Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II (Operation Kinderspion)

by Adam Gidwitz

That afternoon, in Mr. Ken’s car, Anthony said to Max, “What’s a Yid?” David cut in, “It’s what they call Jews like us, Anthony.” Anthony thought for a moment. “So I am a Yid?” David looked at Max, suddenly unsure. Max had heard his people called too many awful things back in Berlin to even remember them all. And he had asked his parents the same question, a hundred different times in a hundred different ways. So Max told Anthony what his papa always used to tell him, translating it into English as best he could: “We are Jews, Anthony,” he said. “They call us names when they want us to feel weak. But we are not weak. We are tough. Tougher than they are.” Anthony nodded and turned to gaze out the window at the traffic. After a few moments, he turned back to Max. “Why do they want us to feel weak?” David and Anthony waited for Max to say something. As if Max would have the answer to the question that both of these boys silently asked themselves every day at school. But Max didn’t know. He only wished he did.