One of the reasons that I am always telling people that WWII is so often written about is that there is such a clear line between good and evil and so it is so easy to make into a work of fiction. Gidwitz may have made me swallow my words. Is war ever so simple for either side? Are there no gray areas that we could closer evaluate to gain empathy and better understand individuals?
Max in the Land of Lies picks up right where it left off from book one’s intense cliff hanger and keeps us on our toes throughout the book. In war and espionage there is no shortage of intensity and emotion, and you feel it all in this captivating sequel!

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.

Twelve year old Max Bretzfeld is back in Nazi Germany with an important task to complete for the Allied Forces. And while his spy mission for the Allies is a priority, Max has a secret second intent as well: to locate his missing Jewish parents. With Hitler in power and Jewish people disappearing around the country, Max must fully commit to his false identity and tread carefully among the Nazi sympathizers in his midst. Luckily, Max’s invisible companions Stein and Berg are along for the ride, and the unlikely trio must work together to ensure the success of Max’s mission and help turn the tide of the war.

This sequel to Max in the House of Spies guides readers directly back into Max’s life as he re-enters a homeland that now feels completely foreign. Strong writing and brief chapters help propel the narrative forward, and immersive storytelling makes the novel appealing to a range of readers. Because the book’s genre is World War II historical fiction, the narrative is filled with well-researched information that gives readers a strong sense of what being in Germany in the 1940s would have been like. End matter explains where the line between truth and fiction in this story can be found, and the inclusion of this information inspires deeper investigation. Best for readers who are already familiar with Max’s first story, this novel is a powerful and memorable addition to the duology and to library collections for middle grade readers.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ahead of publication date. I really enjoyed the first book and was looking forward to the conclusion. It was even better than the first - enthralling, captivating, and unputdownable.

I can't think of a better character than 13 year old Max. A Jewish teenager who escaped from Germany, only to return to his home country as a spy for the British? This book had it all. It was action packed, tense, and nerve racking. Max was in so much danger every step of the way, at any time he could be discovered not only as being Jewish, but also being a spy. There were so many moments where my heart was pounding and I was terrified for Max.

Gidwitz does a fantastic job in showing what Nazi led Germany was in the early 1940s. How could a nation of 70 million believe the lies and propaganda from Hitler and the Nazi party? How could everyday Germans stand by and watch was happening to the Jewish people, the Romany, the disabled, the gay, and other marginalized groups? How could it have happened in modern times?

The horrors and tragedies of genocide were also portrayed, and done so in a way that was suitable for middle grade readers while still showing the depravity and evilness of German concentration camps. I can't stress how important it is to have books like this for kids today. We must never forget the past and the darkest moments of history.

Recommended for readers 10+ due to mature themes.

This book is so needed right now. I cried, I laughed, I read it in one day because I needed to know what happened. I absolutely loved it. After reading Max in the House of Spies, which I also loved, I knew the sequel would be good, but I didn't know just how good it would be, or just how much it would speak to our present moment. Not a day has gone by since I read it that I haven't thought about it. I think this book has so much to offer to all of us, not just middle-grade readers, although I certainly think middle-grade readers will love it, too. It was thrilling and heartfelt and so thought-provoking. I also appreciated the back matter, where Gidwitz notes which characters are historical figures—sometimes, I think authors find it difficult to fictionalize real people, but Gidwitz seamlessly integrated numerous historical figures into the plot, yet they still sounded like characters he would write. A must-read. 5 stars.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Max in the Land of Lies is a satisfying conclusion to Max's story. Although it doesn't necessarily stand on its own, the novel is gripping and offers a lot of exciting action for fans. It is perhaps a bit too intense for some younger readers but older middle grade readers will love it.

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.

Adam Gidwitz does it again in this series, it was a everything that I was hoping for from a sequel in the Max series. It uses the spy element perfectly and enjoyed getting back to Max’s world. It had that writing style that I enjoyed and worked overall with had that danger to it that I expected from the historical setting.