This is a historical fiction book set in the 1960's in East Berlin, Germany. 12 year old Gerta is the main character. Her father has found that living with East Berlin's communism policies is too difficult with the tight sanctions decreed by the Soviets. He goes across the border to search for work in West Berlin. While he is gone, overnight, the Berlin Wall is raised and guards with guns are set up to make sure no one enters or leaves. Too many citizens are leaving and they want it stopped. Gerta's father and younger brother cannot come back. Four difficult years later, Gerta gets a message and understands that she should dig a tunnel to the other side. Her older brother, Fritz, helps to dig when he realizes that if He can't leave, he will be forced to join the Soviet army.
This book is a combination of historical fiction and thriller ! I have never read anything during this time period and found it fascinating. There are a lot of details on the actual hardship of the digging and there are few deaths experienced in this book too. It was hard to put down.
There aren't any historical notes at the back of the book and so you will have to research for further information or answers to questions about this time period.
I think both boys and girls would enjoy this book. It is for middle school students and I would put it in the Division 2 category. It would make a great book club novel or a book to connect with the Cold War or 20th century historical literature. The reading level is 5.4. I would rate it 4 out of 4!
- Age Range: 8 - 12 years
- Grade Level: 3 - 7
- Hardcover: 336 pages
- Publisher: Scholastic Press (August 25, 2015)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0545682428
- ISBN-13: 978-0545682428
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