The Wall Between Us is even more engaging and powerful than I ever expected. I loved Dan Smith’s last middle grade war story, Nisha’s War, with its unique perspective on those affected by conflict so I knew this would be something special.
Told through newspaper articles, journal entries, letters and secret messages, The Wall Between Us takes readers into the heart of the Cold War with the building of the Berlin Wall. An iconic symbol of the Iron Curtain, this wall of concrete and barbed wire tore families and communities apart. Heart-racing bravery and unthinkable daring reveals danger and heart-ache in East and West Germany.
Anja and Monika are 12-year-old cousins and best friends who do everything together. They live opposite each other. When soldiers begin building a wall down the middle of the street in August 1961, they don’t understand why. There is sadness and anger as neighbours become spies and the steely eyes of the Stasi are everywhere. They can trust no one as they realise life will never be the same again. Anja recognises this is an important historical moment and decides to record it in her journal. Her young, innocent perspective shows the fear, the unknown and the helplessness of people on both sides of the wall.
This story is told with an incredible sense of foreshadowing. Each journal entry, letter and message is prefaced with a Ministry for State Security reference stating it was recovered at the time of Anja’s arrest in October 1961. As this date draws closer, readers wonder exactly how and why she ends up on the wrong side of the law and the wrong side of the wall.
The power of this story lies in the complexity of Anja and Monika’s relationship. More than anything, they want to be together. As the wall grows, so does their determination to find new ways to communicate. Anja realises her beloved cat, Otto, is somehow able to get through the wall and into Monika’s house. Maybe, just maybe, there’s a way she can get through too. But what if a time comes when she can’t get back? Life on the wrong side of the wall is more dangerous than anyone could ever imagine. Individually and as friends, the girls are tested beyond anything they’ve ever faced before.
The Wall Between Us is essential reading for children in Year 5+ who want to know more about this often untold period of history. The 12-year-old perspective shows how much the decisions of adults impacted the day-to-day life of children. Those on the edge of adulthood were often used for information, the lives of their families threatened and horrible secrets thrust upon them. What would our modern children do if they found themselves in these types of situations? These are important discussions to have as they wrestle with understanding where the world went wrong and how we can prevent it from happening again.
Thank you to Olivia Jeggo and Chicken House Books for an early read of this incredible book!
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Books by Kate Heap:
Scope for Imagination 