With a charming cast of characters, fast-paced plot, and compelling plot line, middle grade fans will breeze through this historical fiction story. The cliffhanger ending will make their jaws drop and have them counting down the days until the second book releases.

I really enjoyed this book. The author right out of the gate starts the book off with two questions for the reader to explore: 1. Why do people hate the Jews? and 2. Why/How can an entire country believe a lie? The story follows an Jewish boy, Max, who lives in Berlin who is sent via Kindertransport to England to live with relatives after Kristallnacht. Max decides he wants to return to Berlin to see his parents and to do so becomes a spy.

The author does a wonderful job of presenting mature content in a way that younger audiences can understand and grasp it. Truly a remarkable historical fiction novel. I can't wait for a sequel!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

This is a great story that deals with big topics that are relevant to current events. I loved the complexity of the story. Why on earth does it have a silly cartoon cover, though?

This is a wonderful book. Max is a Jewish boy growing up in Berlin when the Nazis take over. He is sent to Britain by his parents to keep him safe. Unfortunately, his parents are not allowed to come with him, Jewish adults were not welcome in Many parts of the world in those days.. While on his way to England Max discovers that a Kobold and a Dybbuk two characters from folklore have appeared on his shoulders. No one else can see or hear them, but they talk to Max. They are there mostly to heckle him, but they befriend him, and add some levity to what might otherwise be a grim situation. Max is clever and we get to see him strike back against prejudiced people, and forms bonds with some members of the family who have taken him in.

Max worries about his sweet kind parents, whom has has always felt protective of. What he wants more than anything is to return to Berlin and rescue his parents. Fortunately for Max he gets the opportunity to become a spy and return to Germany if only he can make it through the training course for spies...

Despite the subject matter this book was funny and Max is an engaging character that you are rooting for from the start!

This engaging story is about Max, who is on a Kindertransport boat to London in 1939. He ends up living with a kind and very wealthy Jewish family in London but finds that much of the antisemitism he faced in Berlin, is alive and well in London. But Max is an ingenious problem solver and is determined to get back to Berlin to save his family, The story is in turns funny and poignant and heart wrenching. I think the kids are going to love this one.

I read this with both myself and my 11 year old grandson in mind. After finishing it I knew that I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am sure that he would also enjoy it, so it is a wide range of appeal. It doesn't shy from facts and it gives the reader a lot to consider. It also has playful, fun, and fantastical elements despite it being in the category of historical fiction. This makes it approachable for the target readers and the whimsy is also quite enjoyable for adults. I can envision this as a family read as there will be plenty to discuss. We end with a cliff hanger and a hope that Book 2 comes to us as soon as possible! The back and front matter is also robust and helpful.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I can't wait to have my grandson read it!

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.

This was a really well done tale of World War. 2, it had that tension that I was looking for and I enjoyed getting to know Max. I love the use of espionage and that it kind of made you feel like you were a spy yourself in this. The rest of the cast felt like they were supposed to be in there and it was a great first book in this series. I look forward to reading more from Adam Gidwitz as I really enjoyed what i read.

While the dybbuk and the kobold on Max's shoulders lend an element of fantasy to this book, I would place it pretty squarely in historical fiction. Max is growing up in Berlin as the Nazis rise to power, facing growing antisemitism that not only restricts what he can do but leads to beatings and more. His parents are able to get him on the kindertransport to England, where he is taken in by a wealthy Jewish family. While this saves his life, he still faces a great deal of antisemitism in England. Although he is physically safe, Max is very worried about his parents and comes up with a plan to get himself back to Berlin to find them. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I will say there is a second book on the way and you're going to want to read it when you finish this one! Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.

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 12yr old boy main character’s shoulders. They 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.

- Adventure, Humor, and Some Very Big Questions -

“Max in the House of Spies” is an adventure story, a spy thriller and a very funny book. You may wonder how a story about a young Jewish refugee who would do almost anything to get back to Nazi Germany could be funny, the answer can be found with elements of magical realism, a genius kid and some fantastic writing.

Max’s parents have sent him to safety on the Kindertransport which brought around 10,000 Jewish children to the U.K. to stay with British families during the years before WW2 began. Max longed to return home, not just because he missed his parents, but because he felt that it was his job to help keep them safe. When he realizes that the family, he is living with has ties to espionage, he vows to himself to become a spy so that he can return home.

Max is such a genius that he is capable of being a spy, despite his age. But he is also special in another way. He has two tiny immortal creatures who have taken up residence on his shoulders. Like the little devil on the shoulders in cartoons of the past century, a dybbuk and a kobold that only Max can see and hear have attached themselves to him, using the kinder for transport. These two sarcastic imps serve a dual purpose in the story. They act as a Greek chorus and narrator, asking questions of Max and thus providing answers to the reader. They are also very funny. Between their banter and the stunts by the genius boy wonder, this adventure story is a lot of fun to read.

The author has done his research and has included real people and settings in this historical fiction. The book addresses some weighty topics. He addresses the issues of prejudice, propaganda, imperialism and the morality of choosing love over justice. The book asks questions for the reader to consider. But mostly it is just fun to read! Thanks to Dutton Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for early access to this book. I recommend it to any kid who likes adventure stories, historical fiction or magical realism. My only complaint is that I must wait about a year for the next book!

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 likable, clever and brave, that one can’t be helped by being drawn into this story as Mex begins his plan to get back home at a time when it’s dangerous and heartbreaking to be 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.

An interesting take on WWII fiction for children, Max in the House of Spies draws a portrait of a very likeable, complicated and interesting main character. Max's determination to return to Germany to find his parents, and his willingness to do anything to accomplish that makes an excellent parallel to the things he is being taught in the house of spies. Of course the idea that a child would be trained and deployed as a spy is fantastical, but with the addition of the kobold and dybbuk on his shoulders, we can accept a little fantasy. Stein and Berg are a great device to give opinions and insight about Max's real feelings and intentions. I love that they are neither all knowing nor entirely willing to help. This means they aren't a magical device Max can use to overcome every situation, but can be convinced to help on certain occasions. I felt like the end was rather abrupt, but with the phrase about building a watch, you can imagine Max's further adventures.

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.

Mr. Gidwitz is a clever man. He's written what I believe is the first and only middle grade Holocaust novel that will draw kids in by making them feel comfortable, understood and amused. Maybe Max's tale (and the comedic duo of magical creatures who sit on his shoulders) isn't particularly realistic -- what Kindertransport child would leave the lap of British luxury to return to Berlin? -- but suspending disbelief is worth it for the deeper understanding of history it allows. It's a true original and I hope a sequel follows soon.

I didn't finish this book because it was too good. Let me explain. With each page I read of the advanced digital copy I received, with each witty turn of phrase, I felt Gidwitz was writing directly to my 9 year old son. I wanted to read it to him and I wanted us to experience it together. So I didn't finish it, so that I might savor it with him. I offered to start over and read it to him off an iPad, but he said he'd rather us have the paper version (probably so that if it's as good as I described, he can yank it out of my hands and read it under the covers at night). So I pre-ordered it. I wanted to share my enthusiasm now, on International Holocaust Remembrance day, so that you might consider preordering it too.

A note about Max: kids love a self-sufficient, capable main character. Max is the equivalent of a modern-day hacker, but with radios. He's one step ahead of most adults, like a little Jewish Macgyver. There are simply not enough of these types of characters in the middle grade novels we read, and they go a long way in keeping independent readers engaged.

I snatched up an ARC of this when I saw Gidwitz - an author I had visit my school way back before Tale Dark and Grimm because huge. It wasn't until later that I realized I had forgotten about Gidwitz of The Inquisitor's Tale, a book I did not enjoy at all. Sadly, this title was more in the style of his later writings. It took awhile before I was certain where Max's loyalties were. Surely they were not with Germany since he was Jewish, but they also didn't seem to NOT be with Germany in several instances. I assume he was torn because everyone loves their homeland, but I don't feel like Gidwitz made that distinction clear. As for the spying, we didn't really get down to that until 70%ish into the book when he began his training. I would have much rather had that story piece starting a whole lot earlier. And although Max is smart, I didn't feel like he exhibited much vim and vigor that made me feel like he would be an excellent spy. I was particularly disappointed by the scene with the poker game. Considering that he was playing with four adult spies, they all seemed pretty dumb about spotting obvious lies and bluffing. Finally, what is up with the two creatures on his shoulders? How does that tie in to the book at all? They were useful for him in a few situations, but for the overall theme of the book..... I am left wondering about why it is so disjointed.

Absolutely loved this - almost threw my kindle across the room when it ended. Max is a precocious, loyal, confident, out of the box-thinking pre-teen that I would have wanted to be.

Full of magical realism - a kobold and a dybbuk. I didn't like it at first but it grows on you - think of them as a Greek chorus - adding background, insight into Max's personal thoughts, conflict, and humor.

Not big on the cover - I'll have to tell kids not to pay attention to it when I promote the book.

Wished it weren't written as a series but rather as a single volume....perhaps it will be republished some day in one. I'll have a long wait to find out.

I loved it! I wouldn't usually go for something with magical creatures in an otherwise normal world but I like historical fiction and we are learning about WWII at school so it's good to have some new books to recommend to the class. I'm so glad I did! I loved the familiar names from history that kept popping up and the characters were so well written. I was reminded, at times, of the nuns in Daisy May Johnson's How to Be Brave/True series, I think because, like the adults in this book, they don't underestimate children or treat them as any less intelligent, just because they're younger. I also loved Berg and Stein and the history of their characters and how well they try to hide that they do like Max really, despite how rude they are to him at times.

Middle grade + historical fiction + magical realism + Jewish rep + spy novel

Fantastic read about a German boy, Max, who is sent on Kindertransport to London. He finds any way possible to get back to his parents, leading to him becoming a spy.

Full of history, mystery, excitement and a great addition to any middle grade library!

World War II has officially begun, and eleven-year-old Max Bretzfeld has been shipped from his home in Berlin, Germany to the presumably safe residence of distant relatives outside of London, England. Interestingly, Max has not been dispatched alone; he now has two supernatural beings accompanying him that nobody else can see. Being Jewish, Max has honed the skills necessary to survive in an increasingly antisemitic world, but when he discovers the true identities of the family members that have taken him in, he learns that his skills may prove even more valuable than he initially realized.

This intriguing middle grade novel has much of the feeling of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in that the narrative is told from the perspective of an omniscient narrator who often inserts humor in unexpected places. The pacing of the book moves quickly, and readers will be intrigued to experience World War II from the unique angle used in this novel. Max is the focus of the story, and though he is not the one to tell the tale, he is a curious character to examine from a distance. He has many observational skills, and his love for his parents and his heritage are palpable throughout the novel.

While Max’s story could easily be one of heartbreak and despair, this book has turned the status quo in a different direction by incorporating humor and supernatural creatures into an otherwise difficult situation. These additions give readers more to contemplate, especially as they consider the true events of World War II in a fresh light. As in other middle grade novels, bullying runs rampant in this book as well, but Max is an excellent role model as he uses his intellect and unique skill set to best others without the use of violence. Engaging, humorous, and uniquely told, this is a fun addition to World War II historical fiction collections for middle grade readers, and it is poised for a sequel.