Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II

About this book

An acclaimed Best Book of 2024! Instant New York Times bestseller • Wall Street Journal Best Books of the Year • Booklist Editors’ Choice • Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year • School Library Journal Best Books of the Year • Common Sense Best Books of the Year • Imagination Soup Best Books of the Year • Tablet Magazine Best Books of the Year “Max in the House of Spies is everything you could hope for in a book,” -R. J. Palacio, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wonder, White Bird, and Pony “Espionage! Secrets! Suspense! If you’ve ever dreamed of being a spy, this book is for you.” -Alan Gratz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Refugee and Projekt 1065 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 no

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See all books like Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Juvenile Fiction title, typically at grades 6–8. Published in the canon; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Great Lakes Great Books Award

  • recommended·6th grade · Michigansource: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award 2026-27 nominee (official GLGBA nominee press release + nominees list, announced March 7, 2026 at the MRA Annual Conference; Michigan students vote through January 9, 2027) — 6-8 division
  • recommended·7th grade · Michigansource: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award 2026-27 nominee (official GLGBA nominee press release + nominees list, announced March 7, 2026 at the MRA Annual Conference; Michigan students vote through January 9, 2027) — 6-8 division
  • recommended·8th grade · Michigansource: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award 2026-27 nominee (official GLGBA nominee press release + nominees list, announced March 7, 2026 at the MRA Annual Conference; Michigan students vote through January 9, 2027) — 6-8 division

Common questions

What grade level is Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II?

Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 6–8. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

How long does it take to read Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II?

It takes about 6h 10m to read Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II (337 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 370 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II?

Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II appears on reading lists for Great Lakes Great Books Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II banned in schools?

Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.