additionally, it touches on the Jewish faith, religion, and mysticism throughout the book. The main character deals with antisemitism, bullying, war, death, separation and much more with stoicism and courage.
While this book is marketed to ages 9-12, I think some discernment should be shown depending on the reader. Some children may be able to handle it, some may not. Additionally, this could be a really great book to read simultaneously with your child and discuss themes and topics after each chapter.
Content warnings: language (2 instances of the D word), death, first hand retelling of krystalnacht, other mature WW2 themes.
This is the first book in a duology, one that I plan to own for myself. I think this is an amazing story help introduce late middle and early high school aged readers to the WW2 historical fiction in a way that brings to life the seriousness of that time period in history.
January 14, 2025
Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II by Adam Gidwitz is a compelling middle-grade novel that remains enjoyable even for adult readers. One of the standout elements is how the author weaves historical context into the story and then expands on it in the endnotes, explaining the real events that inspired the narrative. This added layer of historical authenticity gives the book more weight and makes it an educational read as well.
The magical realism in the story is another highlight. The presence of magical creatures adds a fascinating ambiguity—are they real, or are they Max's way of processing the unimaginable trauma he experiences as a Jewish boy in Nazi Germany? This question deepens the story and provides readers with an opportunity to explore themes of resilience and the power of imagination in the face of adversity.
That said, while the book is engaging and thoughtful, there are moments where it feels like it could have delved deeper into its themes or characters. It’s an enjoyable read, but one that doesn’t fully reach its potential to resonate on a more profound level.
Overall, it’s a solid introduction to history and magical realism for younger audiences, with plenty to appreciate for readers of all ages.
The magical realism in the story is another highlight. The presence of magical creatures adds a fascinating ambiguity—are they real, or are they Max's way of processing the unimaginable trauma he experiences as a Jewish boy in Nazi Germany? This question deepens the story and provides readers with an opportunity to explore themes of resilience and the power of imagination in the face of adversity.
That said, while the book is engaging and thoughtful, there are moments where it feels like it could have delved deeper into its themes or characters. It’s an enjoyable read, but one that doesn’t fully reach its potential to resonate on a more profound level.
Overall, it’s a solid introduction to history and magical realism for younger audiences, with plenty to appreciate for readers of all ages.
March 8, 2024
So, The 12-year-old kid inside my head was screaming at me to get this book. I got it and wanted to read it because I thought it would be silly, fun and I thought it would take my mind off of things for a while after reading some heavy duty books.
Well it was more hokey than silly and more serious than fun. I am sure that the tweens would like it more than I did. Because it's not that bad of a book.
It just didn't accomplice the things that I wanted it to do.
Max Bretzfeld is 12 years old and he lives in Berlin, Germany. Germany is becoming dangerous for Jewish families and Max's parents. So Max's mother sends him to England so he could be safe and out of Germany through a program to keep kids safe, basically from the Nazis.
On his journey to England he discovers he now has two travelers on each shoulder named Berg and Stein ( let's just call them gnomes for the sake of argument). They are more of an annoyance than any help to Max except towards the end of the book.
While in England, Max learns how to become a spy at the age of 12 to infiltrate a German radio station where propaganda is being sent out over the air waves.
The book ends abruptly leaving Max alone in Germany - desperately trying to find his parents that he left behind and to use his spy skills that he learned in training in England. We never find out what happens at the end of the book but I understand this is part one of a duo in the series.
Again, this was not that bad of a book and knowing me I will probably read the second one just to find out what happens to Max and his family.
Well it was more hokey than silly and more serious than fun. I am sure that the tweens would like it more than I did. Because it's not that bad of a book.
It just didn't accomplice the things that I wanted it to do.
Max Bretzfeld is 12 years old and he lives in Berlin, Germany. Germany is becoming dangerous for Jewish families and Max's parents. So Max's mother sends him to England so he could be safe and out of Germany through a program to keep kids safe, basically from the Nazis.
On his journey to England he discovers he now has two travelers on each shoulder named Berg and Stein ( let's just call them gnomes for the sake of argument). They are more of an annoyance than any help to Max except towards the end of the book.
While in England, Max learns how to become a spy at the age of 12 to infiltrate a German radio station where propaganda is being sent out over the air waves.
The book ends abruptly leaving Max alone in Germany - desperately trying to find his parents that he left behind and to use his spy skills that he learned in training in England. We never find out what happens at the end of the book but I understand this is part one of a duo in the series.
Again, this was not that bad of a book and knowing me I will probably read the second one just to find out what happens to Max and his family.
September 22, 2024
Max in the House of Spies frustrated me. It is a middle grade children’s book that tells a story that is both ridiculous and fascinating. Some of the elements that author Alan Gidwitz uses to interest children irritated me as an adult reader.
In Germany, in 1939, when Max was 11, his parents sent him to England with 98 other Jewish children. His parents knew that Berlin was not safe because the Nazi’s were harassing the Jews. Max was Jewish. He and the other children were sent to live with various families in England. A Jewish family with two sons about Max’s age takes him in and tries to treat him well.
Like the other boys in the London area family, Max attends a posh private day school. Suddenly he is without his family and around people who do not speak his language. Max knows only a little English. Life is hard in the new school as the other school boys make fun of the way he speaks English. In the school and in England as a whole, Jews are not respected.
This part of Max’s story is fascinating. I knew that London children were sent to the country after the Germans started to bomb their city, but I did not know that the British allowed a few of the Jewish German children to live in England.
When Max leaves Germany, two sprites began to accompany him, one on each shoulder; they are a kobold and a dybbuk – German household spirits. They constantly talk to Max, commenting and creating mischief. No one else can hear or see them. Their interference irritated me because they do not fit in a historical fiction book and get in the way of the storytelling. (Max is not Harry Potter!)
Since Max really wants to return to his parents, British spy agencies agree to send him home after they train him to spy for them; they give him a specific assignment. This is another personal irritation since adults do not train children to be spies.
Gidwitz makes Max a spy to create a thrilling story that will interest kids. But the unreality of household spirits and children as spies are ridiculous additions. For me, Gidwitz spoiled an interesting situation. If I were a classroom teacher, I would not read this book to my class. However, if I were the school’s librarian, I would purchase the book and recommend it. It will thrill its intended audience.
The stunning twist near the end answers many questions I had while reading the book.
Max in the House of Spies is the first book in a projected series. It was considered for the monthly selection of Goodreads’ Mock Newbery 2025 group, but not chosen.
In Germany, in 1939, when Max was 11, his parents sent him to England with 98 other Jewish children. His parents knew that Berlin was not safe because the Nazi’s were harassing the Jews. Max was Jewish. He and the other children were sent to live with various families in England. A Jewish family with two sons about Max’s age takes him in and tries to treat him well.
Like the other boys in the London area family, Max attends a posh private day school. Suddenly he is without his family and around people who do not speak his language. Max knows only a little English. Life is hard in the new school as the other school boys make fun of the way he speaks English. In the school and in England as a whole, Jews are not respected.
This part of Max’s story is fascinating. I knew that London children were sent to the country after the Germans started to bomb their city, but I did not know that the British allowed a few of the Jewish German children to live in England.
When Max leaves Germany, two sprites began to accompany him, one on each shoulder; they are a kobold and a dybbuk – German household spirits. They constantly talk to Max, commenting and creating mischief. No one else can hear or see them. Their interference irritated me because they do not fit in a historical fiction book and get in the way of the storytelling. (Max is not Harry Potter!)
Since Max really wants to return to his parents, British spy agencies agree to send him home after they train him to spy for them; they give him a specific assignment. This is another personal irritation since adults do not train children to be spies.
Gidwitz makes Max a spy to create a thrilling story that will interest kids. But the unreality of household spirits and children as spies are ridiculous additions. For me, Gidwitz spoiled an interesting situation. If I were a classroom teacher, I would not read this book to my class. However, if I were the school’s librarian, I would purchase the book and recommend it. It will thrill its intended audience.
The stunning twist near the end answers many questions I had while reading the book.
Max in the House of Spies is the first book in a projected series. It was considered for the monthly selection of Goodreads’ Mock Newbery 2025 group, but not chosen.
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