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sidneyellwood's review against another edition
5.0
So: I love European history. I love middle grade books. One of my aspirations in life is to make history fun for kids. And this book hit the mark on all of it, I think. Set immediately preceding the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, it follows Noah, an American in East Berlin.
The chapters are mixed between Noah's story and "Secret Files" at the end explaining history as it was, including primary sources translated by the author (who also lived in East Berlin in 1989). So while it's an entertaining story it's very educational too. I'm a history major and I learned new stuff. I enjoyed reading about Noah and Claudia and I like that the author doesn't hold back on what sort of horrible things happen to people in East Germany. It really feels like a story through the eyes of a ten-year-old.
The only criticism is that Noah sometimes feels a lot older than 10. He reads around 15 in some parts. But other than that it was great and I highly enjoyed this.
The chapters are mixed between Noah's story and "Secret Files" at the end explaining history as it was, including primary sources translated by the author (who also lived in East Berlin in 1989). So while it's an entertaining story it's very educational too. I'm a history major and I learned new stuff. I enjoyed reading about Noah and Claudia and I like that the author doesn't hold back on what sort of horrible things happen to people in East Germany. It really feels like a story through the eyes of a ten-year-old.
The only criticism is that Noah sometimes feels a lot older than 10. He reads around 15 in some parts. But other than that it was great and I highly enjoyed this.
beths0103's review against another edition
4.0
Berlin is my absolute favorite city in the entire world. The past and the present hold hands with each other in such interesting and seamless ways, and yet the city has a youthful energy that is almost palpable.
So reading a book that takes place in East Berlin in 1989 just as the Iron Curtain is crumbling, it reminded me of all of that intrigue and beating pulse of the city.
So reading a book that takes place in East Berlin in 1989 just as the Iron Curtain is crumbling, it reminded me of all of that intrigue and beating pulse of the city.
hidingzeus's review against another edition
2.0
So many of the choices the adults in this book made no sense. It was a little infuriating.
stroberry's review against another edition
stopped at the point where the boy met his friend (claudia) but couldn’t continue reading anymore so was bored by the book… the foreshadowing and introduction was too lengthy and slow
afro8921's review against another edition
3.0
What if everything you believed about yourself is a lie. What if your parents tell you that your birthday, name, and history has to be changed for your safety. This is exactly what happens to 11 year old Noah, an ordinary boy living with his mom and dad. Noah gets a surprise when his mother and father pick him up from school and tell him that they are moving to Berlin, Germany that very day. It's 1989 and Noah will be living in East Berlin, a communist republic. Noah will have to learn to remember his new identity and how to live in a country that views him and his family as a threat. The only bright spot in the new country is his friendship with Cloud Claudia, another displaced youth. Good book for historical fiction readers. The author's note at the end of the story really brings to light the turmoil experienced by the citizens at the time.
flamingo11's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic historical fiction around the time the Berlin Wall came down.
So much history is embedded into this story, makes for a fascinating read.
So much history is embedded into this story, makes for a fascinating read.
catladyreba's review against another edition
3.0
What an interesting book. And as often happens in books that I read, there were some interesting parallels. I happened to be reading The Husband's Secret at the same time, and there is a running theme of The Berlin Wall throughout that book. So interesting. Anyway, this book has so much to it; history, friendship, families, spies. It is definitely worth the read.
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Noah's day went from strange to surreal as his parents picked him up from school, told him his name was now Jonah and his birthday was 6 months later than he thought, threw out his back pack, and went straight to the airport to fly from what was no longer his home in Virginia to East Germany. Noah has an Astonishing Stutter, and speaking German with all of its hard consonants doesn't help. It is 1989 and his mother has received permission to study children with speech defects in East Berlin. It is rare and unusual for Americans to be there, and Noah/Jonah must follow a strict set of rules, which may or may not include the possibility of making friends. This fascinating look at life just before the fall of the Berlin Wall will intrigue young readers who are looking for real-life spy stories. Pair this with Jennifer Nielsen's A Night Divided for a look at the beginning and end of the Wall. Highly recommended to grades 4 & up.