Max is a Jewish boy living in Berlin in 1939 when he’s sent to England on a Kindertransport and taken in by the Jewish Montagu family. He appreciates the Montagu’s kindness and warmth, but worries constantly about his parents back in Germany. Ignoring his foster brother David’s advice to stay quiet at school about being Jewish, Max comes up with a funny prank to protest the antisemitism of some of his classmates–a prank that enrages or delights the Montagus, depending on the family member. Uncle Ivan and Uncle Ewen, who works for Naval Intelligence, are particularly thrilled. Willing to do anything to get back to Berlin to help his parents, Max wants to show Uncle Ewen’s boss, the Admiral, that he can be a spy for Britain. Although his plans to impress the Admiral don’t go as planned, Max gets his wish and is sent to a secret training facility at a country estate. It’s already clear Max is brilliant, but he must develop physical strength, learn new skills, and prove he's capable of creative problem-solving. Max’s story is entertaining and completely over-the-top—including the presence of Stein and Berg, two diminutive old men (a German kobold and Jewish dybbuk) often perched on Max’s shoulders and sharing quips and wisdom. While the plot is incredible, Max’s emotional story is authentic and historically grounded in this engaging action-adventure with a cliffhanger ending surely to be continued …