A review by towardinfinitybooks
Cloud and Wallfish by Anne Nesbet

3.0

3.5 stars. Historical-fiction middle-grade novel set in 1989 East Berlin. Noah's parents pick him up from school one day and announce they're moving to "the other Germany". His name, birthdate, and identity are all changed and he is expected to follow a set of rules because "they are always listening." A few historical details are woven through the narrative but each chapter also ends with a "secret file" section that tells the reader a bit more about something mentioned in the chapter. I took off half a star because this approach didn't really work for me. It felt a little too jarring to break the narrative and I found it disappointing that the "secret files" never tied up with the main story. I also took off a star for characterization. Apart from Noah, most of the other characters felt two-dimensional to me. Still, an interesting setting/time period and a starting point for kids to learn about life behind the Iron Curtain.