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Sektion 20
Alex Ostermann lives in an apartment block with his family in East Berlin. He hates the regime and his parents are worried that Alex and his sister, Geli, aren't displaying the correct 'socialist attitude'. After school they are often followed. Friends suddenly break off relations. The final straw comes when Alex is arrested. With the help of professional 'escape assistants' the whole family make a dramatic escape to the West. Although their driver and his accomplice are killed in the attempt, the family all make it alive. But Alex soon discovers that in a bid to save Alex and Geli, their father has cut a secret deal with the Stasi, agreeing to become a spy in West Germany. A deal that places Alex and Geli in even more danger when their father's Stasi handler realises that Alex and Geli have found out. With the CIA and West German Secret Service on their trail too, powerful forces converge for a terrifying showdown.
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2011
24 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Paul Dowswell
143 books66 followersPaul Dowswell is a British writer of nonfiction and young adult novels who has written over 70 books for British publishers. He was a senior editor at Usborne Publishing, then went freelance in 1999.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 13, 2012
Review by Beth
When I received this novel in my last haul from Emma, I have to say the cover didn’t impress me. It looked like it was going to be action-packed and adventurous which is not my usual style. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Sektion 20 is far and beyond one of the best accounts of post-War Eastern-Bloc Germany I have ever read and I’ve studied German History at degree level. This story worked perfectly, clearly showed how lift in the Communist East was far from the idyll that they portrayed it to be and Dowswell is really accomplished in his style and choice of language for all characters.
Sektion 20 is mainly the story of Alex Ostermann who has lived in East Berlin his whole life but is far from the model Socialist citizen. In fact, Alex idolises the West, loves Rock Music and Western fashion and this has caused suspicion and attracted the attention of the Stasi. Alex knows he needs to outwardly appear like the model Socialist; he finds it near impossible but knows if he can’t keep up the façade his whole family will be at risk.
Alex sees his friends disappear and soon his family feel the Stasi closing in on their home. Dowswell builds the suspense and small things, such as missing underwear are noticed and Alex’s family know they need to take action and despite his parents being model citizens and faultless party members, they realise their children are at risk. This means a big change has to happen.
Sektion 20 is a brilliantly written, suspense-filled novel which shows how suffocating Eastern Bloc life could be for its younger citizens and how terrifying this apparently free Communist state had become by the time Alex was a teenager. Really eye opening and enjoyable, would love to read other works by Dowswell.
When I received this novel in my last haul from Emma, I have to say the cover didn’t impress me. It looked like it was going to be action-packed and adventurous which is not my usual style. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Sektion 20 is far and beyond one of the best accounts of post-War Eastern-Bloc Germany I have ever read and I’ve studied German History at degree level. This story worked perfectly, clearly showed how lift in the Communist East was far from the idyll that they portrayed it to be and Dowswell is really accomplished in his style and choice of language for all characters.
Sektion 20 is mainly the story of Alex Ostermann who has lived in East Berlin his whole life but is far from the model Socialist citizen. In fact, Alex idolises the West, loves Rock Music and Western fashion and this has caused suspicion and attracted the attention of the Stasi. Alex knows he needs to outwardly appear like the model Socialist; he finds it near impossible but knows if he can’t keep up the façade his whole family will be at risk.
Alex sees his friends disappear and soon his family feel the Stasi closing in on their home. Dowswell builds the suspense and small things, such as missing underwear are noticed and Alex’s family know they need to take action and despite his parents being model citizens and faultless party members, they realise their children are at risk. This means a big change has to happen.
Sektion 20 is a brilliantly written, suspense-filled novel which shows how suffocating Eastern Bloc life could be for its younger citizens and how terrifying this apparently free Communist state had become by the time Alex was a teenager. Really eye opening and enjoyable, would love to read other works by Dowswell.
October 24, 2018
Sektion 20 is a historical fiction which takes place during the cold war. It is set in east Germany, more specifically east Berlin, and is about a boy named Alex and how his life is behind the Berlin wall, forbidden to leave the confines of the eastern bloc. Alex hates living in east Berlin, and does things that defy the socialist role model, such as listening to western music and admiring western fashion. Because of his appreciation of western culture, he attracts the attention of the Stasi, and begins to get questioned by authorities. This further strengthens his desires to escape with his family to the rest of the world.
Alex liked to make music (particularly rock music) with his friends at school, which attracts attention from his pro-government teachers, who alert the Stasi. His life begins to change as his friends parents are also pro-government, and soon enough he is separated from his friends as well. Because of his anti-communist behaviour, the Stasi begin to suspect that his family may be involved with Alex's western outlook on things, which Alex knows will endanger his family.
The book gives a really good insight to what life really was behind the iron curtain and I find the historical aspect of the book very interesting. I found the book easy to follow along except for some parts in the development of the story which felt a bit slow. The writing was o.k but in some parts it was wordy and I didn't feel very connected with the book as it was more about telling than showing. Overall I liked the book, I would recommend it to young adults or people interested in history.
Alex liked to make music (particularly rock music) with his friends at school, which attracts attention from his pro-government teachers, who alert the Stasi. His life begins to change as his friends parents are also pro-government, and soon enough he is separated from his friends as well. Because of his anti-communist behaviour, the Stasi begin to suspect that his family may be involved with Alex's western outlook on things, which Alex knows will endanger his family.
The book gives a really good insight to what life really was behind the iron curtain and I find the historical aspect of the book very interesting. I found the book easy to follow along except for some parts in the development of the story which felt a bit slow. The writing was o.k but in some parts it was wordy and I didn't feel very connected with the book as it was more about telling than showing. Overall I liked the book, I would recommend it to young adults or people interested in history.
January 27, 2012
4.5 stars.
Firstly, there is one thing that I wish I had done: I wish I had read Sektion 20 after I had visited Berlin, after I learnt more about The Cold War, the Stasi, and the idea behind the Berlin Wall, and the rest of the history being there where it all happened. After I became to know the city inside out like a resident of Berlin does. But I hadn’t. I read Sektion 20 fourteen days before I left for Europe, for Berlin. It would’ve been wholesomely better and I more connected if I had experienced Berlin and learnt about the history before reading this book. That’s my only regret. But now that I have experienced the wonder of Berlin with its achingly fabulous history, I might reread Sektion 20 to revisit those places I have gone to myself like the TV Tower and Alexanderplatz, parts of the Berlin Wall among other sites.
If you enjoy reading historical novels, of Berlin’s Cold War etc. then you will enjoy Sektion 20. It is informative in teaching you about The Cold War itself and the Stasi operations. But besides this, there is a gripping plot with interesting characters, and a society in which you could call a ‘real dystopia’ since it has already occurred (and within the past fifty years too) and not fictionalised. Paul Dowswell portrays the restraints of those citizens of the East Side Wall accurately who has some, like Alex our protagonist and sister Geli as well as Sophie (who becomes Alex’s love interest), with dreams and fantasies of living a restraint-free life in the West and the ability to be their artistic selves, let that side of them flourish and be nurtured—feel wanted, and do whatever they want.
A couple of tiny sparrows arrived to pick up the crumbs from their lunch. Alex dropped a morsel of bread and one of them hopped beneath his feet to pick it up.
‘Wouldn’t it be great just to take to the sky and fly away,’ said Sophie. ’They can have their breakfast in the West, lunch in the East and supper again in the West. Imagine that.’
It seemed such a simple, reasonable thing to do. But Alex could no more hope for that than he could wish to be Sandman and take his dinner on the Moon. He was stuck here on Planet Stasi, overseen by the evil eye of the TV Tower.
There’s going to be a lot more wishing at this moment. I wish I had reviewed Sektion 20 earlier and before I scooted off to Europe for that break I so much needed. But with that long period, I forget about the so many good things I loved about Sektion 20 be they the subtle descriptions and things I noticed, or other larger things. Things. See? I’ve forgotten naming them ‘things’. If you were coming here expecting a awesome review, I’m sorry. I feel ashamed knowing I could have talked about more of it since there are only a couple of reviews upon Goodreads.
Ugghh… guilt trip. (I blame the jetlag.) But at least I remembered that great slab of a quote, right?
And I will just say one thing. I received Sektion 20 spontaneously by the publisher and I didn’t think I would read it and put it aside for the time being. I then went to a Publishers Showcase and saw that Sektion 20 was one of Bloomsbury’s favourite books of 2011. Because of that, I went and picked up Sektion 20 and thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn’t realise that it would have been something I was interested in since I love learning about history and more importantly about World Wars II and The Cold War (relevant to Berlin). And I think I wasn’t interested in this book in the first place—although it says the Cold War on it—was that I didn’t want to waste time on reading something I hadn’t heard of before or have not seen around anywhere else. But the lesson of this story is to try it, and try something new and unfamiliar. (Which I mostly do anyway.)
Bummer… this was so not a review. But I’ll just call it that.
Firstly, there is one thing that I wish I had done: I wish I had read Sektion 20 after I had visited Berlin, after I learnt more about The Cold War, the Stasi, and the idea behind the Berlin Wall, and the rest of the history being there where it all happened. After I became to know the city inside out like a resident of Berlin does. But I hadn’t. I read Sektion 20 fourteen days before I left for Europe, for Berlin. It would’ve been wholesomely better and I more connected if I had experienced Berlin and learnt about the history before reading this book. That’s my only regret. But now that I have experienced the wonder of Berlin with its achingly fabulous history, I might reread Sektion 20 to revisit those places I have gone to myself like the TV Tower and Alexanderplatz, parts of the Berlin Wall among other sites.
If you enjoy reading historical novels, of Berlin’s Cold War etc. then you will enjoy Sektion 20. It is informative in teaching you about The Cold War itself and the Stasi operations. But besides this, there is a gripping plot with interesting characters, and a society in which you could call a ‘real dystopia’ since it has already occurred (and within the past fifty years too) and not fictionalised. Paul Dowswell portrays the restraints of those citizens of the East Side Wall accurately who has some, like Alex our protagonist and sister Geli as well as Sophie (who becomes Alex’s love interest), with dreams and fantasies of living a restraint-free life in the West and the ability to be their artistic selves, let that side of them flourish and be nurtured—feel wanted, and do whatever they want.
A couple of tiny sparrows arrived to pick up the crumbs from their lunch. Alex dropped a morsel of bread and one of them hopped beneath his feet to pick it up.
‘Wouldn’t it be great just to take to the sky and fly away,’ said Sophie. ’They can have their breakfast in the West, lunch in the East and supper again in the West. Imagine that.’
It seemed such a simple, reasonable thing to do. But Alex could no more hope for that than he could wish to be Sandman and take his dinner on the Moon. He was stuck here on Planet Stasi, overseen by the evil eye of the TV Tower.
There’s going to be a lot more wishing at this moment. I wish I had reviewed Sektion 20 earlier and before I scooted off to Europe for that break I so much needed. But with that long period, I forget about the so many good things I loved about Sektion 20 be they the subtle descriptions and things I noticed, or other larger things. Things. See? I’ve forgotten naming them ‘things’. If you were coming here expecting a awesome review, I’m sorry. I feel ashamed knowing I could have talked about more of it since there are only a couple of reviews upon Goodreads.
Ugghh… guilt trip. (I blame the jetlag.) But at least I remembered that great slab of a quote, right?
And I will just say one thing. I received Sektion 20 spontaneously by the publisher and I didn’t think I would read it and put it aside for the time being. I then went to a Publishers Showcase and saw that Sektion 20 was one of Bloomsbury’s favourite books of 2011. Because of that, I went and picked up Sektion 20 and thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn’t realise that it would have been something I was interested in since I love learning about history and more importantly about World Wars II and The Cold War (relevant to Berlin). And I think I wasn’t interested in this book in the first place—although it says the Cold War on it—was that I didn’t want to waste time on reading something I hadn’t heard of before or have not seen around anywhere else. But the lesson of this story is to try it, and try something new and unfamiliar. (Which I mostly do anyway.)
Bummer… this was so not a review. But I’ll just call it that.
March 22, 2020
I giovani e il muro negli anni 70 - Scritto da Alessandra il 01 ottobre 2016
Il ragazzo di Berlino è un libro per ragazzi scritto da un bravo autore inglese che cerca di restituire l'atmosfera asfittica e triste della Berlino degli anni '70. Anche gli adulti possono però leggerlo e ritrovarsi in un'epoca che hanno conosciuto da qui oppure che hanno visitato da turisti, prima o dopo la caduta del muro.
Berlino ovest era un'isola occidentale nel mezzo della DDR, e attirava inesorabilmente l'attenzione degli abitanti di Berlino Est, soprattutto dei giovani, curiosi per natura, disposti al rischio e all'incoscienza, e comunque amanti della musica e dei jeans.
Il sistema spionistico era sempre più grande di quello che si poteva immaginare: leggendo il libro mi sono sentita male ricordando che nel 1982 ho spedito una caffettiera italiana a dei ragazzi tedeschi orientali conosciuti in un campeggio di Praga ... Avevo sempre pensato a questo ricordo con piacere e adesso mi chiedo se una spedizione dall'occidente può aver creato problemi a quei simpatici coetanei che avevano apprezzato il caffè italiano.
Il ragazzo di Berlino è un libro per ragazzi scritto da un bravo autore inglese che cerca di restituire l'atmosfera asfittica e triste della Berlino degli anni '70. Anche gli adulti possono però leggerlo e ritrovarsi in un'epoca che hanno conosciuto da qui oppure che hanno visitato da turisti, prima o dopo la caduta del muro.
Berlino ovest era un'isola occidentale nel mezzo della DDR, e attirava inesorabilmente l'attenzione degli abitanti di Berlino Est, soprattutto dei giovani, curiosi per natura, disposti al rischio e all'incoscienza, e comunque amanti della musica e dei jeans.
Il sistema spionistico era sempre più grande di quello che si poteva immaginare: leggendo il libro mi sono sentita male ricordando che nel 1982 ho spedito una caffettiera italiana a dei ragazzi tedeschi orientali conosciuti in un campeggio di Praga ... Avevo sempre pensato a questo ricordo con piacere e adesso mi chiedo se una spedizione dall'occidente può aver creato problemi a quei simpatici coetanei che avevano apprezzato il caffè italiano.
July 27, 2015
A much better book than Auslander - fast paced, suspense and a good insight into East Germany in the 70's...
August 24, 2022
Ero molto scettica quando ho iniziato questo libro. Mi aspettavo che il sottofondo storico venisse oscurato da uno stile prettamente young adult. Invece mi ha sorpresa piacevolmente e mi ha fatto entrare nelle vite delle famiglie della DDR negli anni 70 in modo molto coinvolgente. Non avevo idea di come fosse la vita quotidiana nella Germania dell'Est e le informazioni scolastiche non ne danno un'idea molto chiara che invece è ben presente in questo romanzo. Probabilmente il fatto che i protagonisti principali siano degli adolescenti rende molto chiaro come venivano plagiate le giovani menti per uniformarsi ad un regime che propagandava un'ideale di sicurezza e crescita che si fondavano sul sospetto reciproco, uno stile di vita al limite della sussitenza e un'abbruttimento psicologico. Tuttavia è anche molto interessante come l'autore mette in evidenza quelli che erano i lati apprezzati e i lati della cultura occidentale che si temevano e aborrivano al punto da capire quei nostalgici che rimpiangono alcuni lati della vecchia Germania Est.
I personaggi sono ben caratterizzati e non mancano alcuni momenti di suspense quindi è una lettura piacevole e informativa. Il finale però non mi ha convinta.
I personaggi sono ben caratterizzati e non mancano alcuni momenti di suspense quindi è una lettura piacevole e informativa. Il finale però non mi ha convinta.
July 27, 2023
libro letto per la scuola e sinceramente mi aspettavo fosse molto lento, visto che parla di storia.
ma mi ha notevolmente colpita, un libro che all’inizio potrebbe sembrare molto noioso, ma che poi piano piano si fa più interessante.
abbastanza facile da capire (se si sono studiati un po’ i fatti ovviamente), e momento storico descritto bene.
non mi aspettavo fosse così, consiglio di leggerlo per chi vuole approfondire questo periodo, sapere di più sulla DDR e anche per chi vuole un libro abbastanza thriller.
consiglio molto!!
ma mi ha notevolmente colpita, un libro che all’inizio potrebbe sembrare molto noioso, ma che poi piano piano si fa più interessante.
abbastanza facile da capire (se si sono studiati un po’ i fatti ovviamente), e momento storico descritto bene.
non mi aspettavo fosse così, consiglio di leggerlo per chi vuole approfondire questo periodo, sapere di più sulla DDR e anche per chi vuole un libro abbastanza thriller.
consiglio molto!!
June 5, 2022
Paul Dowswell writes with his usual consummate ease. A gripping, confronting story - seen through the eyes of final year high school students, about to embark on their careers and futures in the stifling world of Communist East Germany, and with Stasi eyes ever-watching. Is the Western world the answer, or does it too have its entrenched problems?
Other books which shed light on this Cold War era include 'A Great Escape' by Felice Arena, and 'Cloud and Wallfish' by Anne Nesbitt.
Other books which shed light on this Cold War era include 'A Great Escape' by Felice Arena, and 'Cloud and Wallfish' by Anne Nesbitt.
July 1, 2020
La Germania dell'Est e quella dell'Ovest nella Berlino del muro. Attraverso la storia del protagonista e della sua famiglia scopriamo la vita e la società in una città comune ma divisa da cemento e armi, pensieri e sistemi di vita. Un modo interessante per chi non ha vissuto quell'epoca di saperne di più, e per chi l'ha vista da lontano di capire cosa nascondeva.
December 21, 2022
Overall, this book had a decent plot and showed an insight into the lives of civilians living in East Germany. I actually found what happened quite interesting though I felt that is was written in rather dull, monotone writing. There wasn't enough description and I didn't feel at all invested in the characters. Which is a shame, because if I had been it would have been a great read!
November 1, 2025
I loved Auslander. Quickly after that book I bought this one but just didn't get into the story. Now, a few years later I gave it another go. The first 100 pages are kinda boring, nothing happens, after that it gets fun.
February 22, 2018
3.5 stelline
January 31, 2019
The plot gets confusing halfway throughout the book, other than that it is not a bad book!
September 19, 2021
bangin
June 17, 2022
This book presents very good the truth behind the Berlin wall
May 2, 2023
Davvero molto interessante
March 23, 2025
Good background information. An easy read.
May 24, 2025
read as a child
August 29, 2022
Having lived in West Berlin for 17 years during the Cold War, I found the book very interesting. Although at times it seemed slow there were reasons for this to explain the reality of the East at that time. Will read other books now by this author.
July 10, 2018
Alex Osterman is een tiener die met zijn vader, moeder en oudere zus Geli in Oost-Berlijn woont. Het is 1971, de Koude Oorlog is op haar hoogtepunt, en Alex krijgt net als zijn zus steeds meer moeite met het strakke regime van de DDR. Hij begint zich stukje bij beetje recalcitranter te gedragen; zo luistert hij naar westerse rockmuziek, laat hij zijn haar groeien en neemt hij geen deel meer aan de Freie Deutsche Jugend-beweging.
Voor de Stasi redenen genoeg hem in de gaten te houden, en zo hem en zijn familie op de huid te gaan zitten. Geli en Alex worden afgewezen voor de door hun gewenste vervolgopleidingen, Alex krijgt zijn vakantiebaantje van het vorige jaar niet weer, en sommige vrienden en kennissen beginnen hen te ontwijken.
Gelukkig gebeuren er ook leuke dingen in het leven van Alex. Hij speelt (stiekem) in een bandje en wordt verliefd op Sophie. De liefde is wederzijds. Maar veel belangrijker: zijn ouders besluiten te vluchten naar West-Berlijn! Weg van de kolenkachels en uniforme flats, weg van overal het portret van Honecker en weg uit die grauwe stad in dat land zonder vrijheid.
Met deze vluchtpoging begint een enorm spannende episode van Alex’ leven. Zal het lukken? En als het lukt, voldoet het Westen dan aan het ideale beeld dat Alex voor ogen heeft?
Paul Dowswell heeft een zeer onderhoudend, vlot te lezen verhaal geschreven, met een flinke dosis spanning. Daarbij laat hij je weer eens goed beseffen dat ons leven in het Westen helemaal niet zo gewoon is. Hoe normaal we het vinden dat we altijd en overal onze mening mogen en kunnen uiten. En hoe leuk het is dat we niet in eenheidsworst-kleding hoeven rond te lopen en niet allemaal in dezelfde soort huizen wonen. Maar ook over de vraag of het Westen echt wel zo volmaakt is. Is er helemaal niks op aan te merken?
Tot slot: Dowswell's karakterschetsen zijn goed. Alle mensen in het boek komen heel geloofwaardig over. Ook de minder aardige mensen…
Deze Young Adult-roman is zeer goed vertaald door Ernst Bergboer.
Voor de Stasi redenen genoeg hem in de gaten te houden, en zo hem en zijn familie op de huid te gaan zitten. Geli en Alex worden afgewezen voor de door hun gewenste vervolgopleidingen, Alex krijgt zijn vakantiebaantje van het vorige jaar niet weer, en sommige vrienden en kennissen beginnen hen te ontwijken.
Gelukkig gebeuren er ook leuke dingen in het leven van Alex. Hij speelt (stiekem) in een bandje en wordt verliefd op Sophie. De liefde is wederzijds. Maar veel belangrijker: zijn ouders besluiten te vluchten naar West-Berlijn! Weg van de kolenkachels en uniforme flats, weg van overal het portret van Honecker en weg uit die grauwe stad in dat land zonder vrijheid.
Met deze vluchtpoging begint een enorm spannende episode van Alex’ leven. Zal het lukken? En als het lukt, voldoet het Westen dan aan het ideale beeld dat Alex voor ogen heeft?
Paul Dowswell heeft een zeer onderhoudend, vlot te lezen verhaal geschreven, met een flinke dosis spanning. Daarbij laat hij je weer eens goed beseffen dat ons leven in het Westen helemaal niet zo gewoon is. Hoe normaal we het vinden dat we altijd en overal onze mening mogen en kunnen uiten. En hoe leuk het is dat we niet in eenheidsworst-kleding hoeven rond te lopen en niet allemaal in dezelfde soort huizen wonen. Maar ook over de vraag of het Westen echt wel zo volmaakt is. Is er helemaal niks op aan te merken?
Tot slot: Dowswell's karakterschetsen zijn goed. Alle mensen in het boek komen heel geloofwaardig over. Ook de minder aardige mensen…
Deze Young Adult-roman is zeer goed vertaald door Ernst Bergboer.
November 16, 2011
This is a wonderful, compelling young adult novel, portraying life in the former East Germany from the point of view of a teenage boy who is beginning to struggle to deal with all the constraints that that society imposed on the cultural and lifestyle choices of its’ inhabitants. Alex and his sister Geli live in East Berlin in 1972 and are trying to grow and develop their own interests, his in music and hers in photography, but under the restrictive rules of the socialist realist dictates of the DDR rulers. Their parents Frank and Gretchen have tried to live by the rules and adhere to the desired behaviour, being loyal party members. Alex meets Sophie at school, and together they quietly share their disgruntlement at the freedom of thought and expression denied to them in their country, which those in the West enjoy as of right. The less than entirely loyal behaviour exhibited by Alex attracts the attention of the Stasi, the state security services in East Germany. He learns that he must be on his guard, as anyone, anywhere, at any time, could be watching and listening. As the whole family becomes endangered, a thrilling turn of events changes their lives forever. The novel’s title, as explained on the inside cover of the novel, refers to the department within the Stasi that dealt with subversives who indulged in forbidden music, books, television and ideas. There are other stories weaved cleverly within the main one, with Geli worried about the strange changes to her athlete friend Lili’s personality and appearance, and the mysterious background of Stasi man Erich Kohl.
A superbly written and thoroughly researched story, bringing to life the worries, fears, and desires of the average citizien in the former DDR. The reader is transported into that world, where you cannot trust your dearest friend in case they too have been brought under the control of the Stasi and are required to spy and report on you. Where there is a wall that keeps you in, away from the opportunities and choices in the West, and where to try and leave, to attempt escape, means a treacherous disloyalty to your state which could result in your death. Agonizingly Alex and Sophie watch birds flying overhead, going to places they themselves can never freely visit. The author accurately portrays the different aspects of DDR life which meant that some citizens were happy there, in that certain things were well provided for, all were employed and so on, and makes it clear that it is not a black and white issue in comparing East and West. A brilliant novel set in a fascinating place and time, and I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
A superbly written and thoroughly researched story, bringing to life the worries, fears, and desires of the average citizien in the former DDR. The reader is transported into that world, where you cannot trust your dearest friend in case they too have been brought under the control of the Stasi and are required to spy and report on you. Where there is a wall that keeps you in, away from the opportunities and choices in the West, and where to try and leave, to attempt escape, means a treacherous disloyalty to your state which could result in your death. Agonizingly Alex and Sophie watch birds flying overhead, going to places they themselves can never freely visit. The author accurately portrays the different aspects of DDR life which meant that some citizens were happy there, in that certain things were well provided for, all were employed and so on, and makes it clear that it is not a black and white issue in comparing East and West. A brilliant novel set in a fascinating place and time, and I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
October 27, 2015
Mini-review originally posted on Nightjar's Jar of Books.
Set in East Berlin in the 1970s, this book follows Alex Ostermann, a rebellious teenager who falls afoul of the Stasi for the grave crime of having long hair and liking rock music. As you can probably tell from my tone there, I wasn’t really able to take it all that seriously, though it was quite interesting in its portrayal of life in East Berlin under the rule of the German Democratic Republic. I just find it hard to believe that the Stasi – essentially the secret police – had nothing better to do with their time than stalk a teenage boy whose main goals in life were to look cool and impress his girlfriend.
The characters weren’t too bad, on the whole. I wasn’t very impressed by Alex, or by his girlfriend Sophie, but the rest of the Ostermann family were more likeable, and I eventually grew quite fond of Alex’s sister Geli – an aspiring photographer – and his strict-party-line father, who (in my opinion) had the most interesting role in the book. The only other significant character was the Stasi officer Kohl who was assigned to follow Alex around, and I’m sad to say that no effort was made at all to make him seem like anything other than “Forgettable Bad Guy #x“, to such an extent that I often found it difficult to remember his name.
The book’s main problem lies with the writing, however, which is completely dry and without emotion. Much of the time, it read almost like a summary of events, rather than a narrative, and even though the actual plot was very dramatic, I was not even a tiny bit emotionally invested in any of it – with the notable exception of a couple of chapters near the end of the book, which were told from the perspective of Alex’s father, and were surprisingly tense. I also found Dowswell’s use of what I would refer to as “fan-German”* annoying and kind of distracting.
Overall, I’d say this book was mostly forgettable. I didn’t hate it, but I very much doubt I would ever recommend it to anyone.
---
*Fan-[language of your choice]: When authors randomly insert foreign words into sentences for no reason. I call it fan-[language] because it’s something I’ve mostly come across in fanfiction of anime series, where people mainly seem to use it in order to show off the fact that they’ve learnt a hadful of Japanese phrases… An example from this book, however:
“She wondered what these buildings had seen. Who had lived in them? ‘Na und?’ – Who cares? – said Jan-Carl. But Geli did.”
February 27, 2012
I once again fell victim to Kindle's Daily Deals with Sektion 20. The £0.99 seemed so inviting and the synopsis sounded interesting. It wasn't. Instead this felt like the type of East Berlin-based thriller you'd get in an episode of MacGyver or 1980s Mission: Impossible. The author writes at the end that he tried to offer a balanced portrayal of East Berlin and the DDR as many who lived through it talk favourably while others are highly critical. This is certainly not the impression I got. For starters, the bad guy in the book is a Stasi officer who is also ex-Gestapo with a history of uncovering Jews in hiding. Why not make him a paedophile too in order to give him the evil trifecta?
Sure, there are claims that some Stasi were ex-Nazi but nowhere near the number of those working for the West German forces. Anyway, my problem is that the DDR is portrayed very poorly and the few criticisms of the West are very superficial. Surely a good YA Fiction book would inspire people to research further on the topic and challenge received wisdom. That's not the case with Sektion 20. Here it's goodies and baddies. Why not have a corrupt West Berlin agent? Why not have a courageous socialist? Make it challenging instead of being the tired old portrayal we've had for the last 30+ years.
As for the characters and stories, it's all fairly run of the mill. The plot twists were signposted long before they happened and the characters were pretty thin. I know it's YA Fiction but when you have books like Tomorrow When The War Began as a benchmark, books like this come up short.
This is the second Kindle Daily Deal book in a row I've found mediocre. Curse you Amazon for making me fall for your marketing trap!!!
Sure, there are claims that some Stasi were ex-Nazi but nowhere near the number of those working for the West German forces. Anyway, my problem is that the DDR is portrayed very poorly and the few criticisms of the West are very superficial. Surely a good YA Fiction book would inspire people to research further on the topic and challenge received wisdom. That's not the case with Sektion 20. Here it's goodies and baddies. Why not have a corrupt West Berlin agent? Why not have a courageous socialist? Make it challenging instead of being the tired old portrayal we've had for the last 30+ years.
As for the characters and stories, it's all fairly run of the mill. The plot twists were signposted long before they happened and the characters were pretty thin. I know it's YA Fiction but when you have books like Tomorrow When The War Began as a benchmark, books like this come up short.
This is the second Kindle Daily Deal book in a row I've found mediocre. Curse you Amazon for making me fall for your marketing trap!!!
February 5, 2012
Also reviewed on the blog: http://gloriousbooks.blogspot.com/201...
This was a new kind of read for me, apart from Between Shades of Grey I've never read anything based on any kind of war because it normally doesn't really appeal to me.
This was quite a good read for the most part. The problem for me though is that it doesn't completely keep me utterly engrossed in the story the whole way through. I only started to get into it around half way through even if exciting things happened throughout. It just wasn't exciting enough.
I did enjoy it when I got into the story though. It was exciting and it certainly got my heart pounding. What I loved most was that I know things that happened in the book (spies, kidnappings e.t.c) really happened to people in a time and place like that which made the book incredibly realistic.
Also, I really felt for the characters. I felt their frustration from staying in a place they hated and being restricted from doing what they want to do. Alex likes to play guitar and listen to music that's not allowed, if anyone finds out then he is in huge trouble to the point of being detained. He has to choose a career he doesn't want to do, he has to stay in a place where everyone is the same in every way from what they wear to what they do and all Alex wants to be is different. I think everyone who reads this book will connect with the characters in some way or another and that's what gave me a good liking for the book disregarding how much I actually liked the plot.
This was a new kind of read for me, apart from Between Shades of Grey I've never read anything based on any kind of war because it normally doesn't really appeal to me.
This was quite a good read for the most part. The problem for me though is that it doesn't completely keep me utterly engrossed in the story the whole way through. I only started to get into it around half way through even if exciting things happened throughout. It just wasn't exciting enough.
I did enjoy it when I got into the story though. It was exciting and it certainly got my heart pounding. What I loved most was that I know things that happened in the book (spies, kidnappings e.t.c) really happened to people in a time and place like that which made the book incredibly realistic.
Also, I really felt for the characters. I felt their frustration from staying in a place they hated and being restricted from doing what they want to do. Alex likes to play guitar and listen to music that's not allowed, if anyone finds out then he is in huge trouble to the point of being detained. He has to choose a career he doesn't want to do, he has to stay in a place where everyone is the same in every way from what they wear to what they do and all Alex wants to be is different. I think everyone who reads this book will connect with the characters in some way or another and that's what gave me a good liking for the book disregarding how much I actually liked the plot.
December 26, 2011
Sektion 20 is set in East Berlin in the nineteen seventies. It's the story of a family who fall foul of the communist establishment because of the activities of their teenage son, Alex. As a result,they are forced to defect to the West although, unknown to the rest of the family, their escape has been facilitated by the Stasi because Frank, Alex's father, has agreed to spy on their behalf.
This book is all tell and no show. I've ticked the box that says 'hide review because of spoilers' but it hardly seems necessary because the author is so addicted to spelling out what all the characters are thinking and why they act as they do, that there is no room left for suspense: every turn of the plot is telegraphed in advance.
As well as undermining the tension, Paul Dowswell also disperses the point of view so widely among the characters that I found myself wondering whose story this was meant to be. Was it Alex's? Was it his father's? Or was it the story of Kohl, the ex-fascist turned Stasi agent who expedites the family's defection.
It's a bold and interesting idea to set a teenage novel in Soviet-controlled East Germany (but not the first time it's been done - Peter Carter's Bury The Dead immediately sprang to my mind). So perhaps that's why Sektion 20 has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal, the Book Trust Teenage Prize and the Red House Book Prize. But in my opinion the quality of the writing lets it down.
This book is all tell and no show. I've ticked the box that says 'hide review because of spoilers' but it hardly seems necessary because the author is so addicted to spelling out what all the characters are thinking and why they act as they do, that there is no room left for suspense: every turn of the plot is telegraphed in advance.
As well as undermining the tension, Paul Dowswell also disperses the point of view so widely among the characters that I found myself wondering whose story this was meant to be. Was it Alex's? Was it his father's? Or was it the story of Kohl, the ex-fascist turned Stasi agent who expedites the family's defection.
It's a bold and interesting idea to set a teenage novel in Soviet-controlled East Germany (but not the first time it's been done - Peter Carter's Bury The Dead immediately sprang to my mind). So perhaps that's why Sektion 20 has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal, the Book Trust Teenage Prize and the Red House Book Prize. But in my opinion the quality of the writing lets it down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2012
I have read two other books by Paul Dowsewell and his new books are always pretty good. Although this book has a similar story line to Auslander, as the plot revolves around a teenage boy, who wants to escape his life once he realizes the world is not quite what the authorities tell him it is. Plus add a love interest that is not to mushy who he can relate to but that comes from a totally different background then his, and you have nearly the same plot set up. This book focuses on Alex who grows up in the Deutsche Demokratische Republik during the cold war.
Dowswell does an excellent job of describing how life was in East Germany under communism and how the propaganda affected people differently. Displaying some peoples avid belief in the communist system and others delusions. The story focuses on a teenage boy named Alex who loves rock music and playing the guitar. He doesn’t conform to the regular party lines and stands out with his long hair his parents have always encouraged his free spirit while reminding him of the benefits he has had while growing up under communism. However his attitude and outlook brings him to the attention of the Stasi. The secret police then try to coerce his father into spying for them at Siemens in West Berlin in exchange for letting the whole family escape to the west however everything does not go according to plan.
Dowswell does an excellent job of describing how life was in East Germany under communism and how the propaganda affected people differently. Displaying some peoples avid belief in the communist system and others delusions. The story focuses on a teenage boy named Alex who loves rock music and playing the guitar. He doesn’t conform to the regular party lines and stands out with his long hair his parents have always encouraged his free spirit while reminding him of the benefits he has had while growing up under communism. However his attitude and outlook brings him to the attention of the Stasi. The secret police then try to coerce his father into spying for them at Siemens in West Berlin in exchange for letting the whole family escape to the west however everything does not go according to plan.
August 4, 2015
I choose to read this book because when I saw the book, it looked appealing and the blurb lured me Into reading the whole book. A character that I found interesting in this story was Alex. He is a boy living in East Germany, he is a smart boy but isn't showing a correct 'socialist attitude' in the minds of his school and the government. He doesn't follow the correct living way that East Germany have and is a usual rule breaker. My favourite quote is "socialist attitude". I liked this because it showed me how the government felt towards the behaviour of people like Alex. Something I learned from this book was how communist and capitalist countries work, live East and west Germany. The life's of people were soo different when Alex's family escaped to west Germany from East. Everyone was spied on and kept tabs on but as soon as their family arrived in west, they were looked after by the western government and taken well cared of.
June 27, 2015
I've lived for a year and a half in the ex-DDR and I'm interested in reading stuff about that time and, although my German isn't that bad, I still struggle with reading in that language. So, when I stumble upon books about the DDR in English (although I read this one in Italian, to be fair), I am always pretty excited because apparently all authors only seem to still care about writing about the Nazis. So I started reading with the highest expectations, because I found the plot pretty interesting.
But the thing is, there seems to be only a story to tell, many informations about the DDR, but no emotion comes out of it. It has a nice plot, but it is, in my opinion, not that well delivered. It tells the story of a boy who struggles to live in the country he's in and he even goes to jail. A teen goes to jail but I couldn't feel any anger or scared for him.
I really, really wanted to like this book, I swear!
But the thing is, there seems to be only a story to tell, many informations about the DDR, but no emotion comes out of it. It has a nice plot, but it is, in my opinion, not that well delivered. It tells the story of a boy who struggles to live in the country he's in and he even goes to jail. A teen goes to jail but I couldn't feel any anger or scared for him.
I really, really wanted to like this book, I swear!
September 14, 2023
Alex e Geli vivono con la loro famiglia a Berlino Est negli anni '70, ma a differenza dei loro genitori non desiderano allinearsi al regime: patito di musica rock americana lui, amante della fotografia sperimentale lei; ma quando il regime esigerà da loro l'obbedienza dovranno scegliere se obbedire o scappare, a costo della loro vita...
Una bellissima storia di coraggio e ribellione, nella quale si inserisce anche il tema dell'amore: quello per le proprie passioni, per la famiglia e per gli altri e per questo a volte si deve rinunciare a qualcosa per vivere liberi.
Lo stile è semplice, l'ambientazione è ben dettagliata, con delle ottime descrizioni dei luoghi più importanti di Berlino Est, caratterizzati da elementi uguali e monotoni, quasi come un segno ad abbandonare ogni forma di creatività e innovazione.
Buono il livello di suspense, con la tensione che cresce sempre di più nei momenti più pericolosi e complicati della vicenda.
Una bellissima storia di coraggio e ribellione, nella quale si inserisce anche il tema dell'amore: quello per le proprie passioni, per la famiglia e per gli altri e per questo a volte si deve rinunciare a qualcosa per vivere liberi.
Lo stile è semplice, l'ambientazione è ben dettagliata, con delle ottime descrizioni dei luoghi più importanti di Berlino Est, caratterizzati da elementi uguali e monotoni, quasi come un segno ad abbandonare ogni forma di creatività e innovazione.
Buono il livello di suspense, con la tensione che cresce sempre di più nei momenti più pericolosi e complicati della vicenda.
February 1, 2014
I started this book with low expectations because of the topic but still managed to disappoint me. The topic and the setting could have been great or even amazing but this book is just boring. I did not finish it. I had the feeling I was reading a bunch of information on how life was in DDR. The characters have no dept and every action or even word in the novel seems to be there just for the purpose of allowing the author to show he did research the time period. Yes, we get it. But I don't want to read a historian book. Maybe the book would have been better if I kept to read it, but I could not dare it. Of course, I do not suggest it and it's such a pity this novel is not good since there are not many books about life under the Stasi and the division of Germany, especially targeted at a young adults audience.
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