- a German Jewish boy sent to England for his safety finds himself working with spies against the Nazis
- 2 fantastical, immortal creatures (one a demon) begin living on his shoulders, only seen and heard by him
- several historical figures woven into this fictional narrative
- convo: Jewish hate and maltreatment, mentions Holocaust details (death camps/gas chambers/etc.), bullying at school (by students and teacher), alcoholic drinks mentioned, one beloved character is outspoken about the good of socialism (capitalism is frequently mentioned, always negatively), some teasing about a crush (that didn’t exist), multiple mentions of kicking groins of Nazis, gambling, lying
- language*: stupid x5, butt x3, poop x1, shut up x1, G*d (swear) x8, what the hell x1, bloody (swear) x13, darn x1, damn (swear) x3, screwed x1, crap x1, occasional name calling, arse x1
Type: historical fiction/fantasy
Ages: 12+
Author: Adam Gidwitz
*Reviewed via audiobook, so language notes might not be perfect.
This book had great potential. The story idea is compelling and set in an extremely popular historical period for readers. However, my overall impression after finishing is a feeling of dissatisfaction. Many elements of the book seemed random, poorly developed, or simply incomplete (and I’m not talking about the cliffhanger on which it ends).
Max, our main character, has to live through what no child should have to endure–persecution for his heritage and all that stems from it. One would think after escaping Germany, he’d find better treatment in England, but that’s not the case. Even his school teacher is mean to him. Fortunately, this does not last very long as he bonds with the family he’s living with and ultimately leaves that school.
Now about the two creatures living on his shoulders…so…so…weird! It almost seemed unnecessary to the story. They did occasionally help Max with something, but they’re either not referred to at all for surprisingly long chunks of time or they’re talking incessantly about nothing. I suppose it softens some of the harsh situations with comedic relief and companionship in loneliness, but they aren’t even always nice to him.
The author did a good job at painting the picture of the tumultuous war times at an age-appropriate level. Most readers aged 12 or higher should be able to handle the content. Besides the bad treatment of Jewish boys at schools, there are some intense interrogation scenes and one vivid night when a rabbi is dragged by his hair and then thrown through a window. This is in a memory Max recalls.
He spends a good portion of the book at what is basically a boot camp for spies. He is tested physically and mentally a number of different ways. Though it sometimes brings him to private tears, his perseverance and commitment to completing the program is inspiring.
Historical figures named in the book included Ian Fleming, Adolf Hitler, Dr. Joseph Goebbels, Winston Churchill, John Godfrey, Lord Rothschild, and more. This could lead readers down a lot of different roads with further reading!
Overall, I don’t regret reading it (if only to appease my curiosity), but it didn’t capture me enough to yearn for the sequel any time soon. Remember, though, that I’m not the primary audience, and you might just find it a tolerable read for your tween/teen if the above conversation points and language mentioned are manageable. Hope this review helps!