Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II by Adam Gidwitz (Dutton Books for Young Readers, February 2024) is a unique World War II book as our young Jewish main character only wants to return to Berlin, not stay in London. The great news is that, with a spy in the house, there is a great chance Max can find his way, if only he can too become a spy.
Max is a completely loveable boy and his story is so far fetched that it is completely loveable too. See, Max, who arrived in England thanks to the Kindertransport, wants to return to Nazi Germany. But not only does he live with a spy, he has two invisible magical fantastical Jewish creatures perched on his shoulders.
Yes, the mischief-making goblin called a kobold (Berg) and the disembodied annoying spirit called a dybbuk (Stein) add a side narration to Max’s story that is truly bewildering. It’s not like good and bad angels on his shoulders to help him make decisions and weigh the sides. No, it’s more like two annoying people arguing just for argument’s sake. The book is hilarious. A book about a Jewish child during the Holocaust era must have some degree of humor and Gidwitz has found it. With Max’s strong and loving personality, his creative thinking, and the magical creatures talking to him, humor abounds. I laughed out loud while reading it.
Just as at home in Berlin, Max faces anti-Semitism in England. But that doesn’t turn him away. He takes it in stride, helping the Jewish boy he’s staying with see ways to deal with bullies. Max is staying with a very wealthy family, and although they, too, are Jewish, the different culture makes him so homesick for his own dear parents that he becomes determined to find his way home. Thankfully, Max is a genius with electronics. His clever solutions and tricky means of getting his way eventually lead him to the chance he desires: a way back to Berlin, but this time as a British spy.
Before it even begins, the author reminds us that we need to pretend like we know nothing about World War II, about the Holocaust, or about future events for the Jewish people. We need to try to approach the Max’s story fresh, because that is how he is approaching it. This is always hard to do. Did I read it with a “I know nothing” perspective? No one truly can. But that is a part of the intrigue. As we know this book (billed to be part of a duology) is now to move back into Germany, our historical knowledge will be even harder to forget as we read the second book (coming next year hopefully?).
My only complaint is that the book ends on a cliffhanger. I’m glad to know there will be more Max. I do hope the author and publisher keep it on track as planned (and not grow it into more than two books if it doesn’t need it, just to make more money). Would this book work as a Newbery award winner or honor? In some respects, the need-for-the-sequel aspect makes it seem like it’s not complete itself. I wonder how others see it. Is it a complete book, just how it is? I haven’t decided. I’m a bit miffed I have to wait longer to discover the rest of Max’s story.
