Max in the Land of Lies - (Operation Kinderspion) by Adam Gidwitz (Hardcover)

About the Book

Young British spy Max Bretzfeld infiltrates Nazi Germany's propaganda hub while secretly searching for his missing parents.

Book Synopsis

Instant New York Times bestseller! USA Today bestseller!

"A heartrending masterpiece of middle-grade historical fiction.″ -Booklist, starred review

"The whip-smart combination of intrigue and adventure along with thought-provoking reflection makes for a nail-biting, laugh-out loud, stop-and-think read." -School Library Journal, starred review

"A headlong thriller laced with provocative and topical historical truths." -Kirkus, starred review

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.

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.

Review Quotes

"An essential new tale to the canon of WWII fiction, delivering what is at once an engrossing spythriller and an appropriately devastating story of a boy coming of age in an impossibly brutal world. An exquisite work of craft and a profoundly sensitive guide to the horrors of Nazi Germany." -Booklist, starred review

"Chapter by hair-raising chapter, Max finds himself in situations few could escape from and yet, through wits and sheer determination, he persists.... Planted within a thrilling spy tale is a message about human nature that rings as true in current times as it might have in the 1940s, without an ounce of preachiness." -School Library Journal, starred review

"Max in the Land of Lies is an absorbing whirl of narrow squeaks and tense, clever exploits, lightened by moments of comfort and comical commentary. This sequel trusts readers with critically relevant insights on necessary vigilance and the human capacity for monstrous behavior." -Kirkus, starred review


Don't miss Max in the House of Spies, an acclaimed Best Book of 2024!

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 - ALA Notable Book

"Everything you could hope for in a book: a magical, historical spy thriller--that's also spectacularly funny. I couldn't put it down!" -R. J. Palacio, #1 bestselling author of Wonder

"If you've ever dreamed of being a spy, this book is for you." -Alan Gratz, #1 bestselling author of Refugee and Projekt 1065

"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." -The Wall Street Journal

"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

"An inspiring and exciting tale of one boy's determination in the face of extreme prejudice and violence. Never heavy or sorrowful; instead, filled with humor, hope, and tenacity." -Shelf Awareness, starred review

"This heartfelt historical novel explores big questions of autonomy and allegiance with an admirable protagonist readers will respect and adore." --Booklist, 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

About the Author

Bestselling author Adam Gidwitz was a teacher for eight years. He told countless stories to his students, who then demanded he write his first book, A Tale Dark & Grimm. Adam has since written two companion novels, In a Glass Grimmly and The Grimm Conclusion. He is also the author of The Inquisitor's Tale, which won the Newbery Honor, and The Unicorn Rescue Society series. Adam still tells creepy, funny fairy tales live to kids on his podcast Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest--and at schools around the world. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, daughter, and dog, Lucy Goosey.