Max in the House of Spies

A Tale of World War II

By: Adam Gidwitz

Narrated by: Euan Morton

“Max in the House of Spies is everything you could hope for in a book,” -R. J. Palacio, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wonder, White Bird, and Pony

“Espionage! Secrets! Suspense! If you’ve ever dreamed of being a spy, this book is for you.” -Alan Gratz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Refugee and Projekt 1065

Max Bretzfeld doesn’t want to move to London.

Leaving home is hard and Max is alone for the first time in his life. But not for long. Max is surprised to discover that he’s been joined by two unexpected traveling companions, one on each shoulder, a kobold and a dybbuk named Berg and Stein.

Germany is becoming more and more dangerous for Jewish families, but Max is determined to find a way back home, and back to his parents. He has a plan to return to Berlin. It merely involves accomplishing the impossible: becoming a British spy.

The first book in a duology, Max in the House of Spies is a thought-provoking World War II story as only acclaimed storyteller Adam Gidwitz can tell it—fast-paced and hilarious, with a dash of magic and a lot of heart.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains photos and an annotated bibliography from the book.

Critic reviews

Instant New York Times bestseller • Wall Street Journal Best Books of the Year • Booklist Editors’ Choice • Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year • School Library Journal Best Books of the Year • Common Sense Best Books of the Year • Imagination Soup Best Books of the Year • Tablet Magazine Best Books of the Year

“A cracking adventure story…. Readers will seethe with Max at the teasing, pine with him as he longs for home, and cheer as he trounces his adversaries to the point of being taken on by British espionage.″ —Wall Street Journal

“Absolutely everything a reader could want in a World War II spy novel.″ —School Library Journal, starred review

“Clever Max plays the long game with determination, and his agency is refreshing…. This heartfelt historical novel explores big questions of autonomy and allegiance with an admirable protagonist readers will respect and adore.” —Booklist, starred review

“Max’s training as a spy is described in riveting detail, with readers rooting for the determined boy even as we know the dangers awaiting him if he passes the test.” —The Horn Book, starred review

“Gidwitz imbues Max’s first-person voice with plentiful charm and intellect, making him an irresistible and irrepressible protagonist…. An exciting mixture of triumphs and perils, leading up to a cliffhanger ending that will have readers clamoring for the sequel.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Newbery Honor winner Adam Gidwitz uses historical events to build this inspiring and exciting tale of one boy′s determination in the face of extreme prejudice and violence.... The novel is never heavy or sorrowful; instead, Max in the House of Spies is filled with humor, hope, and tenacity.″ —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Funny, fraught, magical… A thrilling tale, irresistible characters, and many hilarious moments sit atop a lot of dark history and ethical issues in Adam Gidwitz′s WWII tale of a radio-whiz Kindertransport kid in spy school.” –Common Sense Media, five stars

“A duology opener with a truly likable hero and clever puzzling. Max in the House of Spies—packed with sideways thinking, sociopolitical insights, and a Marmite-eating kangaroo named Kathy—delights.″ —Kirkus

Fast paced adventure

The two fantastical creatures can get a little tiresome, and sometimes I wished they had more relevance to the story. But overall I would definitely recommend it as good diversion for exercise. (Because it’s easy to follow and not many complicated details to keep track of. )

Spellbinding!

Impeccable performance by the reader with all characters and their accents of a story that is fictional but throughly researched and based on historical facts.

A kids book fit for adults.

Wow. The story premise is pure middle grade fantasy, but the actual writing of it is serious adult fiction in theme and detail. Max is a refugee Jewish German kid who was sent to England for safety from a country rapidly becoming deadly to Jews under Hitler's regime. His parents were not allowed to escape and Max's continuing dream and determination is to return to Berlin and help them get to safety. This story tells of the extraordinary means used to attempt to do that. Could it really have happened? Perhaps......

Take a chance on the book

A pre-teen Jewish boy, Max, who escapes from Germany while the borders are being locked down. Max ends up being interrogated by British intelligence and then returned to Germany as a spy. Low cost, quick read, and the good guys win.

Fantastic Realism

Felt like a Jewish kid surviving WW2. Went right on into the next book. A little historical fiction, urban fantasy, and spy thriller all rolled into one.