Please note: PJ Library chooses age-appropriate picture books to send to subscribers ages 0-8, and this would never include stories focused on war, Nazis, or children in perilous situations. Novels like Max in the Land of Lies are part of our PJ Our Way collection, from which older readers and their parents get to make their own monthly selection with the help of content guides that call attention to occasional mature subject matter.
In this sequel to Max in the House of Spies, 13-year-old Max Bretzfeld parachutes into Germany with a mission to infiltrate the Nazi radio and propaganda center, the Funkhaus. His ultimate goal, however, is to find his missing parents. While in Germany, Max is aided by a kind anti-Nazi pastor, faces off with Nazi sympathizers, learns that a high-ranking Nazi spy hates Hitler, and has a meal with Hitler himself. Max also befriends Freddie, the unpopular son of a Nazi, and is forced to join the Hitler Youth with Freddie in order to maintain his cover. Will he have enough time to deliver his important message and find his parents before escaping back to Britain?
Gidwitz’s latest book garnered starred reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Kirkus, which described the book as “an absorbing whirl of narrow squeaks and tense, clever exploits, lightened by moments of comfort and comical commentary.”
The PJ Our Way Book Selection Committee is always looking for fast paced stories that pull our readers in with strong tension and suspense. As one of our kid readers noted, “It kept me on the edge of my seat and was interesting on every turn. It also was very dramatic because you don’t know if Max’s gonna die, get caught, or complete his mission and escape.” This book is perfect for fans of action-packed historical fiction like Max in the House of Spies, How I Became a Spy, and The Inquisitor’s Tale.
More
Books About the Holocaust for Young Readers
Parents’ Guide to Max in the Land of Lies a Common Sense Media Selection
January 2, 2026