Our best books coverage continues with middle-grade author Adam Gidwitz.

On this episode of Fully Booked, Adam Gidwitz joins us to discuss Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II (Dutton, Feb. 25), one of Kirkus’ Best Books of 2025. In a starred review, Kirkus calls this follow-up to the 2024 New York Times bestseller Max in the House of Spies, “a headlong thriller laced with provocative and topical historical truths.”

Gidwitz is acclaimed author of Newbery Honor winner and several celebrated series. He tells creepy, funny fairy tales live to kids on his podcast, Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, and at schools around the world. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, daughter, and dog, Lucy Goosey.

Here’s a bit more from our starred review of Max in the Land of Lies: “Now working for British intelligence after leaving Berlin in the Kindertransport, 12-year-old Max Bretzfeld returns to Nazi Germany on a secret mission. During his ostensible mission—infiltrating the Funkhaus, the hub of Nazi radio and propaganda—Max not only faces continual danger, but also struggles with his conscience and even (briefly) his loyalty as he confronts some uncomfortably close parallels between the rabid racism of the Third Reich and that of both the British Empire and the United States throughout their histories. Max is also harboring a secret: Despite being expressly forbidden to do so by his adopted British uncle, he searches for his parents, only to discover strangers living in his family’s apartment…. Gidwitz, who conducted careful research, realistically portrays a large walk-on cast of real Nazis…. The cast of fictional ordinary Germans shows how seductive the Nazi promise to ‘make Germany great again’ seemed. This sequel trusts readers with critically relevant insights on necessary vigilance and the human capacity for monstrous behavior.”

Gidwitz and I begin with Max’s mission at the beginning of Book two, and the potential perils he faces as a British spy in Nazi Germany. We talk research, historical figures, Jewish and German mythology, propaganda, uncomfortable truths, book tours, and much more.

Then young readers’ editor Mahnaz Dar and Laura Simeon join us to discuss the making of this year’s best middle-grade books list.

EDITORS’ PICKS:

John the Skeleton by Triinu Laan, illus. by Marja-Liisa Plats, trans. by Adam Cullen (Yonder)

The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes (Viking)

Oasis by Guojing (Godwin Books)

I’m a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods by Anne Lambelet (Graphic Universe)

Secrets of the Purple Pearl by Kate McKinnon, illus. by Alfredo Cáceres (Little, Brown)

The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls by Judith Rossell (Dial Books)

Cincinnati Lee, Curse Breakerby Heidi Heilig (Greenwillow Books)

Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day by Lana Button, illus. by Suharu Ogawa (Orca)

Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship by Shifa Satagi Safadi, illus. by Aaliya Jaleel (Putnam)

The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri (Levine Querido)

Danilo Was Here by Tamika Burgess (Harper/HarperCollins)

The Pecan Sheller by Lupe Ruiz-Flores (Carolrhoda)

How To Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares (Anne Schwartz/Random)

Chickenpox by Remi Lai (Henry Holt)

Sea Legs by Jules Bakes, illus. by Niki Smith (Graphix/Scholastic)

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

The Tale of the Wicked Old Woman and the Very Nice 'Beast' of Crouch End by Lance Lee, illus. by Nathalie T. Retivoff

Passages by P.K. Edgewater

Eco Reign by L. Galuppo

Rom-Com for Dummies by Tom Diggs

Fully Booked is produced by Cabel Adkins Audio and Megan Labrise.