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purplepenning 's review for:
Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II
by Adam Gidwitz
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A great WWII middle grade series opener — with a brutal cliffhanger. (The audiobook is excellent and may account for at least a half star in my rating.)
What I liked:
What I liked:
- Takes sufficient time to lay the groundwork for Max's character and situation
- beautifully constructs snapshots of everyday life in Germany before the war
- doesn't shy away from the difficulties and atrocities both in Berlin and the English school
- adds levity and a touch of supernatural emotional support through the imps that accompany Max
- clearly explains at the end which parts are historically accurate
- gives us an endearing hero who demonstrates both physical and mental strength in totally unfair situations
That cliffhanger though. I wish I had book two ready to go!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Antisemitism
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Slavery