Max in the Land of Lies

By: Adam Gidwitz

Published by Penguin Group, 2026-02-03

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.