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library_kb's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
The most disappointing part of this book is when it ended. From the first page, which is an amazing first page to introduce the book, I loved the lighthearted banter between Stein, Berg, and Max, which balanced out some of the more difficult topics present in the book, like anti-Semitism and World War II. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series and recommending it widely!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: War
purplepenning's review
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
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, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Colonisation, Grief, Racism, War, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Death, Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
Minor: Slavery
craftymxlibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
slow-paced
4.0
This is a solid WWII story with more than a little dash of "When the Angels Left the Old Country" and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series! That said, it did suffer from pacing issues in my opinion. I think it could have done without most of the first half of the book. I kept wondering why it was called "House of Spies" when there was no mention of spies or spying at all. Once it finally gets to that part, though, it feels rushed to get to the cliff-hanger. I would have preferred more time spent on the spying/training and less on all the lead-up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Antisemitism, and Death
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