The propaganda of then and now
The most interesting thing about Max’s return to Berlin isn’t the gadgets or the narrow escapes—it’s the setting. By placing Max inside the Funkhaus, the literal heart of the Nazi radio machine, Adam Gidwitz turns a standard WWII spy story into a masterclass on media literacy.
In 2025, kids are swimming in deepfakes and algorithmic bias. Max is dealing with the analog version: the "Big Lie." Watching him navigate a world where his job is to help craft the very propaganda he’s trying to dismantle is a high-wire act of moral ambiguity. It forces readers to ask: when does a "necessary lie" for a good cause start to rot your character? This isn't just a history lesson; it’s a manual for how to spot when you’re being played.
Why the "shoulder monsters" work
If you’re wondering why a serious Holocaust-era thriller features Berg and Stein—the immortal creatures living on Max’s shoulders—it’s not just Gidwitz being quirky. These characters act as the reader’s emotional exhaust valve.
Historical fiction for this age group often swings between being too dry or too devastating. Berg and Stein provide the "laugh-out-loud" moments mentioned by critics, but they also serve as a philosophical chorus. They allow Max (and the reader) to process the sheer absurdity of Nazi ideology without the book feeling like a lecture. It’s a brilliant narrative trick that makes the heavy reality of 1940s Berlin feel approachable for a 12-year-old who might otherwise find the subject matter too grim to finish.
The Gratz-to-Gidwitz pipeline
If your kid has already burned through every Alan Gratz book on the shelf, this is the natural next step. While Gratz excels at high-octane, cinematic action, Gidwitz leans harder into the psychological toll of espionage.
This is a "radio wunderkind" story, meaning the tension comes from what is said (or not said) over the airwaves. It’s a quieter, more cerebral kind of suspense. If you have a younger reader (around 8 or 9) who isn't quite ready for the intense emotional weight of the Holocaust themes here, you might want to look at our list of the Best New Books for 8-9 Year Olds in 2025 for something a bit more age-appropriate before tackling this duology.
Don't skip the "House"
It’s rare that a sequel is truly mandatory, but Max in the Land of Lies is the back half of a single, continuous thought. If you jump straight into this one because of the "Land of Lies" hook, the emotional stakes of Max finding his parents won't land. The first book, Max in the House of Spies, sets up why a Jewish boy would ever choose to go back to Germany. Without that context, Max’s choices in the Funkhaus might seem reckless rather than heroic. Get both, and treat them as one 600-page epic.
