Walls

Starred review from July 26, 2021
Elliott’s immersive historical fiction novel takes place in Berlin over the course of 12 crucial months of the Cold War: August 1960–1961, as tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union intensify, culminating in the sudden erection of the Berlin Wall. When self-described “army brat” Drew MacMahon, 15, a star baseball pitcher, arrives with his family at his father’s latest posting behind the Iron Curtain, he’s prepared to make a new home and new friends for the fifth time. But he quickly finds that living in the heart of divided Europe means unexpected restrictions and growing dangers, which grow personal when his mother welcomes her German first cousin Aunt Marta and her son Matthias, who live in Communist-controlled East Berlin, into their family. As Drew and his sisters maneuver their school and social life among American friends, the political situation around them increasingly intrudes, raising questions of trust and risk-taking. Behm’s journalistic photo essay chapter openers smoothly and efficiently render the unfolding of political and cultural events, thrusting readers into the world that Drew and his likable white family and friends inhabit. An expertly crafted, evocative time capsule. Ages 12–up.

Starred review from June 1, 2021
Young people, separated by politics and ideology, search for common ground. Berlin, 1960. His dad's latest tour of duty brings 15-year-old Drew and his family to a city divided--a fact brought home by meeting his cousin Matthias who lives in the city's Communist-controlled section. As the teens warily circle each other, conflicting in temperaments as well as doctrinaire views of each other's cultures but gradually building bonds, Elliott both fills in the historical background--aided by Behm's mixing of period photos, contemporary news, and pop-culture notes--and crafts a tale of rising tensions that culminates in a suspenseful climax that catches Drew on the wrong side of the east-west barrier that literally springs up overnight and forces Matthias into an agonizing choice between family and freedom. Along with tucking in provocative incidents, like the ugly scene when a pair of drunken GIs spot a Black serviceman and his White German fiancee, the author gives readers food for thought by asking them to envision living under a regime in which neighbors might be informers and then having just such secret accusations leveled both against Matthias and, on the U.S. side, Drew's parents too. An afterword points to similarities between the Khrushchev-led Communists' disruptive sowing of fear and suspicion in 1960 and Putin's in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. The cast mostly presents as White. A sensitive exploration of cogent themes in a richly detailed historical setting. (sources, photo credits) (Historical fiction. 12-16)

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May 15, 2021
Grades 7-10 Drew and his family move to West Berlin, Germany, as his dad, a U.S. Army sergeant stationed in East Berlin, fights to protect democracy against Communist Russia. Drew's cousin, Matthias, grew up in the war-torn city and experienced the harsh conditions of communism in East Berlin. After the two boys begin spending time together, they learn how different they are in both freedom and ideology. Though Drew is encouraged to befriend Matthias and introduce him to democracy, the two are wary of each other and their respective beliefs. As the political situation grows more tense, Drew's and Matthias' loyalties are tested, and each must choose how to navigate his politics-infused world. Elliott's latest is set a year prior to the unexpected rise of the Berlin Wall, incorporating all kinds of historical context, including science, world events, politics, and entertainment, through pictures at the beginning of each chapter, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the period. The portrayal of events is first-rate, creating a poignant yet lighthearted read.

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