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Stella Street #4
To the Boy in Berlin
A postcard from Leo Schmidt? I can't believe it. I'm trying to solve the mystery of a boy called Leopold Schmidt who migrated to Australia years ago. Leopold is long dead, but this new Leo is very much alive and kicking.
Henni lives in Melbourne, Leo lives in Berlin. Different countries, different lives, so far apart; but sometimes the person furthest away is just the one you need. Emails fly as they explore the world according to Henni and Leo. It's friendly and funny, but deadly serious, too. Without Leo, Henni would never unravel the dark secrets from the past. Without Henni, Leo would have to save his friend Felix single-handed. Readers will seldom meet two such quirky, endearing characters as Henni and Leo.
Henni lives in Melbourne, Leo lives in Berlin. Different countries, different lives, so far apart; but sometimes the person furthest away is just the one you need. Emails fly as they explore the world according to Henni and Leo. It's friendly and funny, but deadly serious, too. Without Leo, Henni would never unravel the dark secrets from the past. Without Henni, Leo would have to save his friend Felix single-handed. Readers will seldom meet two such quirky, endearing characters as Henni and Leo.
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2007
4 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Honey
49 books55 followersElizabeth Honey was a weedy child who always seemed to have a sore throat, so her parents didn't send her to school until she was nearly seven. The Honeys lived on a farm in the bush near Wonthaggi, Victoria. There were four kids and Elizabeth was number three. With her younger sister Mary, Elizabeth puzzled over jigsaws, played with the dogs, climbed trees and one way or another did a lot of pretending, on horses or tractors, in dress-ups or with glove puppets, round old trucks, cubbies, dams and hay sheds.
Following Swinburne art school, adventures overseas and a variety of jobs Elizabeth became an illustrator, then also a writer, for children. Her first book, 'Princess Beatrice and the Rotten Robber' was published in 1988.
She lives in Richmond, Melbourne in a house of books: picture books, poetry, art (Matisse particularly) zines and strange books. Fortunately, her retired graphic designer husband is also a bibliophile. They have two grown-up children and a granddaughter in Amsterdam. All her life Elizabeth has zoomed around on her bike - not a lycra rider, just a charging-round-the-place rider - and that vibrant bike city in the Netherlands has become an inspiration. She's also passionate about streets for people not cars, public parkland and place-making, and an abiding passion is habitat for wildlife, for the survival of our unique Australian animals.
Following Swinburne art school, adventures overseas and a variety of jobs Elizabeth became an illustrator, then also a writer, for children. Her first book, 'Princess Beatrice and the Rotten Robber' was published in 1988.
She lives in Richmond, Melbourne in a house of books: picture books, poetry, art (Matisse particularly) zines and strange books. Fortunately, her retired graphic designer husband is also a bibliophile. They have two grown-up children and a granddaughter in Amsterdam. All her life Elizabeth has zoomed around on her bike - not a lycra rider, just a charging-round-the-place rider - and that vibrant bike city in the Netherlands has become an inspiration. She's also passionate about streets for people not cars, public parkland and place-making, and an abiding passion is habitat for wildlife, for the survival of our unique Australian animals.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 31, 2014
Alright - so I have to admit that I am a little bit of a 'Who Do You Think You Are?' junkie. I love historical stuff, especially primary source material - diaries, ships lists, old letters, photos, census records...so the design of the book, incorporating these bits and pieces really appealed to me. I think it probably deserved to win the APA Best Designed prize.
I also love a bit of a puzzle - a good mystery to unfold. So long as there are enough clues hanging around for me to be able to reasonably 'solve' it. All those years of Enid Blyton set a bit of a reading dietary requirement (My terrible reading secret is that I enjoy a good Kathy Reichs - Tempe Brennan novel peppered in amongst the other stuff).
And, having been intrigued by time travel novels, of a very specific kind, since I was very young (Charlotte Sometimes, Tom's Midnight Garden, A Stitch in Time, The Ghosts) I guess maybe I thought this story was going to be something it wasn't...not that it promised that - I just presumed...
HOWEVER, two out of three ain't bad...and nor is this book. Basic plot summary: Henni Octon (main character, 13yr old Australian girl in 7th grade) is on holiday when she discovers Leopold Schmidt. A German boy who was 13 yrs old in 1914. His height was recorded on the kitchen door frame, and his name is in several German books. But there is a mystery. In 1915 the Schmidts suddenly left Cauldron Bay, and nobody could (or would) say why. This piques Henni's curiosity enough for her to leave a note in one the boxes of German games and books the family had discovered. In an odd coincidence the letter is discovered by the uncle of a present day Leo Schmidt, living in Berlin.
Who, also coincidentally, is 13 years old. Coincidentally, Leo's mother is called Bettina, as was Leopold's, and Leo's father is a carpenter, as was Leopold's. Hmmmm...when does coincidence become lazy/poor plot structure? Although, the character of Leo did take the time to say that he wouldn't believe that coincidence if he read it in a book (which reminded me of a scene in The Kite Runner, strangely enough), this just didn't ring true and seemed unnecessary to the story, in the end... (One star gone - I just couldn't buy it. Mysterious, really, when I can buy time travel...if the plot stands up to it). So, anyway, Henni and Leo begin communicating via email.
And all of my teacher/parent instincts kick in to say, 'what are you doing, Henni? and Henni's parents...this guy could be anyone!!!! I waited for parents/teachers/anyone to remind her that this is really unsafe cyber behaviour, and it just didn't happen. (Another half star down...Books don't need to be morality tales, or netiquette safety handbooks, but this is blatantly unsafe behaviour and there is no consequence at all...not even a severe discussion with the teacher)
But getting the voice for Leo right was great. Somehow, even in English, he had a German accent. I felt that the grammatical errors were consistent and appropriate...not over done. His voice was weirdly adult, but that was kind of OK, since he seemed a formal kind of kid. I would have liked the characters to have been at least a year older to really be convinced of their age. But, again, plot devices got in the way, I suspect. Leo needed to be under 14 for various plot driven reasons. He also really presented some interesting moral dilemmas and modern understandings of racial disharmony and tensions, and modern Germany - often neglected by those who get embroiled in reading about WW2.
So, as to the last half star, the star that took this book from maybe a four - nearly - to absolutely a three. The emails. For a story of the complexity that this one has, the denouement needs to be spectacularly wrought. The build up was fantastic..the tension was developed, the clues were dropped (although not as explored as I would have liked - eg I really wanted a closer look at that rocking horse), and the links were made. Now for the unravelling...
But here, the writers hit a spectacular road block. How to convey the climax of the story through the emails of a 13 year old girl, writing to a 13 year old boy, and remain true to her voice. I won't reveal any plot, and I think the content of it was great. I just didn't like the telling. I felt cheated, if I am honest. I wondered if perhaps, now, the main character needs to write another book. This one could be her as an adult, writing a novel, based on the stuff that happened when she was thirteen. The novel could have two voices - hers and Leopold's. Or, maybe, Leo and Leopold. So perhaps it would have to be Leo, grown up, writing the story. Hmmm...not sure.
This book is worth a read. Particularly if you enjoy a bit of a mystery, a bit of history, and a journal/ letter style of novel. I haven't read Elizabeth Honey's other books, but I am tempted to at least give The Ballad of Cauldron Bay a go, because I did enjoy Henni as a character.
I also love a bit of a puzzle - a good mystery to unfold. So long as there are enough clues hanging around for me to be able to reasonably 'solve' it. All those years of Enid Blyton set a bit of a reading dietary requirement (My terrible reading secret is that I enjoy a good Kathy Reichs - Tempe Brennan novel peppered in amongst the other stuff).
And, having been intrigued by time travel novels, of a very specific kind, since I was very young (Charlotte Sometimes, Tom's Midnight Garden, A Stitch in Time, The Ghosts) I guess maybe I thought this story was going to be something it wasn't...not that it promised that - I just presumed...
HOWEVER, two out of three ain't bad...and nor is this book. Basic plot summary: Henni Octon (main character, 13yr old Australian girl in 7th grade) is on holiday when she discovers Leopold Schmidt. A German boy who was 13 yrs old in 1914. His height was recorded on the kitchen door frame, and his name is in several German books. But there is a mystery. In 1915 the Schmidts suddenly left Cauldron Bay, and nobody could (or would) say why. This piques Henni's curiosity enough for her to leave a note in one the boxes of German games and books the family had discovered. In an odd coincidence the letter is discovered by the uncle of a present day Leo Schmidt, living in Berlin.
Who, also coincidentally, is 13 years old. Coincidentally, Leo's mother is called Bettina, as was Leopold's, and Leo's father is a carpenter, as was Leopold's. Hmmmm...when does coincidence become lazy/poor plot structure? Although, the character of Leo did take the time to say that he wouldn't believe that coincidence if he read it in a book (which reminded me of a scene in The Kite Runner, strangely enough), this just didn't ring true and seemed unnecessary to the story, in the end... (One star gone - I just couldn't buy it. Mysterious, really, when I can buy time travel...if the plot stands up to it). So, anyway, Henni and Leo begin communicating via email.
And all of my teacher/parent instincts kick in to say, 'what are you doing, Henni? and Henni's parents...this guy could be anyone!!!! I waited for parents/teachers/anyone to remind her that this is really unsafe cyber behaviour, and it just didn't happen. (Another half star down...Books don't need to be morality tales, or netiquette safety handbooks, but this is blatantly unsafe behaviour and there is no consequence at all...not even a severe discussion with the teacher)
But getting the voice for Leo right was great. Somehow, even in English, he had a German accent. I felt that the grammatical errors were consistent and appropriate...not over done. His voice was weirdly adult, but that was kind of OK, since he seemed a formal kind of kid. I would have liked the characters to have been at least a year older to really be convinced of their age. But, again, plot devices got in the way, I suspect. Leo needed to be under 14 for various plot driven reasons. He also really presented some interesting moral dilemmas and modern understandings of racial disharmony and tensions, and modern Germany - often neglected by those who get embroiled in reading about WW2.
So, as to the last half star, the star that took this book from maybe a four - nearly - to absolutely a three. The emails. For a story of the complexity that this one has, the denouement needs to be spectacularly wrought. The build up was fantastic..the tension was developed, the clues were dropped (although not as explored as I would have liked - eg I really wanted a closer look at that rocking horse), and the links were made. Now for the unravelling...
But here, the writers hit a spectacular road block. How to convey the climax of the story through the emails of a 13 year old girl, writing to a 13 year old boy, and remain true to her voice. I won't reveal any plot, and I think the content of it was great. I just didn't like the telling. I felt cheated, if I am honest. I wondered if perhaps, now, the main character needs to write another book. This one could be her as an adult, writing a novel, based on the stuff that happened when she was thirteen. The novel could have two voices - hers and Leopold's. Or, maybe, Leo and Leopold. So perhaps it would have to be Leo, grown up, writing the story. Hmmm...not sure.
This book is worth a read. Particularly if you enjoy a bit of a mystery, a bit of history, and a journal/ letter style of novel. I haven't read Elizabeth Honey's other books, but I am tempted to at least give The Ballad of Cauldron Bay a go, because I did enjoy Henni as a character.
April 18, 2008
A very lovely book, quite different to her other work but still with just as much of her general talent.
February 12, 2023
The book was fun to read because it was written through emails, but sometimes it was just too much to understand. A bit too long maybe? One of the books that make you feel like you want it end. I don’t usually like books about young teenagers, but I loved this one. It had those funny vibes that made me love it.
December 12, 2023
I didn’t hate it, but it was definitely not my favourite book read this year.
I didn’t like the way it was written through emails and how you didn’t get to read through their POV - only caged email speak.
I like to actually get to know characters I am reading and this book didn’t really give that.
I did enjoy the mystery, but wish that was written more clearly.
I didn’t like the way it was written through emails and how you didn’t get to read through their POV - only caged email speak.
I like to actually get to know characters I am reading and this book didn’t really give that.
I did enjoy the mystery, but wish that was written more clearly.
June 22, 2022
This book could be good for a classroom. I didn't enjoy the way the book was written through emails it made the pacing a bit weird as everything was kind of past tense. The book does explore some good themes though.
July 28, 2018
I think it was interesting and very sad
February 13, 2016
This is a great book~!
I bought it for a friend's son as a gift, and decided I should read it myself first. It's written for young adults (the protagonists are 13, and I'd say it would be especially good for ages 11 - 16) and so is a quick read, but it's extremely engaging and I was soon very caught up in the suspenseful plot and the delightful correspondence between Leo in Berlin and Henni in Melbourne, Australia.
The two exchange emails as Henni works to unravel a mystery she's uncovered at a vacation house, and as Leo tries to help her while also dealing with a number of very modern situations at his school - an refugee friend who may be deported, and a frenemy with apparent psychological issues, among others. Henni is also very aware of the plights of refugees and asylum seekers and the issues of multiculturalism in Australia. History and current events come up quite a bit, as well as the various problems all teenagers deal with.
There is a fair bit of suspense when Leo's refugee friend confides in him about the immediate danger he is in and Leo tries to help, and also on Henni's end when she returns to the vacation house and learns that not everyone is happy with her interest in past history.
The only part that I felt let readers down a bit was toward the end - SPOILER ALERT - Read no further if you plan to read the book!
It just seemed to me that two of the characters who were most opposed to Henni's snooping, and who seemed like they might be dangers to her, changed their tunes a bit too suddenly and completely - and without real literary justification. The action in the end chapters seemed perhaps a bit rushed. But that was the only flaw and overall it's a fascinating and very "with current times" story.
Leo's emails were written by Heike Brandt, the second author, who is German, while Elizabeth Honey, who is Australian, wrote Henni's replies. This was a great device for individualising their voices and keeping them culturally genuine.
I bought it for a friend's son as a gift, and decided I should read it myself first. It's written for young adults (the protagonists are 13, and I'd say it would be especially good for ages 11 - 16) and so is a quick read, but it's extremely engaging and I was soon very caught up in the suspenseful plot and the delightful correspondence between Leo in Berlin and Henni in Melbourne, Australia.
The two exchange emails as Henni works to unravel a mystery she's uncovered at a vacation house, and as Leo tries to help her while also dealing with a number of very modern situations at his school - an refugee friend who may be deported, and a frenemy with apparent psychological issues, among others. Henni is also very aware of the plights of refugees and asylum seekers and the issues of multiculturalism in Australia. History and current events come up quite a bit, as well as the various problems all teenagers deal with.
There is a fair bit of suspense when Leo's refugee friend confides in him about the immediate danger he is in and Leo tries to help, and also on Henni's end when she returns to the vacation house and learns that not everyone is happy with her interest in past history.
The only part that I felt let readers down a bit was toward the end - SPOILER ALERT - Read no further if you plan to read the book!
It just seemed to me that two of the characters who were most opposed to Henni's snooping, and who seemed like they might be dangers to her, changed their tunes a bit too suddenly and completely - and without real literary justification. The action in the end chapters seemed perhaps a bit rushed. But that was the only flaw and overall it's a fascinating and very "with current times" story.
Leo's emails were written by Heike Brandt, the second author, who is German, while Elizabeth Honey, who is Australian, wrote Henni's replies. This was a great device for individualising their voices and keeping them culturally genuine.
April 21, 2010
Ok, dit was het aller-, allerlaatste KJV-boek van uk3.
Heb nog nooit in m'n leven zo 'tegen deadlines aan' voor moeten lezen. Mejuffer slaagde er niet in op eigen houtje de stapel te verwerken en jammer genoeg zijn we hier in huis zelf voorstander van het principe 'waar je je in het begin van het schooljaar voor inschrijft, werk je ook netjes af'.
Zo werd ik uiteindelijk de dupe van m'n eigen opvoedingssysteem!!!
(en néé, ik doe dat geen tweede keer).
Het boek dan.
Had van stijl wel wat verwantschap met de Francine Oomen-boeken. Het verhaal beslaat een zeer intens mailverkeer tussen een Australisch meisje, Henni en een Berlijnse jongen, Leo. Samen gaan ze op zoek naar het mysterieuze verleden van ene Leo Schmidt uit het begin van de 20ste eeuw.
Het is me niet duidelijk of uk3 de verhaallijn zelfstandig zou hebben begrepen. In elk geval bezweek ze volledig voor de eigentijdse toets (mailtjes, bijlages, tekeningetjes,...) zodat het voor haar een eerste KJV-plaats kreeg.
Een tweede plaats gaf ze aan:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64...
En de allerlaatste, tiende plaats ging naar: (wegens VEEL TE ENG!)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/66...
(nochtans prachtig geschreven!)
UPDATE: 21 april 2010
De teerling is geworpen!
Het KJV-groepje van Hoogstraten koos op
1. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64...
2. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75...
3. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/69...
Heb nog nooit in m'n leven zo 'tegen deadlines aan' voor moeten lezen. Mejuffer slaagde er niet in op eigen houtje de stapel te verwerken en jammer genoeg zijn we hier in huis zelf voorstander van het principe 'waar je je in het begin van het schooljaar voor inschrijft, werk je ook netjes af'.
Zo werd ik uiteindelijk de dupe van m'n eigen opvoedingssysteem!!!
(en néé, ik doe dat geen tweede keer).
Het boek dan.
Had van stijl wel wat verwantschap met de Francine Oomen-boeken. Het verhaal beslaat een zeer intens mailverkeer tussen een Australisch meisje, Henni en een Berlijnse jongen, Leo. Samen gaan ze op zoek naar het mysterieuze verleden van ene Leo Schmidt uit het begin van de 20ste eeuw.
Het is me niet duidelijk of uk3 de verhaallijn zelfstandig zou hebben begrepen. In elk geval bezweek ze volledig voor de eigentijdse toets (mailtjes, bijlages, tekeningetjes,...) zodat het voor haar een eerste KJV-plaats kreeg.
Een tweede plaats gaf ze aan:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64...
En de allerlaatste, tiende plaats ging naar: (wegens VEEL TE ENG!)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/66...
(nochtans prachtig geschreven!)
UPDATE: 21 april 2010
De teerling is geworpen!
Het KJV-groepje van Hoogstraten koos op
1. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64...
2. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75...
3. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/69...
January 13, 2013
After enjoying a few of Elizabeth Honey's charming picture books, I had to satisfy the urge to savour one of her meatier juvenile novels. The Boy in Berlin, co-written by German kids' lit advocate and author, Heike Brandt satisfies all the fundamentals of an epistolary novel for kids; this one told in a series of emails exchanged between Australian school girl, Hennie and 13 year old Leo, residing in Germany. It's a thought provoking, mystery with a fair amount of history sprinkled throughout. References and reminders of the futility of war and social persecution associated with it were quite liberal at times and not always the direction I expected the story to take me in. At first I was anticipating a journey that could easily have led to a speculative ending. Not so but To the Boy in Berlin, did introduce me to an extremely likeable and winning Henni Octon. It's a style of story telling that is slowly becoming more in vogue again and one which kids get and enjoy well.
December 17, 2015
What a great book - especially for anyone familiar with or of German background. I loved the idea of a young girl in Australia, stumbling across a German family's belongings and then trying, with the help of a new made German pen pal, to solve the mystery surrounding the family and their disappearance. The book discusses a number of current and historic German and Australian issues, as for example the treatment of refugees in both places; but also matters affecting and/or important to young people. An interview with the authors at the end of the book sheds light on the process of writing the book together. Very interesting!
June 28, 2012
Beautifully told from the perspectives of a pair of teenagers, through their emails across the world,and the historical documentation that Henni found. A wonderfully imaginative way of sharing Australia and Germany's history.
Themes include: war crimes, refugees, right and wrong, curiosity, friendship
Themes include: war crimes, refugees, right and wrong, curiosity, friendship
July 2, 2012
I Thoroughly enjoy this book becuase it shows aspects of things from other people half way around the world from each other and gives an accurate representation of what things are like in both places i also like how it's in a sort of E-Mail format.
January 15, 2013
A very clever story about two kids from opposite sides of the world who become intricately involved in each others' lives through email. I had this recommended to me by a student in my class, I'm glad I listened to him!
February 21, 2015
This was a great kids book... Funny, modern and very clever in it's use of two children from different countries emailing each other. My 10 year old daughter loved it but it's probably ideal for 11 to 13 year olds.
May 27, 2009
I really think from here on in, Elizabeth Honey's lost her touch. I couldn't really get into this at all.
Read
April 19, 2012It is a very well wriiten book and I love to be a nosy person and read emails so it is my type of book I am at the later part of the book so it is very exciting for me
April 17, 2012
I thought the book was a bit boring and need more action. But I liked how it was in letters.
July 19, 2012
This book annoyed me! there was some good bits but it was very slow! I liked how it was in e-mail format though.
August 20, 2016
Still as great as I remembered! The characters are very real and the old documents had me wondering if the story of Leopold Schmidt was true. An awesome read!
Read
December 28, 2016Not a fan of the writing style of elements used in this book. This was a DNF for me.
Read
November 20, 2012i think i want to read the damn book, but it won't let me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews