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Going Over
In the early 1980s Ada and Stefan are young, would-be lovers living on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall--Ada lives with her mother and grandmother and paints graffiti on the Wall, and Stefan lives with his grandmother in the East and dreams of escaping to the West.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 2014
22 people are currently reading
2474 people want to read
About the author
Beth Kephart
57 books336 followersI'm the award-winning writer of more than two-dozen books in multiple genres—memoir, middle grade and young adult fiction, picture books, history, corporate fable, and books on the making of memoir.
I'm also an award-winning teacher at the University of Pennsylvania, co-founder of Juncture Workshops, and an essayist and critic with work appearing in The New York Times, Life magazine, Ninth Letter, Catapult, The Millions, The Rumpus, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, and elsewhere.
Please visit me at junctureworkshops.com or bethkephartbooks.com.
I'm also an award-winning teacher at the University of Pennsylvania, co-founder of Juncture Workshops, and an essayist and critic with work appearing in The New York Times, Life magazine, Ninth Letter, Catapult, The Millions, The Rumpus, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, and elsewhere.
Please visit me at junctureworkshops.com or bethkephartbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
October 14, 2013
Remember when I told you to read Code Name Verity and you did. You were like OMG, I CRIED, I DIED, IT WAS THE BEST THING EVER. So I want you to trust me again. Going Over is everything I wanted it to be and more. It was a look into the human condition, a Romeo and Juliet set in the 80s with two crazy kids in love on opposite sides of the Berlin wall. It is graffiti on your heart and salt in your veins. It is the most amazing thing I've read in 2013 and it doesn't even come out until April. You'll laugh, you'll cry, but most of all you will become so emotionally invested in all of the characters that you will sit in fabulous Las Vegas on a couch crying and muttering to yourself as you read. I love it, and I want you to love it too. Read it for me please.
dnf
March 18, 2014Pages Read: 16
Alright, I definitely can't handle this one. The writing is so completely not my style. It's sort of chaotic and all over the place. Two bloggers I respect praise her writing, and I can see where it could be interesting, if I didn't dislike it so much.
Some samples:
The excessive listing, metaphors, and similes are killing me. Kephart also likes to drop a lot of references to things with which I am unfamiliar, which, fine, but I probably no more about this stuff than the average teen, and I was confused several times in a couple of pages.
I already didn't like the writing and then it went to second person. Apparently the girl's perspective is first and the guy's is a second and I HATE this.
DO I DO ANY OF THIS? NO, NO I DO NOT.
This is why I hate second person. It's supposed to draw the reader in and make them feel part of the story, but it only draws my attention to how artificial everything is. Don't you try to tell me I am part of your story. I AM NOT IN THIS BOOK.
Alright, I definitely can't handle this one. The writing is so completely not my style. It's sort of chaotic and all over the place. Two bloggers I respect praise her writing, and I can see where it could be interesting, if I didn't dislike it so much.
Some samples:
"There is a line between us, a wall. It is wide as a river; it has teeth. It is barbed and trenched and lit and piped and mesed and bricked--155 kilometers of wrong. There are dogs, there are watchtowers, there are men, there are guns, there are blares, but this is West Berlin, the Kreuzberg Kiez, Post Office Sudost 3, and we're free."
"When the magpies are out, they stripe the night. When the moon is lit, it finds me."
"She has pink hair, a big pop of Bazooka color. She cuts it straight across, Cleopatra style, with scissors that she borrows from the co-op. Out in the night she shines like some West Berliner planet."
The excessive listing, metaphors, and similes are killing me. Kephart also likes to drop a lot of references to things with which I am unfamiliar, which, fine, but I probably no more about this stuff than the average teen, and I was confused several times in a couple of pages.
I already didn't like the writing and then it went to second person. Apparently the girl's perspective is first and the guy's is a second and I HATE this.
"And you're listening to her. You're listening, and so is everyone else, and afterward, after Ada has spent the day she's been allowed to spend and the half-zone of night, you can think of nothing but her at the Eisfabrik on Köpenicker Strasse. You work the boiler house and the engine room remembering her kisses. You check on the cork between the walls and think of her slender weight on you."
DO I DO ANY OF THIS? NO, NO I DO NOT.
This is why I hate second person. It's supposed to draw the reader in and make them feel part of the story, but it only draws my attention to how artificial everything is. Don't you try to tell me I am part of your story. I AM NOT IN THIS BOOK.
March 23, 2014
I feel oddly conflicted about Going Over.
Kephart's writing is, as always, a thing of beauty. From her vivid descriptions to her short, succinct phrases which convey emotion so artfully, the prose of this novel is to be marveled. Moreover, its subject matter - the tumultuous time period during which the Berlin Wall separated families and lovers in East and West Germany - has dutifully been researched, making this a novel which unabashedly immerses its readers into this era. Kephart writes of two young lovers, but even more than their tragic romance, she writes of their growth; of their relationship with family and friends, of their delicate dreams in a time period of suffering, and of their unrelentless hope for a future which seems so far away.
Nevertheless, that being said, I felt equally connected and distanced from certain aspects of this story. Going Over is told primarily from the Ada's point of view, a young teenage girl who dearly misses her boyfriend stuck on the other side of the wall. In fact, it is Ada's perspective which brought this time period to life for me, particularly the entire story line concerning a young boy she looks after in day care. It is written with poise and flavor, fleshing out these complex relationships and managed to resonate deeply with me. On the other hand, though, the perspective of Stefan, her boyfriend who lives on the wrong side of the Berlin Wall, fell flat. It was told in second perspective, which felt unnecessary, and the love story within these pages didn't completely win me over as a result. While the romance is not the central point of the novel, it is a driving force of agency between these characters, dictating much of their actions and shaping their personalities. As a result, to feel indifferent towards it did me no favors.
Moreover, the crux of this novel lies in the fact that Stefan and Ada are separated. Ada is constantly convincing Stefan to take the risk, jump the wall, and live with her. It's dangerous and Stefan shares many reservations about this, which makes up the main story line of this book. Interspersed are other plot threads, all relevant to the time period, but this main arc didn't strike completely true with me. Mostly because the tipping point that launches Stefan into finally jumping the wall for Ada rang false, not selling me on this epic love story in the least.
Small Damages, also by Kephart, won me over heart-and-soul when I read it last year. Not only did it contain beautifully written characters full of messy dilemmas, but it forced me to re-evaluate my opinions on the many issues it covered. Compared to that, Going Over falls flat as it never truly propelled me to think beyond the scope of the story. If you're looking to get a taste of Kephart's writing style, however, alongside a moving story, I cannot recommend that novel enough. Going Over is beautifully written and its ending is downright poetic, but I still am far more conflicted about it than I'd like to be...
Kephart's writing is, as always, a thing of beauty. From her vivid descriptions to her short, succinct phrases which convey emotion so artfully, the prose of this novel is to be marveled. Moreover, its subject matter - the tumultuous time period during which the Berlin Wall separated families and lovers in East and West Germany - has dutifully been researched, making this a novel which unabashedly immerses its readers into this era. Kephart writes of two young lovers, but even more than their tragic romance, she writes of their growth; of their relationship with family and friends, of their delicate dreams in a time period of suffering, and of their unrelentless hope for a future which seems so far away.
Nevertheless, that being said, I felt equally connected and distanced from certain aspects of this story. Going Over is told primarily from the Ada's point of view, a young teenage girl who dearly misses her boyfriend stuck on the other side of the wall. In fact, it is Ada's perspective which brought this time period to life for me, particularly the entire story line concerning a young boy she looks after in day care. It is written with poise and flavor, fleshing out these complex relationships and managed to resonate deeply with me. On the other hand, though, the perspective of Stefan, her boyfriend who lives on the wrong side of the Berlin Wall, fell flat. It was told in second perspective, which felt unnecessary, and the love story within these pages didn't completely win me over as a result. While the romance is not the central point of the novel, it is a driving force of agency between these characters, dictating much of their actions and shaping their personalities. As a result, to feel indifferent towards it did me no favors.
Moreover, the crux of this novel lies in the fact that Stefan and Ada are separated. Ada is constantly convincing Stefan to take the risk, jump the wall, and live with her. It's dangerous and Stefan shares many reservations about this, which makes up the main story line of this book. Interspersed are other plot threads, all relevant to the time period, but this main arc didn't strike completely true with me. Mostly because the tipping point that launches Stefan into finally jumping the wall for Ada rang false, not selling me on this epic love story in the least.
Small Damages, also by Kephart, won me over heart-and-soul when I read it last year. Not only did it contain beautifully written characters full of messy dilemmas, but it forced me to re-evaluate my opinions on the many issues it covered. Compared to that, Going Over falls flat as it never truly propelled me to think beyond the scope of the story. If you're looking to get a taste of Kephart's writing style, however, alongside a moving story, I cannot recommend that novel enough. Going Over is beautifully written and its ending is downright poetic, but I still am far more conflicted about it than I'd like to be...
October 6, 2015
This would be a perfect way to introduce the history of the Berlin Wall to a high schooler. It's hip and they probably would relate to the punky and funky teenage characters. However, this did not work for me. The way the writing was presented felt very haphazard to me. Again, this would be a great high school read. First book that I have read that directly talks about the Berlin wall and how families dealt with the wall of separation so good job to author for tackling the subject matter.
April 27, 2014
I received an ARC copy of Going Over in a Goodreads YA for teachers giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
I've been a Beth Kephart fan since hearing her read at a conference several years ago. In Going Over her writing hits the enviable ( at least for this writer) sweet spot where lyrical prose manages to remain transparent and accessible. The poetry in her prose invokes emotion without being sentimental or calling attention to itself. Bravo.
Ada and Stefan are a young couple in love and in danger. Their relationship is shaped by the world they live in--1980's Berlin. Ada lives on the free West side of the dividing wall, and Stefan lives on the east side. Their grandmothers were best friends as young girls and their friendship, like Ada'a and Stefan's love, has endured in spite of the wall and limitations it imposes on togetherness.
Ada is strong willed, brave, rebellious. A daycare teacher by day, and a graffiti artist by night, she paints out her frustration and longing, "graffing" a mural of heroes in the fight for freedom. At its heart, Going Over is a love story. Distinctive and sympathetic characters like Ada and Stefan's grandmothers and Savas and Meryem (children in the daycare where Ada works) make it so much more.
The POV in Going Over alternates between Ada's first person, present account, and Stefan's second person perspective. The immediacy and intimacy of first person present tense engaged me in Ada's chapters. The choice of second person for Stefan's chapters confounded me. It created distance--a sense that Stefan was detached not only from the reader but from himself and his life. Perhaps that is exactly what Ms. Kephart intended. She is too good of a writer to not have carefully crafted this choice. Still, I kept thinking the reason for choosing second person would become apparent. For me, it never did.
I've been a Beth Kephart fan since hearing her read at a conference several years ago. In Going Over her writing hits the enviable ( at least for this writer) sweet spot where lyrical prose manages to remain transparent and accessible. The poetry in her prose invokes emotion without being sentimental or calling attention to itself. Bravo.
Ada and Stefan are a young couple in love and in danger. Their relationship is shaped by the world they live in--1980's Berlin. Ada lives on the free West side of the dividing wall, and Stefan lives on the east side. Their grandmothers were best friends as young girls and their friendship, like Ada'a and Stefan's love, has endured in spite of the wall and limitations it imposes on togetherness.
Ada is strong willed, brave, rebellious. A daycare teacher by day, and a graffiti artist by night, she paints out her frustration and longing, "graffing" a mural of heroes in the fight for freedom. At its heart, Going Over is a love story. Distinctive and sympathetic characters like Ada and Stefan's grandmothers and Savas and Meryem (children in the daycare where Ada works) make it so much more.
The POV in Going Over alternates between Ada's first person, present account, and Stefan's second person perspective. The immediacy and intimacy of first person present tense engaged me in Ada's chapters. The choice of second person for Stefan's chapters confounded me. It created distance--a sense that Stefan was detached not only from the reader but from himself and his life. Perhaps that is exactly what Ms. Kephart intended. She is too good of a writer to not have carefully crafted this choice. Still, I kept thinking the reason for choosing second person would become apparent. For me, it never did.
November 17, 2015
OK, let me start by saying I read a lot of YA, but not a lot of literary. And this one definitely bends toward the literary side. It is, however, at its heart a romance, which actually, in the end, bore toward me marking off stars. There was potential for something....character growth?...that never happened. I was expecting more than a romance from something with such a literary flair and from a story that took place in such a time/place as 1980's Berlin.
The writing is lovely. Truly. And I adored Ada. It just felt like Ada never changed. I still loved her, but I wanted to see something grow in her. I felt for her, I cared for her, but in the end she is the same Ada.
The one who does change is Stefan. BUT, it didn't happen until about three-quarters of the way through the book. And before that, I didn't feel connected to him at all. The sections from his point of view are written in second person, which I think contributed to the disconnect. But it also had to do with the fact that I never found out who *he* was, as a person. He seemed so defined by the people around him. He was the one who didn't want to disappoint his grandmother, or his deceased grandfather. He loved Ada, but in a way that made me feel like he was lost in it and not his own person. Around page 220 or so, he finally started becoming a real person for me, but that was too close to the end.
And the end itself...abrupt. I turned the last page and thought, "What??? That's it???"
Still, there is just something. The writing, again, is lovely. Poetic in places, and emotional. I would definitely recommend this book because it's a good story with (mostly) unique characters and something fresh and different in the YA genre.
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The writing is lovely. Truly. And I adored Ada. It just felt like Ada never changed. I still loved her, but I wanted to see something grow in her. I felt for her, I cared for her, but in the end she is the same Ada.
The one who does change is Stefan. BUT, it didn't happen until about three-quarters of the way through the book. And before that, I didn't feel connected to him at all. The sections from his point of view are written in second person, which I think contributed to the disconnect. But it also had to do with the fact that I never found out who *he* was, as a person. He seemed so defined by the people around him. He was the one who didn't want to disappoint his grandmother, or his deceased grandfather. He loved Ada, but in a way that made me feel like he was lost in it and not his own person. Around page 220 or so, he finally started becoming a real person for me, but that was too close to the end.
And the end itself...abrupt. I turned the last page and thought, "What??? That's it???"
Still, there is just something. The writing, again, is lovely. Poetic in places, and emotional. I would definitely recommend this book because it's a good story with (mostly) unique characters and something fresh and different in the YA genre.
My Website
Find me on Facebook
My YA fantasy series:
book 1
book 2
February 12, 2014
4.5 Stars
First, let it be known how much I LOVE this author and her books. I received an ARC of GOING OVER and I was so excited to read it-- not only because Beth's writing is drop dead gorgeous-- but because the setting, 1980s Berlin absolutely fascinates me. And I was not disappointed. The stunning writing is back in force. The story of two teens separated by a concrete wall and barbed wire and DESPERATE to be together is both breathtaking and heartbreaking to read about. But there is so much more to this story-- plot threads that include the plight of Turkish immigrants and the extreme poverty in the ghettos of West Berlin is juxtaposed with the complete lack of freedom that East Berliners faced on the other side of the wall. And then there are the scads of missing family members on both sides-- it is a heartbreaking story in many ways but, miraculously, so full of hope. And the final scene left me completely breathless and biting my nails. I knew when I finished it it was a great story, but now that I've had a day to process and really examine everything that Kephart has brought to this book, I am REALLY impressed. It's that kind of book-- the kind that you need to sit and reflect on.
I only knock off half a star because the ending-- while exactly what I hoped for-- felt a bit abrupt. I think this is a book where an epilogue might be a very nice addition:)
I'll have more thoughts & a full review soon:)
First, let it be known how much I LOVE this author and her books. I received an ARC of GOING OVER and I was so excited to read it-- not only because Beth's writing is drop dead gorgeous-- but because the setting, 1980s Berlin absolutely fascinates me. And I was not disappointed. The stunning writing is back in force. The story of two teens separated by a concrete wall and barbed wire and DESPERATE to be together is both breathtaking and heartbreaking to read about. But there is so much more to this story-- plot threads that include the plight of Turkish immigrants and the extreme poverty in the ghettos of West Berlin is juxtaposed with the complete lack of freedom that East Berliners faced on the other side of the wall. And then there are the scads of missing family members on both sides-- it is a heartbreaking story in many ways but, miraculously, so full of hope. And the final scene left me completely breathless and biting my nails. I knew when I finished it it was a great story, but now that I've had a day to process and really examine everything that Kephart has brought to this book, I am REALLY impressed. It's that kind of book-- the kind that you need to sit and reflect on.
I only knock off half a star because the ending-- while exactly what I hoped for-- felt a bit abrupt. I think this is a book where an epilogue might be a very nice addition:)
I'll have more thoughts & a full review soon:)
February 18, 2014
I picked this book because it's about two teens that are in love and live on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall. And it's the 1980's, which I knew would be interesting to read about in a YA novel.
It's pretty easy to see that this book could be an award winner. It has the stunning writing, vivid scenes and colorful characters. It has all the things that award winners tend to have. But I'm just not always a fan of those kinds of books. It's almost like it goes over my head a little. The beautiful and somewhat flowery writing of descriptions just doesn't compute in my head so well. So I'm left feeling bored and confused. Fortunately after a rocky and slow start this book did get off the ground for me and ended up being something I enjoyed.
Ada was a character I liked and disliked at the same time. I didn't like that she pressured Stefan so much, how she gave him the choice that could mean his death. She wants him with her, but she shouldn't push him so much. She also seems to obsess over him. Like he is everything to her. And in the beginning she talks about that a lot. I didn't like that. On the other hand she's wonderful with the children she works with. She is devoted to them and truly cares about their well being. She'll do anything for them and this was something I loved about her. She's also a talented graffiti artist, but I felt that wasn't really a major part of the story. More the background. But I did like that as well. I also liked how she was with her grandmother and her mother.
Stefan's POV's were short and at first I felt they were boring. They were providing us with information, so they were important, but in the beginning it was a struggle to get through those brief pieces. But then it took a turn and I started feeling like we were actually getting to know him a little and I started liking him. I don't feel like I know him well, but I got to know him a little. Which felt like something after so long of not being sure if his parts would ever go anywhere.
I was anxious to get to read a fiction book with the Berlin Wall as part of it. Honestly, I don't remember learning anything about it at school. The only thing I remember was when the wall came down and it was a big deal. I didn't know why it was there in the first place. So I kind of went in clueless about the history and there's no way we can get all that history in this fiction story, so now I'm very interested in learning more. My husband and I are already looking up documentaries. As far as it went in the book, it was really interesting. Ada got to visit Stefan on the East side every six months so they did see each other. Their grandmothers are best friends and it's how they met and grew up together. Seeing each other every 6 months or so. (Or maybe she said twice a year, I could have that mixed up.) We also know that a lot of people died crossing the wall. So for Ada to push for Stefan to escape to the West, was actually asking a lot.
Besides this romance of two people not being able to be together, we have some discussion of all these Turkish women who have come with their husbands (or been brought there to be married) and how they have no freedom. It's hard for me to explain this bit, but it was also fascinating. We get to learn more about this because one of Ada's students is Turkish and there's a bit of a mystery, or some things that are going down with him and his mother. So Ada is trying to help him. This bit of the story is the most emotional and was what finally pulled me in and held my interest for the remainder of the book.
I quite enjoyed the side characters in the book like Ada's mother, grandmother and best friend. While they may not be fully fleshed out, it was sufficient for this story.
And I can't end this review without commenting on the 80's portrayal in the book. I wasn't sure if 'punk' had been the thing in Germany in the 80's, but apparently it was. The styles described fit my memories in America, but more with a German spin, I guess. It still felt authentically German, but I was able to imagine it. The music mentioned, the things they did, it all fit and made the book feel 80's to me.
The book ended a bit too abruptly for me, but yet I feel it was somewhat fitting. I would have preferred another chapter, but really, we get all the answers to everything. I know I wouldn't mind a '6 months later' chapter to know how things went.
I know the issues I had with this book is purely taste and not lack of writing ability, etc. Luckily I did end up enjoying the book. It just took awhile. And I've debated the rating on this one for quite some time. I know this is a book many will be raving about, but for me I feel it's a 3 star book. I just didn't love it. But I do want to learn more about the Wall and the things happening in that time. A book that inspires me to learn- well that's definitely a winner, right?
It's pretty easy to see that this book could be an award winner. It has the stunning writing, vivid scenes and colorful characters. It has all the things that award winners tend to have. But I'm just not always a fan of those kinds of books. It's almost like it goes over my head a little. The beautiful and somewhat flowery writing of descriptions just doesn't compute in my head so well. So I'm left feeling bored and confused. Fortunately after a rocky and slow start this book did get off the ground for me and ended up being something I enjoyed.
Ada was a character I liked and disliked at the same time. I didn't like that she pressured Stefan so much, how she gave him the choice that could mean his death. She wants him with her, but she shouldn't push him so much. She also seems to obsess over him. Like he is everything to her. And in the beginning she talks about that a lot. I didn't like that. On the other hand she's wonderful with the children she works with. She is devoted to them and truly cares about their well being. She'll do anything for them and this was something I loved about her. She's also a talented graffiti artist, but I felt that wasn't really a major part of the story. More the background. But I did like that as well. I also liked how she was with her grandmother and her mother.
Stefan's POV's were short and at first I felt they were boring. They were providing us with information, so they were important, but in the beginning it was a struggle to get through those brief pieces. But then it took a turn and I started feeling like we were actually getting to know him a little and I started liking him. I don't feel like I know him well, but I got to know him a little. Which felt like something after so long of not being sure if his parts would ever go anywhere.
I was anxious to get to read a fiction book with the Berlin Wall as part of it. Honestly, I don't remember learning anything about it at school. The only thing I remember was when the wall came down and it was a big deal. I didn't know why it was there in the first place. So I kind of went in clueless about the history and there's no way we can get all that history in this fiction story, so now I'm very interested in learning more. My husband and I are already looking up documentaries. As far as it went in the book, it was really interesting. Ada got to visit Stefan on the East side every six months so they did see each other. Their grandmothers are best friends and it's how they met and grew up together. Seeing each other every 6 months or so. (Or maybe she said twice a year, I could have that mixed up.) We also know that a lot of people died crossing the wall. So for Ada to push for Stefan to escape to the West, was actually asking a lot.
Besides this romance of two people not being able to be together, we have some discussion of all these Turkish women who have come with their husbands (or been brought there to be married) and how they have no freedom. It's hard for me to explain this bit, but it was also fascinating. We get to learn more about this because one of Ada's students is Turkish and there's a bit of a mystery, or some things that are going down with him and his mother. So Ada is trying to help him. This bit of the story is the most emotional and was what finally pulled me in and held my interest for the remainder of the book.
I quite enjoyed the side characters in the book like Ada's mother, grandmother and best friend. While they may not be fully fleshed out, it was sufficient for this story.
And I can't end this review without commenting on the 80's portrayal in the book. I wasn't sure if 'punk' had been the thing in Germany in the 80's, but apparently it was. The styles described fit my memories in America, but more with a German spin, I guess. It still felt authentically German, but I was able to imagine it. The music mentioned, the things they did, it all fit and made the book feel 80's to me.
The book ended a bit too abruptly for me, but yet I feel it was somewhat fitting. I would have preferred another chapter, but really, we get all the answers to everything. I know I wouldn't mind a '6 months later' chapter to know how things went.
I know the issues I had with this book is purely taste and not lack of writing ability, etc. Luckily I did end up enjoying the book. It just took awhile. And I've debated the rating on this one for quite some time. I know this is a book many will be raving about, but for me I feel it's a 3 star book. I just didn't love it. But I do want to learn more about the Wall and the things happening in that time. A book that inspires me to learn- well that's definitely a winner, right?
September 30, 2017
The world is not a foreign land -- there are no foreigners.
Love is what you give and love is what you want and love is how you wait, but it doesn't save you.
Where to begin? I am awestruck by this edgy, deep, painfully raw book.
It's Berlin, 1983, and Ada is in love. The only problem is, her Stefan is on the other side of the Berlin Wall. They might possibly see each other a few times a year. Possibly. And every time, it is the same. But Stefan isn't her only worry -- she worries for her Mutti, for her Omi, for her best friend Arabelle, for the children at the day care where she works. The West might be free, but it certainly isn't safe. Not without Stefan, trapped in the East.
I loved this book especially because it captures how it is to be separated from the one you love because of uncontrollable circumstances. I love Ada's struggle with hating Stefan. Stefan's struggle with guilt. I love the way it's written, in first-person present-tense, heavy with imagery, poetic. I loved the characters and how Kephart reveals things about them in ways that make you unsure of what you've read. This book is powerful.
Powerful, but not something you read for the pleasure of a good book with a feel-good message and fluffy content. Certainly not that. It's raw and it's real. There are deep issues inside it (just like reality) and there are hurts. There are awful things, but good things too.
That said, I'd recommend this to teens and over. It contains a fair amount of language, but not enough to deter me. The characters discuss 1983 Berlin's issues (still issues in 2017) that children would probably have a hard time understanding.
If you love history, if you love reading about people and our emotions and struggles, if you love Code Name Verity , this is your book.
Love is what you give and love is what you want and love is how you wait, but it doesn't save you.
Where to begin? I am awestruck by this edgy, deep, painfully raw book.
It's Berlin, 1983, and Ada is in love. The only problem is, her Stefan is on the other side of the Berlin Wall. They might possibly see each other a few times a year. Possibly. And every time, it is the same. But Stefan isn't her only worry -- she worries for her Mutti, for her Omi, for her best friend Arabelle, for the children at the day care where she works. The West might be free, but it certainly isn't safe. Not without Stefan, trapped in the East.
I loved this book especially because it captures how it is to be separated from the one you love because of uncontrollable circumstances. I love Ada's struggle with hating Stefan. Stefan's struggle with guilt. I love the way it's written, in first-person present-tense, heavy with imagery, poetic. I loved the characters and how Kephart reveals things about them in ways that make you unsure of what you've read. This book is powerful.
Powerful, but not something you read for the pleasure of a good book with a feel-good message and fluffy content. Certainly not that. It's raw and it's real. There are deep issues inside it (just like reality) and there are hurts. There are awful things, but good things too.
That said, I'd recommend this to teens and over. It contains a fair amount of language, but not enough to deter me. The characters discuss 1983 Berlin's issues (still issues in 2017) that children would probably have a hard time understanding.
If you love history, if you love reading about people and our emotions and struggles, if you love Code Name Verity , this is your book.
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August 5, 2016Edit: I wrote more on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves - http://cleareyesfullshelves.com/blog/...
This is a tough book to assess. The writing is stunning, very much tilting in the direction of literary, though without pretense. The setting is incredibly vivid, especially life in West Berlin and youth culture of the time. However, it's dual POV and one of the POVs is inexplicably written in second person and it frustrated me because it was quite distancing and didn't seem essential for the story.
I do recommend Going Over, it's fascinating for the historical elements and the writing is really something. But I would have been crazy for it without the second person narrative device, which frustrated me from cover to cover.
I'll write more about this book later--there's a lot to dig into in this little novel.
This is a tough book to assess. The writing is stunning, very much tilting in the direction of literary, though without pretense. The setting is incredibly vivid, especially life in West Berlin and youth culture of the time. However, it's dual POV and one of the POVs is inexplicably written in second person and it frustrated me because it was quite distancing and didn't seem essential for the story.
I do recommend Going Over, it's fascinating for the historical elements and the writing is really something. But I would have been crazy for it without the second person narrative device, which frustrated me from cover to cover.
I'll write more about this book later--there's a lot to dig into in this little novel.
December 28, 2014
Beth Kephart works her wordsmith magic skills again with Going Over. Kephart’s signature style is all about the carefully crafted turn of phrases and imagery.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
Read
March 2, 2014Ada and Stefan are in love. But like any star-crossed love story, there is something preventing them from being together: a wall that divides their city. Pink-haired Ada lives in West Berlin where freedom and self-expression rule the streets and have emboldened her to become an angsty, teenage graffiti artist. Stefan lives in the straight lines and drab colors of East Berlin where his life and job have been forced upon him, so he waits for the day when he can escape to the West to be with Ada.
I was very excited to read Beth Kephart's Going Over because, you see, Berlin is my absolute favorite city on earth. History resides on every corner and yet it possesses a vibrant, youthful energy. It is like no other city in the history of the world. A wall divided it for decades: on one side, the free west, on the other, the oppressed east. The duality was striking and it still is to this day. When you go up to the top TV tower on Alexanderplatz in what is former East Berlin, you can clearly see where East and West once resided. When the wall came down in 1989, it was by the will of the people rather than weapons that
brought it down, which is what makes this city's story so compelling. When Beth Kephart says in the author's note:
"When I traveled to Berlin in the summer of 2011 I discovered a city palpably alive, brilliant with color. I stood before memorials. I cried inside museums. I touched pieces of the old graffiti wall and imagine the ache of being separated from people I loved, from landscapes I yearned to see."
That was my experience with Berlin when I traveled there in 2004. I loved everything about it. Its storied past. Its hopeful and frenetic future. I own a t-shirt that says "Ich bin ein Berliner" because I love this city so much.
So given my clearly emotional investment in the city of Berlin, I think it has skewed my impression of Going Over somewhat. It was difficult to find MY Berlin in this book and that's precisely why I had a hard time with it. I was looking for the Berlin I experienced in 2004, but how could that be when the story takes place in 1980s Berlin? And despite the fact that I drink up every piece of Berlin history I can get my hands on, I didn't feel the spirit of my beloved city in this story. Again, why would I? It was a different time and place.
But also, I just wanted to feel the city more in this story. When you have such a strong setting like Berlin, the city should almost be another character, much like I felt Prague was in Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It should be so vivid that you feel like you are there, and I didn't feel that sense of place I was longing for. And that's precisely why it's difficult for me to review this book objectively, which is also why I'm not going to give this book a star rating.
But despite my difficult experience with this book, I want to thank Beth Kephart for writing it. I think the Cold War is just now starting to become an era of history authors are beginning to explore and I think Berlin is a goldmine of fictional - and true! - stories just waiting to be told in young adult literature. Even though I didn't connect with the story as much as I would have liked, I will still recommend it to people and hope that they connect with it. Maybe it will even inspire people to visit and fall in love with the city the same way I did.
Read my entire review on my blog.
I was very excited to read Beth Kephart's Going Over because, you see, Berlin is my absolute favorite city on earth. History resides on every corner and yet it possesses a vibrant, youthful energy. It is like no other city in the history of the world. A wall divided it for decades: on one side, the free west, on the other, the oppressed east. The duality was striking and it still is to this day. When you go up to the top TV tower on Alexanderplatz in what is former East Berlin, you can clearly see where East and West once resided. When the wall came down in 1989, it was by the will of the people rather than weapons that
brought it down, which is what makes this city's story so compelling. When Beth Kephart says in the author's note:
"When I traveled to Berlin in the summer of 2011 I discovered a city palpably alive, brilliant with color. I stood before memorials. I cried inside museums. I touched pieces of the old graffiti wall and imagine the ache of being separated from people I loved, from landscapes I yearned to see."
That was my experience with Berlin when I traveled there in 2004. I loved everything about it. Its storied past. Its hopeful and frenetic future. I own a t-shirt that says "Ich bin ein Berliner" because I love this city so much.
So given my clearly emotional investment in the city of Berlin, I think it has skewed my impression of Going Over somewhat. It was difficult to find MY Berlin in this book and that's precisely why I had a hard time with it. I was looking for the Berlin I experienced in 2004, but how could that be when the story takes place in 1980s Berlin? And despite the fact that I drink up every piece of Berlin history I can get my hands on, I didn't feel the spirit of my beloved city in this story. Again, why would I? It was a different time and place.
But also, I just wanted to feel the city more in this story. When you have such a strong setting like Berlin, the city should almost be another character, much like I felt Prague was in Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It should be so vivid that you feel like you are there, and I didn't feel that sense of place I was longing for. And that's precisely why it's difficult for me to review this book objectively, which is also why I'm not going to give this book a star rating.
But despite my difficult experience with this book, I want to thank Beth Kephart for writing it. I think the Cold War is just now starting to become an era of history authors are beginning to explore and I think Berlin is a goldmine of fictional - and true! - stories just waiting to be told in young adult literature. Even though I didn't connect with the story as much as I would have liked, I will still recommend it to people and hope that they connect with it. Maybe it will even inspire people to visit and fall in love with the city the same way I did.
Read my entire review on my blog.
April 24, 2014
"You have to wait. You have to be absolutely sure. Love is the biggest thing, of course. But there are other considerations." -p. 78
I have never been to Berlin. I have certainly never been to 1983 Berlin, given that I was yet to be born. But Beth Kephart took me there. She brought to life a city divided. She showed a city where sometimes people never come home, to be buried without a body. She showed a city where a group of immigrants do not fit in, and not just because they don't speak the languages. She showed two teenagers who are in love, who sometimes resent each other and who make art and who look at the stars and who plan. Two teenagers who are stuck on opposite sides of that city divided.
Stefan lives in East Berlin with his grandmother. He is the more timid of the two, but if he's going to be with Ada, he'll be the one who bears the risk of escaping over the wall. Ada lives in West Berlin with her mother and grandmother and works at a daycare center where one of her young charges has gone missing. She was the last person to see him, but she can't convince anyone else to look for him even though she knows he must be in danger. It's another straw that's breaking her back, because Ada isn't sure how long she can keep waiting for Stefan. She loves him, but she's young, and she only sees him twice a year. He isn't there for her, and that's often what you need most from the people you love.
Beth Kephart was already an accomplished, polished author when she started writing YA fiction. But with every new release it feels like she's growing more into herself as a writer. When I read GOING OVER, there was something pure about the experience. I felt like I was reading the book Kephart wanted to write. She has a singular style, one that doesn't always work for me, but it sucked me in completely with GOING OVER. I fell into the imagery and the rhythm of the prose, so often staccato and intense.
I, honestly, don't know much about Berlin during this time period. It goes beyond never having been there myself. Oh, I know the basics, which side is which, that the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, but I have no familiarity with the specifics. (I'm definitely curious now about some of the suggested reading in the back.) GOING OVER really did make me feel like I was peering in, through the characters of Stefan and Ada. And I got different glimpses, because they not only live in very different areas, but have very different outlooks.
I will say that I enjoyed the Ada chapters more than the Stefan chapters. Part of that is the nature of their characters. She's more proactive and more reactive than Stefan. Both of them think a lot, and Ada is the one more likely to go out and do something rather than think some more. At the same time, Stefan isn't less developed than Ada. He has just as much background, personality, and his own interests. I'll also say that some of the ending is a bit convenient, but it fits the style of the story and there's still plenty of danger.
GOING OVER is a terrific bit of historical fiction. I would recommend it for teens and up, because there's some death that younger readers might find upsetting. There's another event that some readers might find upsetting, but it's written obliquely enough that younger readers shouldn't tune in to the details of the incident. If the kid is a fan of WWII and post-WWII fiction it probably wouldn't bother them, however.
I have never been to Berlin. I have certainly never been to 1983 Berlin, given that I was yet to be born. But Beth Kephart took me there. She brought to life a city divided. She showed a city where sometimes people never come home, to be buried without a body. She showed a city where a group of immigrants do not fit in, and not just because they don't speak the languages. She showed two teenagers who are in love, who sometimes resent each other and who make art and who look at the stars and who plan. Two teenagers who are stuck on opposite sides of that city divided.
Stefan lives in East Berlin with his grandmother. He is the more timid of the two, but if he's going to be with Ada, he'll be the one who bears the risk of escaping over the wall. Ada lives in West Berlin with her mother and grandmother and works at a daycare center where one of her young charges has gone missing. She was the last person to see him, but she can't convince anyone else to look for him even though she knows he must be in danger. It's another straw that's breaking her back, because Ada isn't sure how long she can keep waiting for Stefan. She loves him, but she's young, and she only sees him twice a year. He isn't there for her, and that's often what you need most from the people you love.
Beth Kephart was already an accomplished, polished author when she started writing YA fiction. But with every new release it feels like she's growing more into herself as a writer. When I read GOING OVER, there was something pure about the experience. I felt like I was reading the book Kephart wanted to write. She has a singular style, one that doesn't always work for me, but it sucked me in completely with GOING OVER. I fell into the imagery and the rhythm of the prose, so often staccato and intense.
I, honestly, don't know much about Berlin during this time period. It goes beyond never having been there myself. Oh, I know the basics, which side is which, that the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, but I have no familiarity with the specifics. (I'm definitely curious now about some of the suggested reading in the back.) GOING OVER really did make me feel like I was peering in, through the characters of Stefan and Ada. And I got different glimpses, because they not only live in very different areas, but have very different outlooks.
I will say that I enjoyed the Ada chapters more than the Stefan chapters. Part of that is the nature of their characters. She's more proactive and more reactive than Stefan. Both of them think a lot, and Ada is the one more likely to go out and do something rather than think some more. At the same time, Stefan isn't less developed than Ada. He has just as much background, personality, and his own interests. I'll also say that some of the ending is a bit convenient, but it fits the style of the story and there's still plenty of danger.
GOING OVER is a terrific bit of historical fiction. I would recommend it for teens and up, because there's some death that younger readers might find upsetting. There's another event that some readers might find upsetting, but it's written obliquely enough that younger readers shouldn't tune in to the details of the incident. If the kid is a fan of WWII and post-WWII fiction it probably wouldn't bother them, however.
March 8, 2014
Title: Going Over
Author: Beth Kephart
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release Date: April 1st, 2014
Rating: 2/5
Cover Impressions: The cover is cute and, having read the synopsis, most of the elements make sense. However, I don't particularly feel this would jump off the shelf at anyone. To be honest, the reason I stopped to take a second look was because of the National Book Award Finalist tag from an author that I had not yet encountered.
Review:
I will admit, I got sucked in by the award nominated author tag. I had never heard of Beth Kephart before and certainly not read any of her books, but the National Book Award is a big, prestigious silver sticker - and she was a finalist! Perhaps, there is a reason the committee passed her over and I probably should have as well.
Going over is the story of two teenagers stuck on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall. Full disclosure: that is not a part of history with which I am entirely familiar. I started the book, hoping for some sort of explanation or perhaps a story that started when the wall first went up (incidentally I would love to read a book about waking up on that morning, suddenly cut off from family and friends whom you had embraced just the night before - get on that authors) but instead, I got thrown right into the midst of the story and actually had to go do a little online research before I felt qualified to read this novel. Ada lives in the East with her mother and grandmother. At night she sneaks to the wall to capture the images of famous escapees with her paint cans. By day she works at a daycare and dreams of the day when her boyfriend, Stefan will make the leap of faith to join her.
The rest of this review, and my parent/teacher advisories can be found at Reading Between Classes
Author: Beth Kephart
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release Date: April 1st, 2014
Rating: 2/5
Cover Impressions: The cover is cute and, having read the synopsis, most of the elements make sense. However, I don't particularly feel this would jump off the shelf at anyone. To be honest, the reason I stopped to take a second look was because of the National Book Award Finalist tag from an author that I had not yet encountered.
Review:
I will admit, I got sucked in by the award nominated author tag. I had never heard of Beth Kephart before and certainly not read any of her books, but the National Book Award is a big, prestigious silver sticker - and she was a finalist! Perhaps, there is a reason the committee passed her over and I probably should have as well.
Going over is the story of two teenagers stuck on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall. Full disclosure: that is not a part of history with which I am entirely familiar. I started the book, hoping for some sort of explanation or perhaps a story that started when the wall first went up (incidentally I would love to read a book about waking up on that morning, suddenly cut off from family and friends whom you had embraced just the night before - get on that authors) but instead, I got thrown right into the midst of the story and actually had to go do a little online research before I felt qualified to read this novel. Ada lives in the East with her mother and grandmother. At night she sneaks to the wall to capture the images of famous escapees with her paint cans. By day she works at a daycare and dreams of the day when her boyfriend, Stefan will make the leap of faith to join her.
The rest of this review, and my parent/teacher advisories can be found at Reading Between Classes
January 28, 2016
This book is about first love, immigrants, life, art, punk and risking everything for freedom. It tells the tale of Ada, a tough punk teenager living in West Berlin and Stefan who lives in East Berlin.
Ada knows freedom and yet she doesn’t. She is free in West Berlin, she can live how she wants, do what she wants. However, she is surrounded by people with less freedom than herself. She looks after Turkish children, whose Mothers are secretly learning German and fights passionately for those who have no say in a foreign country. Stefan on the other side of the wall dreams of freedom. He has been assigned a job that he must do, yet he dreams of the stars, being a cosmonaut and a girl with bright pink hair who lives on the other side of the Berlin Wall. I really enjoyed how passionate Ada is and how this makes her dive in first and think second. I also really liked reading about Ada and Stafan's grandmothers and their friendship they have managed to continue despite living on opposite sides of the wall.
Not only is this a beautifully written tale of love and survival, it’s also packed full of history and knowledge of what it was like living in a divided city. It’s really hard to imagine that one day you wake up and someone has built a giant wall around your city. The book carried the tense atmosphere all the way through, especially with the Stasi, always watching, always listening.
I love Germany. I love German life and culture. I love speaking the German language. I don’t know why, it’s just something that makes up part of me. I can trace this love back to the day my German teacher announced the German exchange and I just knew I had to go. This book brought back so many memories, especially riding on the back of a bicycle under the white street lights getting a numb bum and feeling it for days afterwards. It felt very authentically German.
Ada knows freedom and yet she doesn’t. She is free in West Berlin, she can live how she wants, do what she wants. However, she is surrounded by people with less freedom than herself. She looks after Turkish children, whose Mothers are secretly learning German and fights passionately for those who have no say in a foreign country. Stefan on the other side of the wall dreams of freedom. He has been assigned a job that he must do, yet he dreams of the stars, being a cosmonaut and a girl with bright pink hair who lives on the other side of the Berlin Wall. I really enjoyed how passionate Ada is and how this makes her dive in first and think second. I also really liked reading about Ada and Stafan's grandmothers and their friendship they have managed to continue despite living on opposite sides of the wall.
Not only is this a beautifully written tale of love and survival, it’s also packed full of history and knowledge of what it was like living in a divided city. It’s really hard to imagine that one day you wake up and someone has built a giant wall around your city. The book carried the tense atmosphere all the way through, especially with the Stasi, always watching, always listening.
I love Germany. I love German life and culture. I love speaking the German language. I don’t know why, it’s just something that makes up part of me. I can trace this love back to the day my German teacher announced the German exchange and I just knew I had to go. This book brought back so many memories, especially riding on the back of a bicycle under the white street lights getting a numb bum and feeling it for days afterwards. It felt very authentically German.
April 3, 2014
This is a beautifully written novel about a time and place (early 1980's in the shadow of the Berlin Wall) that I am sad to admit I know very little about. One of the main characters, Ada, lives in West Berlin, while the other, Stefan, lives in communist East Berlin. Though Ada and Stefan have always known each other (their grandmothers are old friends), they see one another only a few times a year when Ada and her grandmother cross the Wall to visit. Stefan, of course, is not allowed to cross the Wall into West Germany (and would be shot on sight if he tried). Despite these circumstances, Ada and Stefan are in love and determined to find a way to be together.
This isn't some mopey teenage love story, though. There is so much here about what life was like on both sides of this divided city - and not just for Germans, either. One of the subplots involves the Turkish community in West Berlin, which I knew absolutely nothing about (after the Wall went up, West Germany signed a treaty that allowed Turks to come in and boost the workforce). And then there are the students, the punks, the squatters, the artists (in the West), and the terrified citizens and the Stasi (in the East). This story really brings all these communities to life, and I honestly learned more about this time and place in history (i.e. what it was really LIKE, as opposed to just names and dates and facts) than I ever did as a history major (sort of embarrassing to admit - but true!).
So, a lovely, gorgeously written YA novel with historical value to boot - I couldn't recommend this more, both for YA readers and for fans of historical or literary fiction.
This isn't some mopey teenage love story, though. There is so much here about what life was like on both sides of this divided city - and not just for Germans, either. One of the subplots involves the Turkish community in West Berlin, which I knew absolutely nothing about (after the Wall went up, West Germany signed a treaty that allowed Turks to come in and boost the workforce). And then there are the students, the punks, the squatters, the artists (in the West), and the terrified citizens and the Stasi (in the East). This story really brings all these communities to life, and I honestly learned more about this time and place in history (i.e. what it was really LIKE, as opposed to just names and dates and facts) than I ever did as a history major (sort of embarrassing to admit - but true!).
So, a lovely, gorgeously written YA novel with historical value to boot - I couldn't recommend this more, both for YA readers and for fans of historical or literary fiction.
February 8, 2015
It’s appropriate that I’ve saved an article about the 25th anniversary of the Berlin wall coming down, which was last fall. I planned to share it with students, but found it just recently in a pile of papers. And I was in the midst of reading this book when I did find it. This book, reviewed with love and enthusiasm by Carrie Gelson was one I knew I would enjoy. I was just finishing high school when the wall went up, and spent much of my adolescence worried about the cold war and the possibility of atomic war. We also worried a lot about those in east Berlin. Like all historical fiction, Kephart tells a tale of heartbreak and triumph, and keeps the reader on a sharp edge all the book. There is beauty in her words: “When the magpies are out, they stripe the night.” And the background details of the workers shipped from Turkey to do the jobs that are needed, isolated and in need is a part of the fabric of the tale, too. Ada, a fifteen year old living with her mother and grandmother in the west, and the grandmother’s friend through the war and the terrible time after when the Russians came lives in the east, with her grandson, Stefan. Ada and Stefan are in love, have seen each other only 4 times a year since childhood, and want only to be together. Ada pushes Stefan to find a way to jump, the thread that carries the story all the way with such underlying tension that I almost didn’t want to know the end. “Will he end up safe in the west?” is the question.
February 14, 2014
Sixteen-year-old Ada lives on the west side of the Berlin Wall in 1983 before the wall separating the city was torn down. Her eighteen-year-old boyfriend Stefan lives on the east side and cannot cross over to see her. Since the wall and the area between both sides are patrolled by guards, the two spend much time longing to see one another. Stefan's dreams of a bright future are slowly being crushed by the mind-numbing physical labor of his daily life. He takes solace in looking at the stars through his grandfather's telescope. Ada, meanwhile, works with children during the day and creates graffiti paintings on the city's walls at night. When violence erupts in the life of one of the children, Ada insists that now is the time for Stefan to join her. Her need for him is palpable, if selfish. Stefan's own cunning in trying to find a way over the wall is admirable. Since the story is told from the different points of the two teens, readers are quickly thrust into their predicament even while hoping for a positive resolution to the story. As is always the case with this author, all of the characters, even the secondary ones, are complex and have their own stories as well. One aspect that surprised me was the large number of laborers from Turkey that were present in Berlin, a fact that seemingly led to much misunderstanding, and ultimately, tragedy.
October 6, 2014
Going Over is a suspenseful, historical fiction love story. Sound complicated? Not really:
The book is set in Berlin, Germany, after the wall has gone up. Ada, 16, lives in West Berlin (the "free side" and Stefan, 18, lives in East Berlin (the Communist side). They knew each other as children but after the wall went up, Stephan and his family were trapped in the east and Ada, her dysfunctional mother, and grandmother remained free on the west side.
Ada wants Stefan to try to escape from the east side and gives him many newspaper articles about successful escapes each time she and her grandmother go to the east to visit (which is only 4 times per year, the most allowed).
Ada works in a daycare center that serves the needs of Moslem children. She needs Stefan's help to look for a child and his mother who Ada believes have been kidnapped . . . . or worse . . . by the woman's husband. Meanwhile, Stefan has to decide who he loves most and who he is most responsible for: Ada who he loves or his grandmother who will be alone in the east if he manages to get to the west side.
Throughout the whole book, I kept wondering if Stefan would leave the east or stay. His decisions went back and forth. The storyline involving Ada and the Moslem child was also page-turning.
There are a number of story lines here, all of them coming to resolution.
Wonderful read!
The book is set in Berlin, Germany, after the wall has gone up. Ada, 16, lives in West Berlin (the "free side" and Stefan, 18, lives in East Berlin (the Communist side). They knew each other as children but after the wall went up, Stephan and his family were trapped in the east and Ada, her dysfunctional mother, and grandmother remained free on the west side.
Ada wants Stefan to try to escape from the east side and gives him many newspaper articles about successful escapes each time she and her grandmother go to the east to visit (which is only 4 times per year, the most allowed).
Ada works in a daycare center that serves the needs of Moslem children. She needs Stefan's help to look for a child and his mother who Ada believes have been kidnapped . . . . or worse . . . by the woman's husband. Meanwhile, Stefan has to decide who he loves most and who he is most responsible for: Ada who he loves or his grandmother who will be alone in the east if he manages to get to the west side.
Throughout the whole book, I kept wondering if Stefan would leave the east or stay. His decisions went back and forth. The storyline involving Ada and the Moslem child was also page-turning.
There are a number of story lines here, all of them coming to resolution.
Wonderful read!
March 17, 2015
Pretty beautiful.
(with a good list of sources at the end)
That scar is proof that Mutti has what it takes to survive herself.
"We will be accused of 'Hetzschrift'," she says. "Or of that other thing: 'Schmähschrift'." Any word she can think of for the crimes she might commit: smears, libel, aiding, abetting. They have won their battle against her. She is afraid. She has been voided.
She protects herself, and you can't help her, and this, you think, is what she means to say. That surviving has its costs. That only and merely surviving has its costs, too.
... and I felt terrified, because who belongs to whom? Isn't that what we fear the most? Being loved less? Being left out? Being chosen against?
It's Mutti who has come, and Omi behind her--one tiny and one small, both of them rearranged by the wind.
You can start to hate a boy whom you love as much as that.
You put your secrets out in the open, and it's the safest that they'll be.
"I don't know anything about Stefan," I'll tell her. "I don't know anything about miracles"
"You make room for miracles, Ada," she'll say. "Do you hear me?"
(with a good list of sources at the end)
That scar is proof that Mutti has what it takes to survive herself.
"We will be accused of 'Hetzschrift'," she says. "Or of that other thing: 'Schmähschrift'." Any word she can think of for the crimes she might commit: smears, libel, aiding, abetting. They have won their battle against her. She is afraid. She has been voided.
She protects herself, and you can't help her, and this, you think, is what she means to say. That surviving has its costs. That only and merely surviving has its costs, too.
... and I felt terrified, because who belongs to whom? Isn't that what we fear the most? Being loved less? Being left out? Being chosen against?
It's Mutti who has come, and Omi behind her--one tiny and one small, both of them rearranged by the wind.
You can start to hate a boy whom you love as much as that.
You put your secrets out in the open, and it's the safest that they'll be.
"I don't know anything about Stefan," I'll tell her. "I don't know anything about miracles"
"You make room for miracles, Ada," she'll say. "Do you hear me?"
Read
January 26, 2015I'm conflicted because the writing is gorgeous and the story rings true to history, but I felt kept at arm's length by the second person POV in part of the story. It also felt a little as if a deeper understanding of the history was sacrificed for the sake of intimate storytelling...if that makes sense. I also wished that Stefan's life in the East had been explored more (although I see how Ada's story being larger and more colorful represented the West, while Stefan's narrow, limited POV represented the East). But I think most problematic was the event that was the tipping point to finally spur Stefan to act.
All that said, there aren't many young adult novels set in Berlin and I really did enjoy it. I recommend it.
All that said, there aren't many young adult novels set in Berlin and I really did enjoy it. I recommend it.
July 30, 2015
I read this book for lit class.
I chose it because the plot had a good premise, and I'm a sucker for love stories.
But while this book is historical fic, I didn't learn a thing about the time period, and, quite honestly, was left confused for about 75% of the book. You feel like you're floating through the story, and there's a puzzle you've got to finish but most of the pieces are missing. I read the whole book without understanding what exactly happened. I couldn't tell if each switch of POV had passed time between the other, or if time was going backwards.
There is nothing in the writing that makes it seem like historical fic. You can't tell it's a different time period unless the Stasi are mentioned. Kephart did a good job on describing the characters, but didn't put details into the setting and surroundings.
Not only that, but not much detail was put in the plot either. I had no idea what was going on, or how the story was developing.
Overall, it was good writing, but it wasn't used efficiently.
I chose it because the plot had a good premise, and I'm a sucker for love stories.
But while this book is historical fic, I didn't learn a thing about the time period, and, quite honestly, was left confused for about 75% of the book. You feel like you're floating through the story, and there's a puzzle you've got to finish but most of the pieces are missing. I read the whole book without understanding what exactly happened. I couldn't tell if each switch of POV had passed time between the other, or if time was going backwards.
There is nothing in the writing that makes it seem like historical fic. You can't tell it's a different time period unless the Stasi are mentioned. Kephart did a good job on describing the characters, but didn't put details into the setting and surroundings.
Not only that, but not much detail was put in the plot either. I had no idea what was going on, or how the story was developing.
Overall, it was good writing, but it wasn't used efficiently.
March 17, 2014
Outstanding book. Kephart keeps the tension tight throughout this unusual story of life on both sides the of the Berlin Wall. Her story has a tight focus on a few people and their experiences of life in the divided city. Setting and characterizations are both wonderfully crafted, giving this an intimate, you-are-there feel. It was an eye-opening read for me and I remember this time very well and I am eager to share this with teens. Some gorgeous language here too. I especially liked the sub-plot that involved the Turkish immigrants and how that played out with the experiences of the Berliners who were also immigrants in their own city. Much much here for discussion.
June 5, 2014
I found this book entirely forgettable.
Within 30 mins, I forgot a lot of the plot line and most of the key points. I really enjoyed the author's note at the end, and how someone eventually went over the Berlin Wall.
What I did like about this book was the story about the Turks within West Berlin and the idea of foreign workers within a country. I thought that was a nice touch and a good bit of history injected into the story.
Within 30 mins, I forgot a lot of the plot line and most of the key points. I really enjoyed the author's note at the end, and how someone eventually went over the Berlin Wall.
What I did like about this book was the story about the Turks within West Berlin and the idea of foreign workers within a country. I thought that was a nice touch and a good bit of history injected into the story.
March 30, 2014
What a beautiful novel. As usual, Beth Kephart's writing blows me away. You will root for Ada and Stefan, root for love, for freedom. You will re-read certain lines because they are just that stunning. You will want to tell the world to read this book. It's that good.
September 9, 2013
LOVED this book! Can't wait to get a copy :D
February 23, 2021
almost made me cry! ending was short & sweet
August 1, 2017
1/4 D (originally 1.5/4 C-)
I've had this book on my shelf for about a year, and its sale price made it more interesting, but then I always found something I was more interested to read. It's not that a story about The Berlin Wall sounds bad to me (Yes, I hated The Man from U.N.C.L.E. but liked Bridge of Spies). I guess I was just never in the mood for a small standalone. But I finally gave it a chance. And it's not horrid.
So Going Over is obviously a story with The Berlin Wall. Everyone growing up for the next hundred years should know about it. It came up out of nowhere in 1961 and continued to separate families, lives and hope until its demolish in 1989, which was only 9 years before I was born. Anyway, this story takes place in the hands of Ada, who's a graffiti artist who's smart enough to sneak around guards to do her painting, and she even maintains a head of pink hair. She lives on the West, which is apparently the free one. Or freer, compared to the East, where Stefan lives. He's Ada's girlfriend and Ada has loved him since she was twelve and so does he, but with the wall separating them, he has to try to find a way over the wall.
You know, The Berlin Wall has some inspiring stories in it. I'm always a fan of escape stories, fictional or not. I know that usually when someone escapes from captivity, they're probably going to have to steal and are probably dangerous. But the thrill of their gamble for life is always compelling. Except the real-life escapes by crossing the wall meant to separate Berlin were about people who had a life on the other side and was held back by libellous corruption. I learned about some of these escapes in 9th grade. There's a famous picture of a woman being the rope in a tug of war, the bad guys at the higher window and the good guys at the bottom. And there was apparently an od sewer the German government forgot about. Whenever the book talks about the horrors these people faced, it's pretty good. In fact, there's a list of all sorts of people who tried to escape, and how they died. In fact, the last one is a 6 year old who was just trying to find a ball and fell into a lake where the guards did nothing to help him before he drowned. That's the saddest (but also best) part of this book.
What made Going Over not end up working for me was Kephart's decision to use the Berlin Wall as a romance story. Don't get the wrong idea; I'm glad Ada and Stefan have a true requited love but the way they care so much about each other, you'd think they'd have been married for fifteen years. I feel like by now with the limited access they have to each other, I'd see them as good friends but not a couple. And some of this relationship they have doesn't make much sense to me. Apparently they can see each other three or four times a year for a few hours, says the government. Okay, so how do they allow that? Last I checked, the wall was opaque.
I feel like I missed something important when reading this, but sometimes it's hard to concentrate. This book is loaded with all kinds of flashbacks and old stories and because of too many characters situated around what was supposed to be an escape book and ends up more of a romance, everything's all sort of blended up funny. Beth Kephart still manages to make these characters appear human. Despite Ada's artistry she works at a preschool and has made lots of friends there and cares about all the kids, and Stefan and his grandmother have an actually very memorable tragic story about the grandfather. And Beth Kephart was on vacation in Berlin once and that was the main inspiration from her book, but it's filled with realistic details and the basic needs for a book like this: German names for family like Mutti and Omi.
But my main problem is despite its title, this book seems to want to be about everyone and puts it around a somewhat unrealistic romance, and the result is a bit of a drag, that unnecessarily takes place over the course of months and has a hasty conclusion. I think this is the very first time a graffiti artist is the lead character, which gives it some postmodern wit, but there could've been several other and probably better ways to write a YA book based on The Berlin Wall.
I've had this book on my shelf for about a year, and its sale price made it more interesting, but then I always found something I was more interested to read. It's not that a story about The Berlin Wall sounds bad to me (Yes, I hated The Man from U.N.C.L.E. but liked Bridge of Spies). I guess I was just never in the mood for a small standalone. But I finally gave it a chance. And it's not horrid.
So Going Over is obviously a story with The Berlin Wall. Everyone growing up for the next hundred years should know about it. It came up out of nowhere in 1961 and continued to separate families, lives and hope until its demolish in 1989, which was only 9 years before I was born. Anyway, this story takes place in the hands of Ada, who's a graffiti artist who's smart enough to sneak around guards to do her painting, and she even maintains a head of pink hair. She lives on the West, which is apparently the free one. Or freer, compared to the East, where Stefan lives. He's Ada's girlfriend and Ada has loved him since she was twelve and so does he, but with the wall separating them, he has to try to find a way over the wall.
You know, The Berlin Wall has some inspiring stories in it. I'm always a fan of escape stories, fictional or not. I know that usually when someone escapes from captivity, they're probably going to have to steal and are probably dangerous. But the thrill of their gamble for life is always compelling. Except the real-life escapes by crossing the wall meant to separate Berlin were about people who had a life on the other side and was held back by libellous corruption. I learned about some of these escapes in 9th grade. There's a famous picture of a woman being the rope in a tug of war, the bad guys at the higher window and the good guys at the bottom. And there was apparently an od sewer the German government forgot about. Whenever the book talks about the horrors these people faced, it's pretty good. In fact, there's a list of all sorts of people who tried to escape, and how they died. In fact, the last one is a 6 year old who was just trying to find a ball and fell into a lake where the guards did nothing to help him before he drowned. That's the saddest (but also best) part of this book.
What made Going Over not end up working for me was Kephart's decision to use the Berlin Wall as a romance story. Don't get the wrong idea; I'm glad Ada and Stefan have a true requited love but the way they care so much about each other, you'd think they'd have been married for fifteen years. I feel like by now with the limited access they have to each other, I'd see them as good friends but not a couple. And some of this relationship they have doesn't make much sense to me. Apparently they can see each other three or four times a year for a few hours, says the government. Okay, so how do they allow that? Last I checked, the wall was opaque.
I feel like I missed something important when reading this, but sometimes it's hard to concentrate. This book is loaded with all kinds of flashbacks and old stories and because of too many characters situated around what was supposed to be an escape book and ends up more of a romance, everything's all sort of blended up funny. Beth Kephart still manages to make these characters appear human. Despite Ada's artistry she works at a preschool and has made lots of friends there and cares about all the kids, and Stefan and his grandmother have an actually very memorable tragic story about the grandfather. And Beth Kephart was on vacation in Berlin once and that was the main inspiration from her book, but it's filled with realistic details and the basic needs for a book like this: German names for family like Mutti and Omi.
But my main problem is despite its title, this book seems to want to be about everyone and puts it around a somewhat unrealistic romance, and the result is a bit of a drag, that unnecessarily takes place over the course of months and has a hasty conclusion. I think this is the very first time a graffiti artist is the lead character, which gives it some postmodern wit, but there could've been several other and probably better ways to write a YA book based on The Berlin Wall.
May 20, 2014
Imagine a poem.
With flowing phrases, elegant wording, descriptions that you can feel, a passion and rhythm thrummed into every page.
Now imagine a book, written exactly like a poem.
This is that book.
It's written like poetry, constant and beautiful, so much it's as if you can physically see the sadness, the longing, the fear, plainly on the page.
I've read books about Germany. I'm sure many others have. About 90 percent of these books that you pick up are about, what else, World War II. In Nazi Germany, a time where the country itself wants to make up for, but everyone else (especially America, it seems) can't seem to stop making stories about.
We forget of the time after or before WWII. After, the wall that went up that divided families, friends, and lovers. The suffering they went through.
As half German myself, my mother tells me I still have family we haven't seen since the wall went up. Friends my grandparents probably never saw again, even after it went down.
We focus so much on WWII, that other stories, such as the Gastarbeiter (guest workers), the Turkish people who were brought over when Germany's economy went under because of the war. The fact that I didn't even know about the Turkish people, and their suffering too, or about the people who died trying to escape and those who succeeded, says a lot.
This book is written like poetry, so it can properly display the emotion of this time. And it does it wonderfully.
May 4, 2014
3.5 stars...I received this book as an ARC in a book giveaway through the Goodreads YA for Teachers group,. I was thrilled to be part of this giveaway. It is set in Berlin. Germany in the 1980s in the years before the Wall came down between East and West. This is a very interesting time period and the book really did expose the reader to many of the details of that setting. There are 2 main teen characters that are separated by the Wall and struggle to find a way to make their love a reality.
The writing is very unique and beautiful in this story. The writing actually seemed to fit the clipped punk style that was so prevalent in the 80's. I wanted to love this, because the basic set up is so unique and full of potential. However, it was a struggle for me. For one, I felt that there were too many tangential stories going on leaving me to feel like I didn't speak the language. Secondly, I could not connect with Stefan, the boyfriend on the East side of the wall. His part of the story was told in second person POV and felt distant. The consequence of this was that the "chemistry" between the separated lovers was disappointing.
I would love to learn more about this time and place. But honestly I will have trouble finding the right student to share this with. It takes some diligence and patient faith that the story will ultimately come together.
The writing is very unique and beautiful in this story. The writing actually seemed to fit the clipped punk style that was so prevalent in the 80's. I wanted to love this, because the basic set up is so unique and full of potential. However, it was a struggle for me. For one, I felt that there were too many tangential stories going on leaving me to feel like I didn't speak the language. Secondly, I could not connect with Stefan, the boyfriend on the East side of the wall. His part of the story was told in second person POV and felt distant. The consequence of this was that the "chemistry" between the separated lovers was disappointing.
I would love to learn more about this time and place. But honestly I will have trouble finding the right student to share this with. It takes some diligence and patient faith that the story will ultimately come together.
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