Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II by Adam Gidwitz

1 review

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:

• 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!

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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