What do you think?
Rate this book
Operation Kinderspion #2
Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II
Max Bretzfeld is back in Berlin where his most dangerous mission is about to begin! The thrilling conclusion to the World War II spy duology that began with Max in the House of Spies.
″A headlong thriller laced with provocative and topical historical truths.” –Kirkus, starred review
Max is on a mission.
Well, two missions.
One has been assigned by his British Infiltrate the Funkhaus, the center of Nazi radio and propaganda.
The other they have Find his parents.
Max Bretzfeld was willing to do anything to return to Germany, even become a British spy. Training complete and forged papers in hand, the radio wunderkind’s missions have begun. But nothing is as he expected. His parents are missing. Nazi intelligence is watching him. And the lines between lies and truth are becoming more blurred every day. Max will need every tool at his disposal, from his radio expertise and spy training to the help of Berg and Stein, the immortal creatures living on his shoulders. Even so, there’s no guarantee he’ll make it out of Berlin alive.
″A headlong thriller laced with provocative and topical historical truths.” –Kirkus, starred review
Max is on a mission.
Well, two missions.
One has been assigned by his British Infiltrate the Funkhaus, the center of Nazi radio and propaganda.
The other they have Find his parents.
Max Bretzfeld was willing to do anything to return to Germany, even become a British spy. Training complete and forged papers in hand, the radio wunderkind’s missions have begun. But nothing is as he expected. His parents are missing. Nazi intelligence is watching him. And the lines between lies and truth are becoming more blurred every day. Max will need every tool at his disposal, from his radio expertise and spy training to the help of Berg and Stein, the immortal creatures living on his shoulders. Even so, there’s no guarantee he’ll make it out of Berlin alive.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2025
77 people are currently reading
3647 people want to read
About the author
Adam Gidwitz
27 books1,204 followersTo read my bio and learn more about me, and find a FAQ, visit:
http://www.adamgidwitz.com/about-the-...
http://www.adamgidwitz.com/about-the-...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
March 9, 2025
Even better than the first book. I can’t imagine a more important book for kids to pick up right now, while adults that they trust vote for fascists in the hopes of cheaper groceries. “History does not repeat itself. But watch the news, read social media - heck, listen to the radio these days - and you can hear it rhyme.”
March 22, 2025
Max! Don’t go back to Germany!
Well, he did and now what?
He has a lot to do and more to hide.
Yes, belief must again be suspended at unprecedented levels. And yes, Max is the cleverest and luckiest of child spies to infiltrate the heart of the Nazi regime. I didn’t expect to hand out 5 stars again, but with a satisfying ending, which was still heartbreaking, here you go. This book does what it needs to and is throughly engaging as it does it. It shows the horror and pain of an oppressive government. It shows ways many Germans lived with it and even accepted it. It is both gripping and entertaining, emotional and satisfying, and very much a cautionary tale.
52 Book Club25: 50) Set in the 1940s
Well, he did and now what?
He has a lot to do and more to hide.
Yes, belief must again be suspended at unprecedented levels. And yes, Max is the cleverest and luckiest of child spies to infiltrate the heart of the Nazi regime. I didn’t expect to hand out 5 stars again, but with a satisfying ending, which was still heartbreaking, here you go. This book does what it needs to and is throughly engaging as it does it. It shows the horror and pain of an oppressive government. It shows ways many Germans lived with it and even accepted it. It is both gripping and entertaining, emotional and satisfying, and very much a cautionary tale.
52 Book Club25: 50) Set in the 1940s
May 29, 2025
Rarely do I encounter books that have sequels equal or better than their predecessors. This one was such a book.
I’ve been an avid reader of books about WW2 since childhood. These two novels by Alan Gidwitz are some of the most thought-provoking that I’ve read. At the beginning of both books, the author urges the reader to “forget everything one knows about WW2 and the Holocaust”. The reason for that becomes apparent when the reader is presented with details about subjects such as British colonialism, racial division in America, and the National Community of Germans. All of these, and many others, were presented and used as vehicles of propaganda by the Nazis, mostly by radio transmission.
My brain felt twisted after reading such passages. To my relief, the author’s notes at the end showed me that I was not the only one whose mental faculties were affected. Gidwitz himself states in his end notes that at times, rhetoric from “The Most Trusted Voice in Germany” (Hans Fritzsche) that he was listening to for research had him doubting facts about who the aggressors of WW2 actually were. This was because Fritzsche was a master wordsmith, who “used the magic of his own words to convince himself, along with everyone else”.
This book, and the first one, would be excellent tools to use in Y.A. classrooms. Kudos to Adam Gidwitz; I hope he keeps them coming in the future!
I’ve been an avid reader of books about WW2 since childhood. These two novels by Alan Gidwitz are some of the most thought-provoking that I’ve read. At the beginning of both books, the author urges the reader to “forget everything one knows about WW2 and the Holocaust”. The reason for that becomes apparent when the reader is presented with details about subjects such as British colonialism, racial division in America, and the National Community of Germans. All of these, and many others, were presented and used as vehicles of propaganda by the Nazis, mostly by radio transmission.
My brain felt twisted after reading such passages. To my relief, the author’s notes at the end showed me that I was not the only one whose mental faculties were affected. Gidwitz himself states in his end notes that at times, rhetoric from “The Most Trusted Voice in Germany” (Hans Fritzsche) that he was listening to for research had him doubting facts about who the aggressors of WW2 actually were. This was because Fritzsche was a master wordsmith, who “used the magic of his own words to convince himself, along with everyone else”.
This book, and the first one, would be excellent tools to use in Y.A. classrooms. Kudos to Adam Gidwitz; I hope he keeps them coming in the future!
Read
April 23, 2025Excellent second book in this WWII series. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Adam Gidwitz is a master of tackling difficult topics for the kid audience. He manages to share a dark history with the perfect blend of humor, emotion, tension, and adventure while also making it applicable to present-day issues.
February 9, 2025
Max in the Land of Lies was an incredible follow-up to the Max in the House Spies. The nuances Gidwitz shares to this historical fiction tale with a small magical twist are important, as are his incredible "How Much of this Story is Real" and Annotated Bibliography sections which will help the reader gain even more understanding of the history that makes up the foundation of this story. I am adding Account Rendered to my reading list now.
Thank you to Libro FM for providing me early access to this story. If you are looking to purchase audiobooks that support local book stores then Libro FM is the app for you.
Thank you to Libro FM for providing me early access to this story. If you are looking to purchase audiobooks that support local book stores then Libro FM is the app for you.
March 12, 2025
WW2 political analysis set as historical fiction with a touch of Jewish folklore/mythology. What does Gidwitz want us to notice?
13 year old Max explores how Germany could become a nation that inflicted incredible suffering and cruelty, finding the answer in propaganda and the big lie. This is meant to be read through your 2025 left-leaning glasses…somehow it avoided feeling didactic and was more cautionary. Reminded me of Animal Farm. Not all readers will appreciate a lesson on how Hitler wanted to “make Germany great again.” Kids probably won’t pick up on this layer though.
Plot is fast paced and doesn’t even try to be realistic, but concludes abruptly though satisfactorily.
Very unique and ambitious for middle grade; lots to discuss. Will encourage my kids to read it, but advise 6th grade+.
13 year old Max explores how Germany could become a nation that inflicted incredible suffering and cruelty, finding the answer in propaganda and the big lie. This is meant to be read through your 2025 left-leaning glasses…somehow it avoided feeling didactic and was more cautionary. Reminded me of Animal Farm. Not all readers will appreciate a lesson on how Hitler wanted to “make Germany great again.” Kids probably won’t pick up on this layer though.
Plot is fast paced and doesn’t even try to be realistic, but concludes abruptly though satisfactorily.
Very unique and ambitious for middle grade; lots to discuss. Will encourage my kids to read it, but advise 6th grade+.
April 22, 2025
It takes a lot to put a fresh spin on WWII stories at this point, but Gidwitz knocked it out of the park with this duology!
First off, I loved that this second book started with just a brief overview of book one. Because it’s been a year since the first book came out and realistically, lots of readers have forgotten a few details. This helped me so much.
Second, there are two immortal creatures sitting on Max’s shoulders. Yeah, that’s kind of strange, but if you just go with it, it totally works. I think that it’s an incredibly clever way to solve the “adult problem” in this story aka give Max someone to give him advice when he’s off on his own.
I struggled at times with how flippant Max was with his words. He argued with Nazi’s too much or made little slips that could have gotten him caught. But also, he’s a 13 year old kid. And has only had a few weeks/months of spy training. Ultimately, he played to his strengths of knowing radio and that worked so well.
While I don’t think that our current world is identical to 1941, I really appreciated this part of the author’s note: “History does not repeat itself. But watch the news, read social media—heck, listen to the radio these days—and you can hear it rhyme.” Yes, absolutely the rhymes resonate, of how good people, Christian people, millions of people, can choose to believe Big Lies because we tell ourselves small lies every day. And I appreciated how well the author showed how hard it was to stand up to Hitler. How many normal, average people just got along.
And I’m grateful that this was a duology. Couldn’t have read more? Sure. But this story is complete as it is, even as it has much before it and much after to consider.
First off, I loved that this second book started with just a brief overview of book one. Because it’s been a year since the first book came out and realistically, lots of readers have forgotten a few details. This helped me so much.
Second, there are two immortal creatures sitting on Max’s shoulders. Yeah, that’s kind of strange, but if you just go with it, it totally works. I think that it’s an incredibly clever way to solve the “adult problem” in this story aka give Max someone to give him advice when he’s off on his own.
I struggled at times with how flippant Max was with his words. He argued with Nazi’s too much or made little slips that could have gotten him caught. But also, he’s a 13 year old kid. And has only had a few weeks/months of spy training. Ultimately, he played to his strengths of knowing radio and that worked so well.
While I don’t think that our current world is identical to 1941, I really appreciated this part of the author’s note: “History does not repeat itself. But watch the news, read social media—heck, listen to the radio these days—and you can hear it rhyme.” Yes, absolutely the rhymes resonate, of how good people, Christian people, millions of people, can choose to believe Big Lies because we tell ourselves small lies every day. And I appreciated how well the author showed how hard it was to stand up to Hitler. How many normal, average people just got along.
And I’m grateful that this was a duology. Couldn’t have read more? Sure. But this story is complete as it is, even as it has much before it and much after to consider.
October 12, 2025
Utterly captivating and devastating. I loved book one in this series but Gidwitz leveled up dramatically with book 2, and has written one of them most emotionally compelling depiction of the horrors of Nazi Germany that I have read in middle grade fiction. I would say it’s not for the faint of heart, but how else do we fight like hell to ensure this doesn’t happen again? It was devastating to see so many similarities to what is happening in the US right now, and while we can’t necessarily explicitly make these comparisons in school in middle grades … reading this is a start for our youth.
Source: purchased hardcover
Source: purchased hardcover
July 27, 2025
Max infiltrates the Nazi party in a way only a kid could. The author does a good job presenting the complexity of the time and doesn’t turn every German into a monster. Instead he presents why they became monsters and each individual has different reasons whether they are disappointed by failure or like to be adored by others or want power because their bullies, to name a few. The kobold and dybbuk give some nice comic relief in a dark subject.
November 10, 2025
It was good! It was fast paced and fun. I would recommend this to 13 and up, as it is a bit darker than the first one.
Note: There was a gay character. They don’t mention it except in one sentence and he is a minor character.
Note: There was a gay character. They don’t mention it except in one sentence and he is a minor character.
April 23, 2025
awesome!
March 6, 2025
Brilliant.
April 5, 2025
Gidwitz does an excellent job of two things often shied away from: 1) Portraying Germans as ordinary people going along with horrible things for a variety of reasons, some more relatable than we'd like 2) Showing that sometimes smart marginalized people fall for propaganda about themselves. No one wants kids today to think slurs about Jewish kids were true, so often fiction skims over the inevitable: a whole society saying you're terrible is going to lead to you wondering if you really are. Well handled here.
Two things distracted me:
1. A successful kid spy is hard to make plausible, especially one who makes as many mistakes as Max understandably does
2. The Nazis proudly refer to themselves as Nazis, a perjorative term they reportedly didn't use among themselves. They also don't really use terms that they DID commonly use among themselves. Everything else was highly researched and detailed, so that was weird.
Two things distracted me:
1. A successful kid spy is hard to make plausible, especially one who makes as many mistakes as Max understandably does
2. The Nazis proudly refer to themselves as Nazis, a perjorative term they reportedly didn't use among themselves. They also don't really use terms that they DID commonly use among themselves. Everything else was highly researched and detailed, so that was weird.
June 30, 2025
Adam Gidwitz is a genius. Somehow in this book (which is just as good if not better than the first one in the series), he surprises the reader with pops of humor despite the heavy topic of early World War II atrocities with the banter between the dybbuk and kobold that live on Max's shoulders. But what really stood out to me was the way Gidwitz created each character with so much nuance (even the "bad" guys). He talks about why he chose to do that in the afterword, which is equally powerful.
I think this one will stay with me for a long time.
P.S. The audiobook narrator is equally brilliant and I highly recommend listening to this if you get the chance.
I think this one will stay with me for a long time.
P.S. The audiobook narrator is equally brilliant and I highly recommend listening to this if you get the chance.
October 16, 2025
Despite not reading the 1st in the series, I was able to thoroughly enjoy this thrilling spy story. I enjoyed the exploration of why Germans became Nazis, or quietly went along with it, and how some tried to oppose it. I also liked how the British didn't come out entirely clean, either, because at the time they had been doing many of the same things in their "British Empire" that Germans were doing. I liked the exploration of lies in various aspects: propaganda, self-preservation, spies, or ego. I also liked some of the real details, such as that concentration camps really did have parking lots.
February 26, 2025
Max in the Land of Lies is the much awaited conclusion to last year's fantastic middle grade historical fiction, Max in the House of Spies.
In the first book, of this WWII adventure series, when twelve year old Max escapes Germany on the Kindertransport, he suddenly discovers that he has two immortal spirits on his shoulders. Only he can see and hear the Dybbuk and Kobold. These two characters provide information and context to both Max and the reader as he finds himself living in a house of spies. They also provide a lot of comic relief to a book with a serious subject. Max did not want to escape and wants to return to Germany and help save his parents. He is a genius and manages to train for a spy mission back in Germany.
It is here that the second book begins. Author Adam Gidwitz spins a yarn with a plot full of danger, twists and lots of coincidence. Gidwitz weaves historical figures into the story with such life, that they seem just as real to the reader as the fictional characters. The strength of this story is that although Max interacts with important historical characters, including Hitler himself, much of the story involves conversations with the average German citizen. The book provides insight into how a nation could follow such a leader and turn a blind eye to all the murder and injustice. This book is well researched and is educational but still provides great entertainment. Although these books are written for a middle grade reader, it is much more serious than book 1. The author provides an extensive afterward which discusses the real versus fiction and provides more information about the holocaust and biographies on the historic figures.
Although the main character is Jewish, this book is for all kids. In the current environment with rising antisemitism and increasing incidence of book bans, this important book might help open the eyes of many youngsters. This is a fantastic read for any historical fiction fan who is interested in that time period. It would also be a great way for teachers to introduce the topic and should be in school libraries.
I received an electronic advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher, but this review is entirely voluntary and I can honestly recommend this book.
In the first book, of this WWII adventure series, when twelve year old Max escapes Germany on the Kindertransport, he suddenly discovers that he has two immortal spirits on his shoulders. Only he can see and hear the Dybbuk and Kobold. These two characters provide information and context to both Max and the reader as he finds himself living in a house of spies. They also provide a lot of comic relief to a book with a serious subject. Max did not want to escape and wants to return to Germany and help save his parents. He is a genius and manages to train for a spy mission back in Germany.
It is here that the second book begins. Author Adam Gidwitz spins a yarn with a plot full of danger, twists and lots of coincidence. Gidwitz weaves historical figures into the story with such life, that they seem just as real to the reader as the fictional characters. The strength of this story is that although Max interacts with important historical characters, including Hitler himself, much of the story involves conversations with the average German citizen. The book provides insight into how a nation could follow such a leader and turn a blind eye to all the murder and injustice. This book is well researched and is educational but still provides great entertainment. Although these books are written for a middle grade reader, it is much more serious than book 1. The author provides an extensive afterward which discusses the real versus fiction and provides more information about the holocaust and biographies on the historic figures.
Although the main character is Jewish, this book is for all kids. In the current environment with rising antisemitism and increasing incidence of book bans, this important book might help open the eyes of many youngsters. This is a fantastic read for any historical fiction fan who is interested in that time period. It would also be a great way for teachers to introduce the topic and should be in school libraries.
I received an electronic advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher, but this review is entirely voluntary and I can honestly recommend this book.
March 28, 2025
Wow! This is a powerful and gripping narrative about Max, a young Jewish boy returning to Berlin to spy on the Nazis and find his parents, and what he discovers as he navigates the dangers, makes friends, and pursues his dual mission. The research that Adam Gidwitz did about the real people in Nazi leadership and others in Germany provide authenticity that highlights the dangers that Max faces.
March 17, 2025
Wow. Gidwitz does it again. Another powerful middle grade historical with a touch of magical realism that feels both true to the tone of the setting and relevant and compelling in our own time. Strong recommend to middle grade educators, readers of middle grade historical, and readers of middle grade Jewish lit. It is the second of a duology, so be sure to start with Max in the House of Spies.
April 3, 2025
A worthy follow-up. Gidwitz does a stellar job of showing how everyday people fell under Hitler’s yoke and gives us a break-neck plot that entertains and educates. I can’t recommend this duology enough.
March 25, 2025
4.5 stars
March 19, 2025
I just read the last page of this book and I am utterly awestruck, gob-smacked, drop-jawed, speechless. Read in one sitting. Could not put it down. Deep, penetrating questions about human nature, family devotion, little lies and big lies. Tender, funny, inspiring while at the same time brutal, grim and devastating. For mature readers who won’t be surprised by the shocking reality and perplexity of WWII. Beautifully researched. So much thoughtful detail.
January 30, 2025
A satisfying end to this duology, which is a great readalike for Alan Gratz fans.
July 20, 2025
A very empathetic look at Germany during WW2 and the motivations and actions of citizens during the evil - does not let the UK off lightly or over sentimentalise their actions
June 3, 2025
The sequel was even better than the first book. I typically listen to an audio book at an increased speed but by the end I had slowed it down to 1.0 because I didn't want to miss a single word. Such an important story written in a style that is engaging and somehow lighthearted while still maintaining the seriousness of the World War 2 topic. Fantastic job Adam Gidwitz! I want to go back and actually read this series instead of just listening and that is saying a lot for me because I almost exclusively listen to audio books.
November 18, 2024
What worked:
The first chapter offers a surprise as Max gets help and advice from two creatures, one sitting on each shoulder. No one else can see Stein, a Yiddish-speaking dybbuk, and Berg, a German-accented kobold; these characters add humor and novelty to the story. They often question Max’s decisions especially when he makes decisions that may endanger him. These characters have been alive since before there were countries or civilized humans. They provide historical context for Max and readers as they verify or debunk information shared by the Germans. Stein and Berg are stuck to Max and supply him with moral support until he no longer needs it.
The book includes facts about Germany during WW II; some may not be familiar to young readers. They will undoubtedly have heard of Hitler but this story takes place on the streets among everyday German citizens. These people aren’t universally behind the Fuhrer but it’s dangerous for them to speak against their leader. Citizens are on the lookout for traitors so individuals don’t know who might turn them in for something overheard. The story sheds light on how Hitler could take over the country with German citizens angry and struggling after the international community’s WW I sanctions. The book’s last few pages provide factual information about several characters and their roles in WW II. There’s also a section about the horrifying concentration camps.
Max progresses through his mission much faster than expected so the story has a good pace. The early parts of the book share life among the citizens living on the streets of Berlin while the later chapters find Max interacting with various military figures. Meeting German soldiers creates inherent suspense since Max could be executed at any moment for being a Jewish spy. Max (and especially Stein and Berg) is paranoid when meeting military officers since he’s never sure how much information they have on him. Max is alarmed when Hitler’s chief intelligence officer asks Max to confirm details he’s collected about rumors of a young spy entering Germany. Max survives his first encounter but readers will anticipate the inevitable moment when their paths cross again.
What didn’t work as well:
Max frequently takes risks that might reveal himself as a spy. Stein and Berg try to warn him but Max continues to say and do things that could put him in danger. There are times when these risks make sense but he’s rarely careful. The German officers always react in his favor so it feels like Max is unusually lucky. However, the positive outcomes provide insight into the minds of German citizens and help the plot move along.
The final verdict:
The author does a masterful job of sharing Max’s adventure as a spy, navigating Nazi Germany like a small fish in a pool of sharks. A big takeaway from the book is how it enlightens readers about the thoughts and feelings of German people while Hitler rules. It’s a thought-provoking story and I recommend you give it a shot.
The first chapter offers a surprise as Max gets help and advice from two creatures, one sitting on each shoulder. No one else can see Stein, a Yiddish-speaking dybbuk, and Berg, a German-accented kobold; these characters add humor and novelty to the story. They often question Max’s decisions especially when he makes decisions that may endanger him. These characters have been alive since before there were countries or civilized humans. They provide historical context for Max and readers as they verify or debunk information shared by the Germans. Stein and Berg are stuck to Max and supply him with moral support until he no longer needs it.
The book includes facts about Germany during WW II; some may not be familiar to young readers. They will undoubtedly have heard of Hitler but this story takes place on the streets among everyday German citizens. These people aren’t universally behind the Fuhrer but it’s dangerous for them to speak against their leader. Citizens are on the lookout for traitors so individuals don’t know who might turn them in for something overheard. The story sheds light on how Hitler could take over the country with German citizens angry and struggling after the international community’s WW I sanctions. The book’s last few pages provide factual information about several characters and their roles in WW II. There’s also a section about the horrifying concentration camps.
Max progresses through his mission much faster than expected so the story has a good pace. The early parts of the book share life among the citizens living on the streets of Berlin while the later chapters find Max interacting with various military figures. Meeting German soldiers creates inherent suspense since Max could be executed at any moment for being a Jewish spy. Max (and especially Stein and Berg) is paranoid when meeting military officers since he’s never sure how much information they have on him. Max is alarmed when Hitler’s chief intelligence officer asks Max to confirm details he’s collected about rumors of a young spy entering Germany. Max survives his first encounter but readers will anticipate the inevitable moment when their paths cross again.
What didn’t work as well:
Max frequently takes risks that might reveal himself as a spy. Stein and Berg try to warn him but Max continues to say and do things that could put him in danger. There are times when these risks make sense but he’s rarely careful. The German officers always react in his favor so it feels like Max is unusually lucky. However, the positive outcomes provide insight into the minds of German citizens and help the plot move along.
The final verdict:
The author does a masterful job of sharing Max’s adventure as a spy, navigating Nazi Germany like a small fish in a pool of sharks. A big takeaway from the book is how it enlightens readers about the thoughts and feelings of German people while Hitler rules. It’s a thought-provoking story and I recommend you give it a shot.
April 21, 2025
Max has successfully landed in Germany. He has two missions there. The first is the one the British gave him, to find a way to befriend the son of Hans Fritzsche (who is the beloved radio voice of Nazi Germany) and somehow get himself into the Funkhaus (the main broadcasting station of the Nazis). Once he has a way in, they’ll give him more details on his assignment through a dead drop. The other mission is the one he’s kept from the British spy masters, to find his parents. Everyone has told him a Jewish boy has no chance going back into Hitler’s Germany, but Max is too stubborn to listen. Something Berg and Stein, the mythical creatures riding his shoulders, frequently like to berate him about. They are sure Max is going to get himself arrested…or worse.
Gidwitz has done an excellent job of bringing Nazi Germany to life for middle grade readers. Max meets a wide variety of people in Berlin, from those just trying to not get arrested themselves, those who want to do something but don’t know how, those who think Hitler is a genuine hero, those who were so disillusioned and hurt after the Great War they are looking for anyone who will make Germany great again and restore some dignity to them, and some who are so wrapped up in themselves they care nothing for others. Gidwitz helps readers realize that not everyone in Germany, or even in the Nazi party, supported everything Hitler stood for, that there was a wide spectrum of responses among the German people. Max gets himself signed up for a Hitler Youth troop to avoid trouble and some of the teaching and experiences in that group are horrifying, but based on real experiences of kids from the past. Max’s two assignments seem pretty impossible, but he is quite the clever little spy and he has something he’s fighting for which can make all the difference in survival. Seeing him work his way after one potentially deadly scenario after another makes for quite exciting reading, and definitely keeps the pages flying.
Notes on content:
Language: 3 minor swears
Sexual content: None
Violence: The book starts with Max strapped to a paratrooper who died during their landing. Max witnesses others being beat, he’s in a fight with another boy, he learns of people dying in concentration camps. Max contemplates trying to stab Hitler, but decides it wouldn’t work.
Ethnic diversity: Max is a German Jew, most others in this book are gentile Germans, at the very end some British Jews and gentiles appear.
LGBTQ+ content: Max befriends a man who owns a radio shop who deeply misses a guy friend who has moved to Australia. It is just hinted in the text that he is gay, Gidwitz states it outright in the afterward notes.
Other: Extreme racism and prejudice are huge topics. Max has to deal with his own hatred and prejudice in response. Max has to do a lot of lying to survive.
Gidwitz has done an excellent job of bringing Nazi Germany to life for middle grade readers. Max meets a wide variety of people in Berlin, from those just trying to not get arrested themselves, those who want to do something but don’t know how, those who think Hitler is a genuine hero, those who were so disillusioned and hurt after the Great War they are looking for anyone who will make Germany great again and restore some dignity to them, and some who are so wrapped up in themselves they care nothing for others. Gidwitz helps readers realize that not everyone in Germany, or even in the Nazi party, supported everything Hitler stood for, that there was a wide spectrum of responses among the German people. Max gets himself signed up for a Hitler Youth troop to avoid trouble and some of the teaching and experiences in that group are horrifying, but based on real experiences of kids from the past. Max’s two assignments seem pretty impossible, but he is quite the clever little spy and he has something he’s fighting for which can make all the difference in survival. Seeing him work his way after one potentially deadly scenario after another makes for quite exciting reading, and definitely keeps the pages flying.
Notes on content:
Language: 3 minor swears
Sexual content: None
Violence: The book starts with Max strapped to a paratrooper who died during their landing. Max witnesses others being beat, he’s in a fight with another boy, he learns of people dying in concentration camps. Max contemplates trying to stab Hitler, but decides it wouldn’t work.
Ethnic diversity: Max is a German Jew, most others in this book are gentile Germans, at the very end some British Jews and gentiles appear.
LGBTQ+ content: Max befriends a man who owns a radio shop who deeply misses a guy friend who has moved to Australia. It is just hinted in the text that he is gay, Gidwitz states it outright in the afterward notes.
Other: Extreme racism and prejudice are huge topics. Max has to deal with his own hatred and prejudice in response. Max has to do a lot of lying to survive.
May 19, 2025
I didn't like the first book, but one big sticking point was the sudden ending. Obviously, that wouldn't be a problem again.
But the other major problems are still here in this one, and they made reading the first 3/4 of this a slog. Stein and Berg are one of those problems - they don't need to be here, and when they contribute to the plot, they do so in actively harmful ways (narratively). There is a little bit of comic relief with them, to the extent you find them funny, but more often they serve to hammer home some misdirect Max is brewing up. It was like watching a bad reality show where there was not enough tension inherent in the scene, so the producers use editing tricks to make you bite on the premise. Even worse is when they slip Max some knowledge he wouldn't otherwise know. He's already incredibly smart, but he also has magic on his side. (And don’t get me started on “he gave a long, dangerous speech… but just to Stein and Berg, fooled ya.” It-was-all-a-dream caliber storytelling.)
Along those same lines, this book had a rhythm to it that got very predictable. It was a series of small challenges where Max needed to accomplish something, a roadblock got put in his way, Stein and Berg repeated to us how bad the roadblock was, Max does something risky, Stein and Berg tell us it is sure to fail, but then it's revealed that Max has used his genius to get out of the jam in ways more spectacular than he could have hoped. By the fourth or fifth iteration, you wanted to yell and Stein and Berg to stop doubting Max - he ends up being liked by Goebbels and gets to meet Hitler, at a certain point you'd think they'd be on board with him.
Less critically, there was a point in this novel where I had to wonder how this was going to end. This is a story spread across two novels, so was there going to be a payoff to make it all worth it? On the one hand, Berg and Stein place this series in the world of fantasy, but otherwise, it seems to be fairly well grounded in reality. Max is not a real person, so there's only so much he could end up accomplishing in a spy mission to change the course of a world war. Was Max going to assassinate Hitler? Presumably not, although pulling a Tarantino would have certainly been an interesting choice. But again, after two novels of Max's genius allowing him to fly up the ladder of spy training then Nazi infiltration, what was the possible climax? A brief radio address telling his story is something, I guess, but it feels like an afterthought. Being able to provide intelligence about concentration camps while getting to see his mother is about as big as you could hope for, but it feels like the ending of a subtler, more thoughtful version of this story.
But the other major problems are still here in this one, and they made reading the first 3/4 of this a slog. Stein and Berg are one of those problems - they don't need to be here, and when they contribute to the plot, they do so in actively harmful ways (narratively). There is a little bit of comic relief with them, to the extent you find them funny, but more often they serve to hammer home some misdirect Max is brewing up. It was like watching a bad reality show where there was not enough tension inherent in the scene, so the producers use editing tricks to make you bite on the premise. Even worse is when they slip Max some knowledge he wouldn't otherwise know. He's already incredibly smart, but he also has magic on his side. (And don’t get me started on “he gave a long, dangerous speech… but just to Stein and Berg, fooled ya.” It-was-all-a-dream caliber storytelling.)
Along those same lines, this book had a rhythm to it that got very predictable. It was a series of small challenges where Max needed to accomplish something, a roadblock got put in his way, Stein and Berg repeated to us how bad the roadblock was, Max does something risky, Stein and Berg tell us it is sure to fail, but then it's revealed that Max has used his genius to get out of the jam in ways more spectacular than he could have hoped. By the fourth or fifth iteration, you wanted to yell and Stein and Berg to stop doubting Max - he ends up being liked by Goebbels and gets to meet Hitler, at a certain point you'd think they'd be on board with him.
Less critically, there was a point in this novel where I had to wonder how this was going to end. This is a story spread across two novels, so was there going to be a payoff to make it all worth it? On the one hand, Berg and Stein place this series in the world of fantasy, but otherwise, it seems to be fairly well grounded in reality. Max is not a real person, so there's only so much he could end up accomplishing in a spy mission to change the course of a world war. Was Max going to assassinate Hitler? Presumably not, although pulling a Tarantino would have certainly been an interesting choice. But again, after two novels of Max's genius allowing him to fly up the ladder of spy training then Nazi infiltration, what was the possible climax? A brief radio address telling his story is something, I guess, but it feels like an afterthought. Being able to provide intelligence about concentration camps while getting to see his mother is about as big as you could hope for, but it feels like the ending of a subtler, more thoughtful version of this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2025
This is the second of a duology. Max has managed his basic goal from the first book: he got back to Berlin to look for his parents. He is a spy for Britain. He has both an official and unofficial mission: infiltrate the radio station where the Nazis spun the propaganda that harnessed the Germans to do Hitler’s wishes and gather information as well as his unofficial mission of finding and saving his parents. If you have met Max before, you can guess whether he succeeded in these missions. If you haven’t met Max before, you need to stop reading these reviews and go read the first book, because this won’t make any sense otherwise.
This was excellent and depressing. There is a not subtle message at all of this book being written to Americans under Trump. The banality of why people supported Hitler is very important for Americans to hear. People supported Hitler because of the big lie that Germany was treated unfairly after WWI. That Hitler would make Germany great again. Gee, where have we Americans heard that lately? There were other reasons as well: fear. As Max says, there were 70 million reasons why each person supported Tr, err Hitler, but there were some common ones.
The author wrote a really rather unbelievable story that a 13 year old boy could make as many slips as he did and not be found out. I think some of this was that he really didn’t care about the story. It’s the point of the story he cared about. He wanted readers to see that Max can slip by in spite of his mistakes because so many were actually not all that supportive of Hitler. He wanted people to see that the people in Berlin were not monsters, but people who went along with Hitler for many weak reasons. The way people voted for trump over the price of eggs being too high. I did not care for that message even though I understood it. Because Hitler may have been a blowhard and loved the sound of his voice like trump does, but his people were also very effective. Many died horrible deaths trying to fight back against Hitler. So I didn’t appreciate that part of the story at all. But because this has an important message, I’m giving it 4 stars. Recommended.
This was excellent and depressing. There is a not subtle message at all of this book being written to Americans under Trump. The banality of why people supported Hitler is very important for Americans to hear. People supported Hitler because of the big lie that Germany was treated unfairly after WWI. That Hitler would make Germany great again. Gee, where have we Americans heard that lately? There were other reasons as well: fear. As Max says, there were 70 million reasons why each person supported Tr, err Hitler, but there were some common ones.
The author wrote a really rather unbelievable story that a 13 year old boy could make as many slips as he did and not be found out. I think some of this was that he really didn’t care about the story. It’s the point of the story he cared about. He wanted readers to see that Max can slip by in spite of his mistakes because so many were actually not all that supportive of Hitler. He wanted people to see that the people in Berlin were not monsters, but people who went along with Hitler for many weak reasons. The way people voted for trump over the price of eggs being too high. I did not care for that message even though I understood it. Because Hitler may have been a blowhard and loved the sound of his voice like trump does, but his people were also very effective. Many died horrible deaths trying to fight back against Hitler. So I didn’t appreciate that part of the story at all. But because this has an important message, I’m giving it 4 stars. Recommended.
March 22, 2025
The first in this duology won an award, I bought it for our library, read it and promptly had to buy the sequel. For kids, and adults, the bibliography is phenomenal, and I appreciate that it's included, along with the "how much is real?" section.
Max, our plucky 12, no, 13 year old spy, has returned to Germany, against his parents' wishes (why else did they put him on a Kindertransport?) and against his dybbuk and kobold's wishes (why else did they latch onto him as he was leaving Germany)? His mission is, well, not simple: infiltrate Funkhaus (the location of propaganda and radio transmitters to share same) by befriending a lonely son of a powerful radio personality and broadcaster. The mission doesn't start well: the person who parachutes in with him dies on landing. And it gets worse: the family who's taken over his family's apartment are Nazi supporters (and the girl his age is clearly reporting everyone and anyone). Max does have some luck, in befriending who he must befriend, in getting a job in the Funkhaus, and (unbelievably, but reads relatively true to the historic record) getting help from a high ranking official who is opposed to Nazism and is working to defeat and deflect from the inside. Things are scary, between everyone spying on everyone else to joining Hitler Youth, from meeting Joseph Goebbels to lunch with Adolf Hitler. Through it all, Max continues to think several steps ahead, and keeps his head, improvising when he needs to, and putting his time in the heart of propaganda creation to excellent (if not honest) use.
Max accomplishes both of the missions --the one he was given, and the one he gave himself (to find his parents). And then it turns out that, at 13, you don't know everything: what he thought was a private mission was actually part of his mission (unbeknownst to some of his handlers). And although he loses Berg and Stein, they're doing what they need to, where they need to, and I hope it works and his mom survives.
Max, our plucky 12, no, 13 year old spy, has returned to Germany, against his parents' wishes (why else did they put him on a Kindertransport?) and against his dybbuk and kobold's wishes (why else did they latch onto him as he was leaving Germany)? His mission is, well, not simple: infiltrate Funkhaus (the location of propaganda and radio transmitters to share same) by befriending a lonely son of a powerful radio personality and broadcaster. The mission doesn't start well: the person who parachutes in with him dies on landing. And it gets worse: the family who's taken over his family's apartment are Nazi supporters (and the girl his age is clearly reporting everyone and anyone). Max does have some luck, in befriending who he must befriend, in getting a job in the Funkhaus, and (unbelievably, but reads relatively true to the historic record) getting help from a high ranking official who is opposed to Nazism and is working to defeat and deflect from the inside. Things are scary, between everyone spying on everyone else to joining Hitler Youth, from meeting Joseph Goebbels to lunch with Adolf Hitler. Through it all, Max continues to think several steps ahead, and keeps his head, improvising when he needs to, and putting his time in the heart of propaganda creation to excellent (if not honest) use.
Max accomplishes both of the missions --the one he was given, and the one he gave himself (to find his parents). And then it turns out that, at 13, you don't know everything: what he thought was a private mission was actually part of his mission (unbeknownst to some of his handlers). And although he loses Berg and Stein, they're doing what they need to, where they need to, and I hope it works and his mom survives.
April 15, 2025
I was so blown away by the first book in this duology— the ambition; the ethics; the extremely Jewish deployment of humor in dead-serious circumstances; the blend of real history/real historical figures, rip-roaring adventure, and folklore; the depiction of a young hero who isn't a Chosen One but who is brave and scrappy and super-smart in specific ways — I couldn't possibly have loved this one more. And I didn't. Which just means it's STILL amazing and still SO RELEVANT to the world we live in today and a gazillion percent better than most middle-grade novels. And the ending made me CRYYYYYYYYY.
I am on record (in the NYT!) as saying that a lot of Holocaust books for kids are essentially Bad for the Jews. They center non-Jewish heroes too often, portraying Jews as sheep; they want to not be TOO depressing so they allow too many Jewish characters to survive; they are age-inappropriate or faux-naif or choose metaphor over honesty or decide to spotlight The Sunny Side of Anne Frank (ugghhhhhh, folks just LOVE to quote "people are really good at heart," but she also talked about the world gradually being turned into a wilderness and hearing the approaching thunder, and BEE TEE DUBS she was MURDERED, and if you want to share the story of Anne Frank, do her memory the minimal courtesy of READING HER ACTUAL WORDS -- this child who wanted so desperately to be a writer when she grew up and the Nazis stole that from her); finally, they make the Holocaust seem a singular, other thing that's over now. Gidwitz doesn't fall into ANY of these traps.
In sum: These two books are assured and accomplished and emotionally resonant and pedagogically responsible ... and super-duper kid-friendly. They are not spinach. They don't put virtue over readability. ALL THE KUDOS to Gidwitz.
I am on record (in the NYT!) as saying that a lot of Holocaust books for kids are essentially Bad for the Jews. They center non-Jewish heroes too often, portraying Jews as sheep; they want to not be TOO depressing so they allow too many Jewish characters to survive; they are age-inappropriate or faux-naif or choose metaphor over honesty or decide to spotlight The Sunny Side of Anne Frank (ugghhhhhh, folks just LOVE to quote "people are really good at heart," but she also talked about the world gradually being turned into a wilderness and hearing the approaching thunder, and BEE TEE DUBS she was MURDERED, and if you want to share the story of Anne Frank, do her memory the minimal courtesy of READING HER ACTUAL WORDS -- this child who wanted so desperately to be a writer when she grew up and the Nazis stole that from her); finally, they make the Holocaust seem a singular, other thing that's over now. Gidwitz doesn't fall into ANY of these traps.
In sum: These two books are assured and accomplished and emotionally resonant and pedagogically responsible ... and super-duper kid-friendly. They are not spinach. They don't put virtue over readability. ALL THE KUDOS to Gidwitz.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews