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The Wall Trilogy #1-3
Life Behind the Wall: Candy Bombers / Beetle Bunker / Smuggler's Treasure
Cut off by the Iron Curtain
This epic tale extends across generations and unfolds against the backdrop of a dangerous Cold War Berlin. This historically accurate, action-packed, three-books-in-one edition features three generations of resourceful teens living in the shadow of the Berlin Wall.
Candy Bombers: In spring 1948, teenage cousins Erich and Katarina are simply trying to survive in war-ravaged Berlin when the Soviets blockade the east side of the city, isolating its citizens—and starving them—behind the Iron Curtain.
Beetle Bunker: In August 1961, Sabine discovers a forgotten underground bunker. Though she first uses it to escape her crowded home, she soon realizes her hideout could possibly take her family under the wall to West Berlin and freedom!
Smuggler's Treasure: In spring 1989, life is good in West Germany, and even the Cold War seems to be thawing in the warmer weather. But as Liesl works on a class project about the history of the wall, she stumbles onto a startling secret no one will talk about.
This epic tale extends across generations and unfolds against the backdrop of a dangerous Cold War Berlin. This historically accurate, action-packed, three-books-in-one edition features three generations of resourceful teens living in the shadow of the Berlin Wall.
Candy Bombers: In spring 1948, teenage cousins Erich and Katarina are simply trying to survive in war-ravaged Berlin when the Soviets blockade the east side of the city, isolating its citizens—and starving them—behind the Iron Curtain.
Beetle Bunker: In August 1961, Sabine discovers a forgotten underground bunker. Though she first uses it to escape her crowded home, she soon realizes her hideout could possibly take her family under the wall to West Berlin and freedom!
Smuggler's Treasure: In spring 1989, life is good in West Germany, and even the Cold War seems to be thawing in the warmer weather. But as Liesl works on a class project about the history of the wall, she stumbles onto a startling secret no one will talk about.
528 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2014
16 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Robert Elmer
90 books65 followersRobert Elmer is the author of more than fifty books, including contemporary novels for the adult Christian audience, nonfiction devotionals like Piercing Heaven and Fount of Heaven (Lexham Press), and seven series for younger readers. Among kids, he is best known for his historicals such as the Young Underground, Adventures Down Under, Life Behind the Wall, and Promise of Zion books. When he's not at the keyboard, he enjoys beachcombing and travel with his wife, and spending time with their three kids and families.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 12, 2014
Life Behind the Wall is a collection of three novella-length stories for the YA crowd. Each is set in part of Berlin in a different time period between 1948 and 1989.
Book One, Candy Bomber, begins in the summer of 1948. Erich Becker, a 13-year-old Berlin resident, hates the Americans whose bombs wrecked his city and killed his father. He regularly prowls Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport, sneaking into U.S. cargo planes in search of food for his hungry mother and grandmother. He meets U.S. soldier DeWitt who is a journalist, befriends Erich, and writes a story about the hungry children of Berlin. He comes around to Erich’s house with bags of treats like canned peaches and takes Erich and his cousin Katarina up in his plane to do some candy drops over Berlin neighborhoods.
Soon it becomes clear that DeWitt’s interest is in more than Erich. He wants to marry Erich’s mother and move the family to the States. Will Erich be able to forgive the Americans for what he holds against them?
Book Two, Beetle Bunker, begins in 1961. Its main character, 13-year-old Sabine, is a polio survivor who hobbles around on crutches. She lives with her mother, grandmother (Oma Poldi Becker), older brother Erich (from book one), Onkel Heinz and Tante Gertrud in Oma’s crowded flat in East Berlin.
In this book we see the Berlin wall erected and are part of a daring tunneling attempt to escape from the East to West sectors of the city.
Book Three, Smuggler’s Treasure, begins in 1989. Liesl, the 13-year-old daughter of Sabine and Willi (from book two), lives in West Berlin. She tries to act cool the day she and mother are stopped at the checkpoint and thoroughly questioned on their way to visit Uncle Erich who still lives in the Communist side of the city. Mother and Uncle Erich are most upset when they find she has stuffed her stockings and clothes with slim Bibles. She gets into more trouble when she digs into the family history while researching for a school project and still more when she joins some older kids in a protest at the wall.
This part of the story sees the Berlin Wall come down and also reveals the mysteries surrounding Sabine’s father (Liesl’s grandfather).
These stories offer a great experience of another time in history. They show firsthand the poverty, bravery, resilience, and resourcefulness of the people of East and West Berlin during the Cold War era. They are also an example of how the divided city affected families.
The setting seems realistic with its atmosphere of suspicion and secrecy. Characters must be careful not to be seen with the wrong people or overheard saying the wrong things because they don’t know who to trust and who might be snitching on them to the authorities. Chapter numbers in German and lots of other German words and expressions sprinkled throughout also give a feeling of authenticity to these stories.
None of the main character kids in these books are content to sit around. The stories are fast-paced and filled with adventure and danger. The age of each of the heroes (13) tells us that these books will appeal to tweens and early teens.
The end of Book One has a “How It Really Happened” section that explains which events in that story actually happened. All the books conclude with a set of Questions for Further Study designed to deepen and broaden the reading experience for individuals or groups.
As well as giving YA readers three interesting and fun stories, this book would be excellent supplementary reading for home schoolers and Christian school classes doing a study of the Cold War period (all three books are written from a Christian point-of-view).
I received Life Behind The Wall as a gift from the publisher (Zondervan-Zonderkidz) for the purpose of writing a review.
Book One, Candy Bomber, begins in the summer of 1948. Erich Becker, a 13-year-old Berlin resident, hates the Americans whose bombs wrecked his city and killed his father. He regularly prowls Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport, sneaking into U.S. cargo planes in search of food for his hungry mother and grandmother. He meets U.S. soldier DeWitt who is a journalist, befriends Erich, and writes a story about the hungry children of Berlin. He comes around to Erich’s house with bags of treats like canned peaches and takes Erich and his cousin Katarina up in his plane to do some candy drops over Berlin neighborhoods.
Soon it becomes clear that DeWitt’s interest is in more than Erich. He wants to marry Erich’s mother and move the family to the States. Will Erich be able to forgive the Americans for what he holds against them?
Book Two, Beetle Bunker, begins in 1961. Its main character, 13-year-old Sabine, is a polio survivor who hobbles around on crutches. She lives with her mother, grandmother (Oma Poldi Becker), older brother Erich (from book one), Onkel Heinz and Tante Gertrud in Oma’s crowded flat in East Berlin.
In this book we see the Berlin wall erected and are part of a daring tunneling attempt to escape from the East to West sectors of the city.
Book Three, Smuggler’s Treasure, begins in 1989. Liesl, the 13-year-old daughter of Sabine and Willi (from book two), lives in West Berlin. She tries to act cool the day she and mother are stopped at the checkpoint and thoroughly questioned on their way to visit Uncle Erich who still lives in the Communist side of the city. Mother and Uncle Erich are most upset when they find she has stuffed her stockings and clothes with slim Bibles. She gets into more trouble when she digs into the family history while researching for a school project and still more when she joins some older kids in a protest at the wall.
This part of the story sees the Berlin Wall come down and also reveals the mysteries surrounding Sabine’s father (Liesl’s grandfather).
These stories offer a great experience of another time in history. They show firsthand the poverty, bravery, resilience, and resourcefulness of the people of East and West Berlin during the Cold War era. They are also an example of how the divided city affected families.
The setting seems realistic with its atmosphere of suspicion and secrecy. Characters must be careful not to be seen with the wrong people or overheard saying the wrong things because they don’t know who to trust and who might be snitching on them to the authorities. Chapter numbers in German and lots of other German words and expressions sprinkled throughout also give a feeling of authenticity to these stories.
None of the main character kids in these books are content to sit around. The stories are fast-paced and filled with adventure and danger. The age of each of the heroes (13) tells us that these books will appeal to tweens and early teens.
The end of Book One has a “How It Really Happened” section that explains which events in that story actually happened. All the books conclude with a set of Questions for Further Study designed to deepen and broaden the reading experience for individuals or groups.
As well as giving YA readers three interesting and fun stories, this book would be excellent supplementary reading for home schoolers and Christian school classes doing a study of the Cold War period (all three books are written from a Christian point-of-view).
I received Life Behind The Wall as a gift from the publisher (Zondervan-Zonderkidz) for the purpose of writing a review.
June 18, 2014
http://kiribeth.blogspot.com/2014/06/...
When I first picked up this book, I expected three tales, relatively the same, about life behind the wall -- the Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall. And while it was all I expected historically (and more besides, I might add), everything in Life Behind the Wall exceeded my every hope. For one thing, it's not three separate tales. Well, technically it is, but it emcompasses the story of one family, in three parts. Each one is cleverly connected to the others, and I finished the book feeling very satisfied, as if I'd just read a full novel rather than three simple tales. Exciting, dangerous, fun, and rich -- this is one book you're not going to want to miss.
Candy Bombers starts things out with thirteen-year-old Erich Becker who is eager to help his starving family in any way he can. And that includes sneaking onto an American air base and bringing home a chocolate candy bar. One successful mission encourages him to do more, but his second attempt turns around in a manner that he never expected. Erich is a wonderful hero, and I really enjoyed his story. I sympathized with his struggles, and I was really glad to see that he was a more-or-less prominent character in the other two stories.
Beetle Bunker picks up the story with Erich's half sister, Sabine, a young girl with polio. She can get around with crutches well enough, but her whole world changes when the Berlin Wall appears almost overnight... separating their home directly in half. The bunker she finds later on seems at first to be a safe haven, somewhere she could read Black Beauty in peace without having to worry about someone becoming offended for her reading an inappropriate book. She befriends a young boy who shares her dislike of the Wall, but what can two teenagers do against the cold hearts of their government? Sabine knows life on the wrong side of the wall is getting harder, and it's only a matter of time before danger envelopes everyone she loves.
Smuggler's Treasure tells the last part of the tale, starring Sabine's daughter, Liesl. There is nothing more that Liesl wants in the world than to understand the past. Her mother and her grandmother won't speak of the days gone by, and even her beloved Onkle Erich doesn't really want to tell her what she yearns to know. When a school paper presents her with the opportunity to do a little research, Liesl dives right in. Finding out her family's greatest secret (or perhaps the greatest secret kept from her family) might take Liesl into strange places... even on the wrong side of the Wall where the Communist rule contradicts everything she believes.
Advisory: Some violence; characters get into fights, get arrested and jailed, etc. but nothing graphic.
*Please note: I received a copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.*
When I first picked up this book, I expected three tales, relatively the same, about life behind the wall -- the Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall. And while it was all I expected historically (and more besides, I might add), everything in Life Behind the Wall exceeded my every hope. For one thing, it's not three separate tales. Well, technically it is, but it emcompasses the story of one family, in three parts. Each one is cleverly connected to the others, and I finished the book feeling very satisfied, as if I'd just read a full novel rather than three simple tales. Exciting, dangerous, fun, and rich -- this is one book you're not going to want to miss.
Candy Bombers starts things out with thirteen-year-old Erich Becker who is eager to help his starving family in any way he can. And that includes sneaking onto an American air base and bringing home a chocolate candy bar. One successful mission encourages him to do more, but his second attempt turns around in a manner that he never expected. Erich is a wonderful hero, and I really enjoyed his story. I sympathized with his struggles, and I was really glad to see that he was a more-or-less prominent character in the other two stories.
Beetle Bunker picks up the story with Erich's half sister, Sabine, a young girl with polio. She can get around with crutches well enough, but her whole world changes when the Berlin Wall appears almost overnight... separating their home directly in half. The bunker she finds later on seems at first to be a safe haven, somewhere she could read Black Beauty in peace without having to worry about someone becoming offended for her reading an inappropriate book. She befriends a young boy who shares her dislike of the Wall, but what can two teenagers do against the cold hearts of their government? Sabine knows life on the wrong side of the wall is getting harder, and it's only a matter of time before danger envelopes everyone she loves.
Smuggler's Treasure tells the last part of the tale, starring Sabine's daughter, Liesl. There is nothing more that Liesl wants in the world than to understand the past. Her mother and her grandmother won't speak of the days gone by, and even her beloved Onkle Erich doesn't really want to tell her what she yearns to know. When a school paper presents her with the opportunity to do a little research, Liesl dives right in. Finding out her family's greatest secret (or perhaps the greatest secret kept from her family) might take Liesl into strange places... even on the wrong side of the Wall where the Communist rule contradicts everything she believes.
Advisory: Some violence; characters get into fights, get arrested and jailed, etc. but nothing graphic.
*Please note: I received a copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.*
May 29, 2014
This is a collection of three short youth books about the Berlin wall. Aimed at youth, they follow a family as the city is first divided, then in the middle of the years of conflict, and again when the wall comes down. They don't give a lot of historical/political information. The books briefly talk about how the Russians have control of one side of Berlin and Germany, and the Americans are helping to protect the opposite side. The books focus more on what it was like for the characters as they deal with life behind the wall. I enjoyed these books, there was enough action to keep you going, and I enjoyed the characters and the way the same family and storylines were continued through out the books. As an adult, I'm glad I had the opportunity to read all three at once, it really gives the young reader the full feel of each of the three time periods. The third book brought tears to my eyes as there was more of the family history revealed. I would recommend this to young readers, probably as early as upper elementary for advanced readers, but definitely for middle grades and high school. I enjoyed them as an adult and they have whet my appetite for more historical fiction about the Berlin wall and the Cold War. I enjoy historical fiction but have tended to read mostly about World War 2 and for some reason, really have not had a lot of exposure to the Cold War through Literature, so I'll be looking for more!
I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
May 26, 2014
A Family Struggles with Life Behind the Berlin Wall
Stretching from 1948 to 1989, Life Behind the Wall, tells the story of three generations of one family caught up in the turmoil in Berlin after World War II. The book consists of three self contained stories set in different time periods.
In the first story, Candy Bomber, Erich Becker, a thirteen-year-old boy is trying to help his family, particularly his grandmother, survive. Food is scarce and Erich is willing to dare sneaking into the American compound to steal food.
The second story, Beetle Bomber, features Erich's younger sister. Sabine walks using crutches because of contracting polio. She wants a place of her own and finds a disused bunker. As the Berlin Wall goes up the thoughts of many in East Berlin turn to escape.
In the third story, Smuggler's Treasure, Sabine's thirteen-year-old daughter smuggles Bibles into East Berlin. In this story, the wall comes down, and we experience all the pent up emotion of the Berliners.
I highly recommend this book for middle grade students. The stories focus on heroic adventures appropriate for young teens. The main character in each is a boy or girl thirteen-years-old. This makes it easy for young readers to identify with the main character and vicariously live the adventure.
The stories are historically accurate and are an excellent way to introduce young readers to an important era in world history. Although the stories have a religious undertone, it is not preachy, but more an expression of the characters' way of life.
I reviewed this book for BookLook Bloggers.
Stretching from 1948 to 1989, Life Behind the Wall, tells the story of three generations of one family caught up in the turmoil in Berlin after World War II. The book consists of three self contained stories set in different time periods.
In the first story, Candy Bomber, Erich Becker, a thirteen-year-old boy is trying to help his family, particularly his grandmother, survive. Food is scarce and Erich is willing to dare sneaking into the American compound to steal food.
The second story, Beetle Bomber, features Erich's younger sister. Sabine walks using crutches because of contracting polio. She wants a place of her own and finds a disused bunker. As the Berlin Wall goes up the thoughts of many in East Berlin turn to escape.
In the third story, Smuggler's Treasure, Sabine's thirteen-year-old daughter smuggles Bibles into East Berlin. In this story, the wall comes down, and we experience all the pent up emotion of the Berliners.
I highly recommend this book for middle grade students. The stories focus on heroic adventures appropriate for young teens. The main character in each is a boy or girl thirteen-years-old. This makes it easy for young readers to identify with the main character and vicariously live the adventure.
The stories are historically accurate and are an excellent way to introduce young readers to an important era in world history. Although the stories have a religious undertone, it is not preachy, but more an expression of the characters' way of life.
I reviewed this book for BookLook Bloggers.
August 27, 2016
I absolutely loved the stories of Robert Elmer’s Life Behind the Wall. Elmer engages a period in history that I have not seen portrayed a lot in literature (but I could just be picking up the wrong books…) and engrossed me in the experience of it all. Each of his stories, filled with fast-paced danger, suspense and adventure, vividly depicts life within Cold War Berlin. I think Elmer successfully makes this history accessible and real for young readers, but crafts stories for a reader of any age to enjoy. I certainly enjoyed them and would recommend Life Behind the Wall to any fan of historical fiction. (My only complaint is, as Elmer connects the three stories, a few details are mismatched and do not fit quite right…) Thank you, BookLook Bloggers, for providing me with a copy of these stories and the opportunity to honestly review them. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)
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January 31, 2016
Wow this was a free book on my kindle. I highly recommend it because it taught me so much about the cold war and how life was for families split apart in war torn Berlin. It was thought provoking and made me think about how hard life must have been at this point in history.
September 9, 2025
A trilogy, this captivating juvenile novel follows three generations of a family with members caught on both sides of the Berlin Wall. This historically accurate book highlights the human side of the dangers of being in this post-World War II scenario, each generation through the eyes of young teens in a Christian family.
The first segment takes place in 1948 with cousins Erich and Katarina in the zoned city. The second segment divides the family and the city in August 1961 through Sabine's eyes. The third segment reconciles the family in interesting twists as Liesl researches a paper for history class in spring 1989.
The first segment takes place in 1948 with cousins Erich and Katarina in the zoned city. The second segment divides the family and the city in August 1961 through Sabine's eyes. The third segment reconciles the family in interesting twists as Liesl researches a paper for history class in spring 1989.
November 2, 2021
My 13 year old granddaughter gave me this book because she liked it so much. It is three stories with each story depicting life behind the Berlin Wall during three decades. It explains much about the Cold War and how it affected those in East Berlin, mainly the young people, but also their families. It is exciting, based in facts and inspiring. If you have a pre-teen or teenager in your life, I highly recommend this book to give to them and when they are finished, ask to borrow it for yourself.
January 26, 2018
Couldn’t Put Down
This book is about a family who lived in Berlin during the Cold War. Starting during the Airlift and ending when the wall came down, this book leads u through every major event during that time period. This book is so accurate on what happened that it feels like your really there. Loved it and would recommend it to anyone wiling to learn a thing or two.
This book is about a family who lived in Berlin during the Cold War. Starting during the Airlift and ending when the wall came down, this book leads u through every major event during that time period. This book is so accurate on what happened that it feels like your really there. Loved it and would recommend it to anyone wiling to learn a thing or two.
June 18, 2023
This book didn’t have enough “meat” to it in my opinion. I read quite a few middle grade and ya books and they all seem to have more description and delve deep into the time period they are written. This lacked specifics for me and also had situations and language that were too modern for the time periods.
July 31, 2017
I only read the first book (Candy Bombers), as other books came ready for me at the library and I wanted to get to them.
The first part was good. The kids (just the girls?) read all the books, and enjoyed them.
The first part was good. The kids (just the girls?) read all the books, and enjoyed them.
December 5, 2019
Oh. My. Goodness. This was a great, clean, interesting book! While learning some history, you still get a good book (or, rather, three books) that is a decent length. Definitely recommend.
January 10, 2020
It's a historical fiction with a longstanding family mystery during the cold war
May 18, 2023
Wow! What a great historical fiction novel for teens and up. Tightly written, realistic without being depressing-everything one could hope for. Highly recommended.
Want to read
July 24, 2024SM
October 15, 2024
I liked it at first, but then it got boring, had to power through.
November 29, 2025
Great historical adventure story for middle grade readers & up! Enjoyed rereading :)
July 3, 2014
I love historical books. They can be for adults or kids, it doesn't matter. If the story has a historical backing, it has my full attention. Now, if the book is set during a unique period on history, it is moved ahead in my TBR.
I've really gotten in to WW2 era stories lately and I've noticed (or haven't noticed) many books about the time after the war, the rebuilding, especially for Germany. Life Behind the Wall, the 3-in-1 book offered a unique glimpse into the lives of the German people after WW2 had ended and the rebuild had begun. What a depressing and dark time that was.
I will honestly tell you, I didn't know much into how the Wall came about, just that it happened sometime after WW2 and it had to do with the Cold War. Now, I'm going to giveaway my age and tell you I do remember when the wall fell. I remember Ronald Regan and his speech telling Gorbachev to tear down this wall.
Life Behind the Wall brings you into this world that doesn't seem real in away, but it is. Being a child who survived the all out upheaval of Berlin at the end of the war, then to live in a battlefield of the cold war with the Russians. What a hard time! And Robert Elmer offers such a wonderful glimpse into this time and makes it into an adventure and easy for kids to understand.
I won't go into too much detail, so not to give anything away and spoil bits of the story, but following this family of cousins, siblings, and children was an interesting journey. Each hero in the story is thirteen, the perfect age for adventure and to see and experience what is going on around them.
In Candy Bombers, the war is over and America is trying to help the German people get coal and food into the country, all while the Russians are watching their every move and keeping tabs of the German people with their watch dogs of the community. Erich and Katarina, accidentally end up in an American bomber, that is now used for food deliveries and upon their discovery start something to help give hope to the kids and adults of Germany with their Candy Drops.
In Beetle Bunker, we follow Sabine, a thirteen year old girl, who is related to Erich. We find out how Erich is doing, but our journey is now following a new generation of life behind the wall. We also see the affects of illness behind the wall and the tight grip the Russians put on the people of Berlin when the Wall starts to go up.
Finally in Smuggler's Treasure, our hero is Liesi, Sabine's thirteen year old daughter. The wall is fully in place, but by this time, the push to tear it down is at it's strongest. The Cold War is ending, but the adventures are still there for Liesi to discover.
This was such an interesting way to present a part of history and it worked so well. The characters were real. No one was perfect, but this family cared for each other wanted to help each other out. There is a strong theme for compassion and faith in these stories and the history woven through was great.
Thank you to Booklook Bloggers, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I've really gotten in to WW2 era stories lately and I've noticed (or haven't noticed) many books about the time after the war, the rebuilding, especially for Germany. Life Behind the Wall, the 3-in-1 book offered a unique glimpse into the lives of the German people after WW2 had ended and the rebuild had begun. What a depressing and dark time that was.
I will honestly tell you, I didn't know much into how the Wall came about, just that it happened sometime after WW2 and it had to do with the Cold War. Now, I'm going to giveaway my age and tell you I do remember when the wall fell. I remember Ronald Regan and his speech telling Gorbachev to tear down this wall.
Life Behind the Wall brings you into this world that doesn't seem real in away, but it is. Being a child who survived the all out upheaval of Berlin at the end of the war, then to live in a battlefield of the cold war with the Russians. What a hard time! And Robert Elmer offers such a wonderful glimpse into this time and makes it into an adventure and easy for kids to understand.
I won't go into too much detail, so not to give anything away and spoil bits of the story, but following this family of cousins, siblings, and children was an interesting journey. Each hero in the story is thirteen, the perfect age for adventure and to see and experience what is going on around them.
In Candy Bombers, the war is over and America is trying to help the German people get coal and food into the country, all while the Russians are watching their every move and keeping tabs of the German people with their watch dogs of the community. Erich and Katarina, accidentally end up in an American bomber, that is now used for food deliveries and upon their discovery start something to help give hope to the kids and adults of Germany with their Candy Drops.
In Beetle Bunker, we follow Sabine, a thirteen year old girl, who is related to Erich. We find out how Erich is doing, but our journey is now following a new generation of life behind the wall. We also see the affects of illness behind the wall and the tight grip the Russians put on the people of Berlin when the Wall starts to go up.
Finally in Smuggler's Treasure, our hero is Liesi, Sabine's thirteen year old daughter. The wall is fully in place, but by this time, the push to tear it down is at it's strongest. The Cold War is ending, but the adventures are still there for Liesi to discover.
This was such an interesting way to present a part of history and it worked so well. The characters were real. No one was perfect, but this family cared for each other wanted to help each other out. There is a strong theme for compassion and faith in these stories and the history woven through was great.
Thank you to Booklook Bloggers, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2025
This is a book for the young person, that gives a history from the Second World War to the fall of the Berlin Wall. In it the reader follows a young man in Berlin as the soviets take over there city and how his family lives on both sides of the Berlin Wall.
June 3, 2014
The book for review is “Life Behind The Wall” by Robert Elmer. It falls in the genre of juvenile fiction.
This novel includes three sections that all interconnect. The first one is entitled “Candy Bomber, the second is “Beetle Bunker” and the last is “Smuggler’s Treasure.” The premise of the book is based on a family, that stretches three generations, living in Germany before and after the wall is built
It starts off with Erich, a young man living with his mother and sister in Berlin. The small family is trying to survive the aftermath of WW2. The devastation of the city is present in every where they go from the buildings, the rumbles and shortage of supplies across the city. This portion of the book dives into their lives bringing us the reader into what it was like during this time in our history and when the occupants had to deal with Russian control.
Second section brings us to the wall being built. Sabine, our main character and half-sister of Erich, discovers a bunker. One that could be used to dig a tunnel underneath the wall. It doesn’t take long before a group of young men and women try to do so, being careful to not let the Russian authority know their activities. There is discontent between the people as many who protest are arrested.
The last section we meet Lisel, the niece of Erich. The year is 1989. She is working on a project for school on the history of the wall. Lisel doesn’t want to do just any report that everyone else will be writing, which is just the facts. She wants to do more. But the more she digs, the more information comes to light about her family around her and ones she didn’t know existed.
I really enjoyed this book. While it is geared for juveniles, all ages could easily enjoy it. One could identify with the characters and the scene being played out before us. I read the book within days, a true page turning.
This novel includes three sections that all interconnect. The first one is entitled “Candy Bomber, the second is “Beetle Bunker” and the last is “Smuggler’s Treasure.” The premise of the book is based on a family, that stretches three generations, living in Germany before and after the wall is built
It starts off with Erich, a young man living with his mother and sister in Berlin. The small family is trying to survive the aftermath of WW2. The devastation of the city is present in every where they go from the buildings, the rumbles and shortage of supplies across the city. This portion of the book dives into their lives bringing us the reader into what it was like during this time in our history and when the occupants had to deal with Russian control.
Second section brings us to the wall being built. Sabine, our main character and half-sister of Erich, discovers a bunker. One that could be used to dig a tunnel underneath the wall. It doesn’t take long before a group of young men and women try to do so, being careful to not let the Russian authority know their activities. There is discontent between the people as many who protest are arrested.
The last section we meet Lisel, the niece of Erich. The year is 1989. She is working on a project for school on the history of the wall. Lisel doesn’t want to do just any report that everyone else will be writing, which is just the facts. She wants to do more. But the more she digs, the more information comes to light about her family around her and ones she didn’t know existed.
I really enjoyed this book. While it is geared for juveniles, all ages could easily enjoy it. One could identify with the characters and the scene being played out before us. I read the book within days, a true page turning.
July 23, 2014
Life Behind the Wall is really a trilogy of books. Book one is Candy Bombers, book two is Beetle Bunker and book three is Smuggler’s Treasure. The trilogy traces a German family’s story from just after WWII in 1948 to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The books are fictional but recount actual historic events. They are written from the perspective of a family which is separated by the Berlin Wall. It shows what life was like during the time that Germany was divided into two opposing political systems.
The characters were very likable and relatable. The protagonist in each story is a 13-year-old, so the book is a great choice for advanced elementary school and middle school readers. Even as an adult, I enjoyed the book and the story line woven throughout. Historical fiction is a great stepping-off point into the study of history, personalizing the conflicts, hardships and victories experienced in a time other than our own.
I enjoyed the book and will read it with my son, along with studying the REAL “Candy Bomber,” Gail “Hal” Halverson. Hal’s story is one of hope and charity in the midst of strife and I highly recommend that students look into his remarkable life story.
Life Behind the Wall is a compelling story of 4 generations affected by the aftermath of WWII and their sacrifices and struggles as well as their triumphs. The Christian message in the book is very subtle and not at all preachy, and there are discussion questions at the end of each of the books to stimulate application of such principles as honesty, courage and freedom.
***I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were very likable and relatable. The protagonist in each story is a 13-year-old, so the book is a great choice for advanced elementary school and middle school readers. Even as an adult, I enjoyed the book and the story line woven throughout. Historical fiction is a great stepping-off point into the study of history, personalizing the conflicts, hardships and victories experienced in a time other than our own.
I enjoyed the book and will read it with my son, along with studying the REAL “Candy Bomber,” Gail “Hal” Halverson. Hal’s story is one of hope and charity in the midst of strife and I highly recommend that students look into his remarkable life story.
Life Behind the Wall is a compelling story of 4 generations affected by the aftermath of WWII and their sacrifices and struggles as well as their triumphs. The Christian message in the book is very subtle and not at all preachy, and there are discussion questions at the end of each of the books to stimulate application of such principles as honesty, courage and freedom.
***I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2014
I wish this book had been around when I was homeschooling. I regularly searched for "live" books based off historical events in an effort to stimulate reading pleasure in my son. I loved this book, which is actually three short books in one -- Candy Bombers, Hidden Bunkers, and Smuggler's Treasure. It is very well-written, imaginative, informative, and touching. It deals with life surrounding the Berlin Wall in Germany, from its beginning to its tearing down. The up close and personal views of the people that had to live during those times on food rations, with prejudice and learning how to recover from the war was eye-opening. The characters are thirteen in all of the stories. They are relatable and real and make you want to reach into the book to give them a hug at times. It was the first time I'd ever really given much thought to the suffering of the German people during those times. I loved the large print in this book. For a younger reader, this makes it easy to speed through the pages and to feel accomplished as a reader. This book is a win-win for homeschoolers and for middle school boys especially.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
August 2, 2014
"Life behind the wall" by Robert Elmer is actually 3 books in one anthology, all dealing with different generations of 13-year-olds living surrounded by the Berlin wall, but at three different times in its history.
The first novel "Candy Bombers" is set in 1948, "Hidden Bunkers" in 1961 and "Smuggler's Treasure" in 1989. Each story tackles a different aspect of living with the wall: in its beginning stages, in the middle and when it finally comes down.
Although this set is meant for younger readers (it is marketed for 8-12 years), I really enjoyed reading it as well. It was a great way to actually get inside the history books and experience what it must have actually been like to live through those different eras. The characters are engaging, the plot keeps you thinking and all in all, this is a really good read.
I would recommend it immensely for the intended age-group, as it really is a great way for them to learn about what happened in Germany during the communist era, especially about the Wall and what it meant for the people living at that time. I would also recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good engaging and yet educational read.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
The first novel "Candy Bombers" is set in 1948, "Hidden Bunkers" in 1961 and "Smuggler's Treasure" in 1989. Each story tackles a different aspect of living with the wall: in its beginning stages, in the middle and when it finally comes down.
Although this set is meant for younger readers (it is marketed for 8-12 years), I really enjoyed reading it as well. It was a great way to actually get inside the history books and experience what it must have actually been like to live through those different eras. The characters are engaging, the plot keeps you thinking and all in all, this is a really good read.
I would recommend it immensely for the intended age-group, as it really is a great way for them to learn about what happened in Germany during the communist era, especially about the Wall and what it meant for the people living at that time. I would also recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good engaging and yet educational read.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
April 26, 2014
"Life Behind the Wall" is a historical adventure for tweens. It's set in Berlin, Germany starting in 1948 and ending in 1989. The hero and heroine in each story were 13 years old. The stories were fast-paced and suspenseful. I was impressed by how well the author wove the history into the story without bogging down the pacing. The personalities of two of the heroines seemed pretty similar to me, but I can see that a certain level of disregard for personal safety was needed or there wouldn't be much of an adventure.
Each story was a self-contained, and yet they were all interconnected and had an ongoing story that's wrapped up in the final story. There were Christian references, like Liesl smuggled New Testaments into East Berlin. It wasn't preachy but more like belief in God was a moving motive behind several people's actions.
There was no bad language and no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting and interesting novel to tweens.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher through BookLook.
Each story was a self-contained, and yet they were all interconnected and had an ongoing story that's wrapped up in the final story. There were Christian references, like Liesl smuggled New Testaments into East Berlin. It wasn't preachy but more like belief in God was a moving motive behind several people's actions.
There was no bad language and no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting and interesting novel to tweens.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher through BookLook.
May 1, 2014
I grew up reading Robert Elmer's books, so when the Life Behind the Wall trilogy came up for review through Booklook, I was excited. The three books span over 40 years of Berlin's history. In Candy Bombers, Erich and his cousin struggle to help their mothers help makes ends meet in their war torn city. Showing the early difficulties with East and West Berlin, I thought this story was quite interesting.
In Beelte Bunker, Sabine finds a bunker from the war that just might help her family escape under the wall.
Finally, in Smuggler's Treasure, Liesl lives in a more peaceful time than Berlin has seen for some time. But, when a school paper leads her to dig into family secrets, she is also caught up in protests for the wall to come down.
Written for young teens, all of the hero/heroines are 13, but this series will delight older readers too. I very much enjoyed the on going themes and all the history that is included in the books. Written in a way that will keep one reading, these books are far from dry and boring. Two thumbs up!
In Beelte Bunker, Sabine finds a bunker from the war that just might help her family escape under the wall.
Finally, in Smuggler's Treasure, Liesl lives in a more peaceful time than Berlin has seen for some time. But, when a school paper leads her to dig into family secrets, she is also caught up in protests for the wall to come down.
Written for young teens, all of the hero/heroines are 13, but this series will delight older readers too. I very much enjoyed the on going themes and all the history that is included in the books. Written in a way that will keep one reading, these books are far from dry and boring. Two thumbs up!
July 19, 2014
Have you been looking for some good, clean stories to help make history come alive for your middle school students? Do they struggle though with longer books? This book is broken into three parts, which gives you shorter assignments for reading. It can bring to life the way life was for children behind the wall in Berlin, Germany. I would have to say, my favorite, was the first story. It covers some other topics that we may want to bring up and discuss…polio, hunger and some of the bias against other nations during the war. This is one that will add a lot your home reading or for educational purposes!
Each different story covers a slightly different time period based around the Berlin Wall. It’s rise, between times, and it’s fall. It really brings to life much of the pain that was caused by this separation within a country. Often I think that we tend to forget about these historical events, and if we do not bring them to life for our children, they will forget as well. This book is a good one as it has exciting moments, and your children will learn without realizing.
Each different story covers a slightly different time period based around the Berlin Wall. It’s rise, between times, and it’s fall. It really brings to life much of the pain that was caused by this separation within a country. Often I think that we tend to forget about these historical events, and if we do not bring them to life for our children, they will forget as well. This book is a good one as it has exciting moments, and your children will learn without realizing.
May 28, 2014
Overall, an easy, enlightening, and educational read. I enjoyed reading the small snippets of historical facts thrown in at the end of each story. Mr. Elmer does a fantastic job of drawing his readers in and giving them a history lesson in the process. Each character is fun and relate-able, typical of young teens. Faith plays a strong part in their lives and mystery makes each tale all the more enthralling. I simply loved how each story tied into the others. You start with a couple characters and in a way follow them through the years of hardship and on to celebration...
To read the full review, visit my blog! Sarah, Plain & Average: http://sarah-plainandaverage.blogspot...
To read the full review, visit my blog! Sarah, Plain & Average: http://sarah-plainandaverage.blogspot...
January 12, 2015
Just when I thought I'd read all of Elmer's historical fiction, this appears on the shelves. The first story was the best, but the second two weren't bad. This period of history is under-represented in literature, so thank you, Robert Elmer.
August 18, 2016
Interesting portrayal of post-war Germany from a child's perspective.
Each of the three books depicts life in a succeeding generation up to the time the Wall came down. It also shows the spiritual lessons of trust, forgiveness, loyalty, reconciliation, and courage.
Each of the three books depicts life in a succeeding generation up to the time the Wall came down. It also shows the spiritual lessons of trust, forgiveness, loyalty, reconciliation, and courage.
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