Through the Wall

My 11 year old loves WWII books and chose this book for us. I am glad she did, right from the beginning this book has you interested in Hansi’s experience in East and West Berlin post WWII It’s entertaining and educational. It made me think about my own freedoms and the importance of teaching them to our children.

We read this as a read-aloud. It is now my 10 year-olds favorite book! It is a great historical-fiction about communism, but it is also a great book to inspire Americans, and help us remember our freedoms and what we need to protect. The book does end in a way that feels like there could be a great sequel. We were a little disappointed that there wasn’t a sequel, but my son responded with: “I am going to write the sequel!”

This is a great historical fiction set during WWII. It’s from the perspective of a 12 year old boy, Hansi, trapped behind the Berlin Wall and his journey to escape. It’s suspenseful, educational, and emotional. We couldn’t put it down.

This book takes the reader through communist occupied East Berlin, West Berlin, and then to New York City about 12 years after WWII, all through the eyes of a boy who escapes through the wall and then immigrates to America. I learned so much about what it might have been like to live in these areas during this time period. My 12 yo son enjoyed it and my husband even read and enjoyed it. We had some interesting discussions about communism and about the trials that immigrants face when coming to a new place.

I really liked this book. It’s an historical fiction and teaches a lot of great principles. It explains why communism is not a good world view to line yourself with. I think this would be a great resource to teach about that world view and the dangers of it.