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 spymasters: Infiltrate the Funkhaus, the center of Nazi radio and propaganda.
The other they have forbidden: 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.---from the publisher
352 pages 978-0593112113 Ages 8-12
Keywords: spies, espionage, main character male, historical fiction, World War II, Holocaust, Jewish, courage, parents, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old, sequel
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MAX IN THE LAND OF LIES is the second book in this trilogy and it takes things to a darker place. Such an important story and brilliantly told, it centers around Max and his struggle to find his parents in Germany while on his mission with MI-5. This book offers up the ugly history of many countries, not just Germany and that may be startling for young readers. But this book is about truth and integrity and the times in human history when those go out the window.
This story is so valuable for our times. It's a reminder of how we get into human predicaments; how we need someone who seems to have the answers or something bigger than ourselves that has an image of power we can belong to and therefore feel we have power when in reality that elusive feeling is missing from our own choices and our own lives.
Max uses his brain again in this story but there aren't light moments where he defeats bullies using his own abilities as in book one. There are bullies at all levels of life in this one. It stays in that dark space.
I think it's important for readers to know it shifts and moves to a space beyond our 8 and 9 year olds. I recommend this for 10 and up. The first book in the series was comfortable for younger readers.
I look forward to book 3. Thank you Adam Gidwitz. Superb and insightful storytelling - a great way to cast light in the dark places.
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
