Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz

This book is a finalist for a 2024 Cybils Book Award in Elementary/Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction.

What worked:

The author weaves information about World War II into the plot as Max’s parents send him away from Germany in 1940. The story chronicles the Nazi’s mistreatment of Jews and rumors of death camps in Germany. Russia is allied with Germany and has its own concentration camps for Jews. Readers may not be aware that many countries weren’t accepting Jewish refugees including the United States. England won’t take Jewish adults fleeing Germany but their children are allowed to enter. Max ends up living with a wealthy family in London although he’s not happy being away from his parents. News articles are written about Germany taking over several European countries before it began dropping bombs into civilian areas of London.

Max is a clever, resourceful eleven-year-old and he’s learned to think three or four steps ahead of everyone else. He uses his wits to help his younger foster brother deal with bullies and he gets revenge against a cruel teacher. Max has a special talent for working with radios and it comes in handy when adjusting to life in his foster home. He modifies his radio to pick up stations he used to hear back in Berlin. He fiddles with car radios to become pseudo-bugging devices to further his cunning plans. Readers will feel Max’s frustrations and longing to be reunited with his parents but they’ll marvel at his ingenious schemes. He uses all his mental resources to graduate from his one-month spy training.

This book is speculative fiction due the kobold and dybbuk, named Stein and Berg, sitting on each of Max’s shoulders. These small invisible creatures have been around since the start of time and they’re normally mischief makers. They’re not sure how to deal with Max but they offer advice, ridicule, or bewilderment depending on what he’s done. They often don’t understand Max’s actions but other times they support him with their disruptive antics. The kobold and dybbuk always provide humor for young readers.

What didn’t work as well:

Some young readers may want more from the resolution as the book ends at a dramatic moment. However, the sequel picks up where this book leaves off and has an equally wonderful story.

The final verdict:

The book tells a gripping story as Max is the only young person in a cast of adults. The inclusion of information about WW II provides a historical context. Max has learned to survive the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany and he uses those lessons and his creative thinking to become a spy for the British army. Overall, this book is worthy of being a Cybils finalist and I recommend you give it a shot.