Middle School and Up
Max Bretzfeld doesn’t want to move to London.
Leaving home is hard, and Max is alone for the first time in his life. But not for long. Max is surprised to discover that he’s been joined by two unexpected traveling companions, one on each shoulder, a kobold and a dybbuk named Berg and Stein.
Germany is becoming more and more dangerous for Jewish families, but Max is determined to find a way back home and back to his parents. He has a plan to return to Berlin. It merely involves accomplishing the impossible: becoming a British spy.
There is nothing quite as scary as being sent away to a country you’ve never been to, where you don’t know anyone, can barely speak the language, all alone, with no way to get in touch with your parents. Sadly, that was the situation Max and many other children were put into.
In Max’s case, he’s not alone. He has two small immortal creatures of mischief that only he can see along for the ride. Berg is a kobold, a spirit from the land of Germany. Stein is a dubbuk, a spirit of the Jewish people. The most interesting thing about these creatures was that no one can see Max talking to them. It’s as if their conversations are happening on some different plane of reality. This was a refreshing break from the usual trope where a person can see something everyone else can’t see, and said person is seen talking to thin air. They don’t play much of a role in the story other than providing observant commentary and mild mischief.
Besides the little mischievous spirits, this is pretty much a straightforward historical fiction. And since this is a WWII story, there’s a lot of anti-German and anti-Jewish talk, which is authentic to the time period but still disheartening.
In most stories, the Germans are always made out to be the bad guys. What I liked about this story was that Britain was called out for its less-than-righteous impact on the world. Their main offense being British colonialism.
Max is a smart kid. He’s a strategist who is always thinking four moves ahead, which is a helpful thing to be when you are a German Jew. Max’s determination and willingness to do whatever it takes to see his parents again is honorable but foolish at the same time.
This is the first book in a duology. I’m hoping Berg and Stein will play a more active role in the next book.