A Great Escape

by Felice Arena

It's a great escape, but will Peter survive it?When Peter's family leaves for a trip across the border, he stays behind. So when the government builds a wall through the city, guarded by soldiers, tanks and ferocious dogs, he's trapped. Everyone says he might never see his family again. But Peter has a courageous plan . . .

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, War, Germany

117 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 5, 2019

About the author

Popular and prolific Australian children’s author Felice Arena is the creator of many best-selling and award-winning children's books for all ages. Some of these include the acclaimed middle-grade historical novels The Boy and the Spy, Fearless Frederic, A Great Escape, and The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan – the bestselling Specky Magee series, the junior series' Sporty Kids and The Besties, and the joyous read-aloud picture books Pasta!, Cheese! and most recently My Big Secret - also illustrated by Arena.
www.felicearena.com Instagram.com/felicearenabooks

Reviews

[Vida Rajkovaca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating done by my 11 year old, who is a prolific reader and has finally found Felice! I have had the joy of meeting him in person, and hearing his lecture on storytelling and storybuilding - one of the most talented children's authors of the generation! These are future classics. (less)

[Helen O'Toole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb book, carefully & meticulously researched. Characters are well thought out and the reader truly engages with Peter, stuck on the East side of the Berlin Wall.
Would be a great book as a read out aloud.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific little page turner of a children’s book. Set in 1961, the people of Berlin woke to find a wall being constructed through the city....and where you were, you stayed.... no matter if you worked on the other side or even if your family were beyond the wall.
Felice Arena, very popular Australian author of outstanding books for children, used his travel bug and research skills to start a series of historical fiction for kids.... this was the first.
Great characters, this story encompasses a lot... trust issues, the importance of family, the differences between the East and West..... escape - dangerous, some leading to disaster and visits from The Stasi (secret police)...... some novel successful missions.......and of course - we have a current wall being constructed in our present world - teachers and children can reflect on how and why these things happen.
Lots to like here.
Good job.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story, set on the eve, and in the weeks following, the building of the Berlin Wall.

Peter’s family take a trip across the border to investigate moving to the West, but Peter, in a moment of petulance, decides to stay with his grandparents.

That night the wall starts to go up and Peter is stranded. He is desperate to join his parents, who he can wave to across the barrier, but who can’t actually be with.

In his attempts to reunite himself with his parents, he meets others who are also trying to get to their families...

All the escape attempts described in the book actually happened, and it really gives you an insight into what an awful time this was for those people effected by the building of the wall.

[Janessa Jolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I need a short youth, maybe even middle grade, book. This one hit the spot with just over 150 pages and a fast-paced historical fiction plot. My only complaint is they didn't say the year. No, I did not know when the Berlin Wall was built. And now I'd like to read more based around the Berlin Wall.

[Catriona McKeown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Escape is a terrific middle grade read about a boy caught up in the split of the city Berlin, and the consequential wall that divided him from the rest of his family. It is exciting, disturbing and intriguing all in one story. The young characters are engaging and real. It’s a great story that will leave the reader how it will end to the very last page.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic junior/middle grade novel that I strongly recommend for kids who like action and adventure. It is set in a situation and period that not a lot of Aussie kids would know much about - East Germany when the Wall went up, which is sure to spark some interest in that part of history.

[Laura Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very interesting. I have read a lot about when the Berlin Wall came down, but not much about when it went up. It was interesting to hear about how it happened, how families were separated. I liked Peter’s character and the decision he made at the end.

[Anna Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great historical story from Felice Arena, this time set in Berlin just as the wall is going up.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well researched and well written story about a young boy faced with a big challenge. What an inspirational story that will have you keep you turning pages till the end.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Would be a good book to read aloud in upper primary. There is a lot to take from the story.

[Loz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the whole book and the historical aspects. It was read as part of my school reading club and I needed to read along with the kids. Loved some of the messages but wanted it to keep going!

[Martha Growdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just superb. Emotional, relatable, characters with depth and warmth. You grapple alongside Peter as he decides his future and grows into understanding how his actions affect those he loves most.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids loved this book and we learned alot about the Cold War through it. The writing in present tense kills me though 🙃

[Hamish Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book I loved the storyline, the way it was written, and how intriguing it was. I also loved the theme of Cold War Germany and how the main character Peter went through the time when the Berlin Wall was being put up to stop people on the east escaping to the west, and this sort of theme is sort of unique theme out of the historical fictions I’ve read. Highly recommend to read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thoughtful and incisive tale by Felice Arena - this time centred on Berlin during the Cold War, just before and after the Berlin Wall is erected. The sheer cruelty, hopelessness and terror of the times is gently but firmly portrayed by Arena. The reader has a great sense of what the characters are thinking and feeling, while the plot-line is skilful and fast-paced, making the reader feel part of the action as well. In this novel, as with 'The Boy and the Spy', Arena cuts straight to the plot action by having everything segmented into named chapters ('Don't Trust Anyone', 'Money', etc.), which break up the action so that an overload of detail is not required. This makes for very easy and compelling reading, which should really appeal to both avid and reluctant young readers who enjoy a great story. Based on true events, the story of young Peter and his family, torn apart when the Wall goes up, is a very moving and uplifting one. Readers who enjoy this book will also enjoy 'Cloud and Wallfish' by Anne Nesbitt.

[Michelle Worthington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felice Arena has captured a time in history that should not be forgotten but more than that he has taken facts and created a gripping and emotional narrative. He gives us a story that is so much more powerful than the facts.
http://worthythoughts.net/2019/04/22/...

[Sharlene Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Great for younger readers just entering a world of narrative non fiction. Long enough to really connect with characters and develop curiosity surrounding terrible events of the past but short enough to not be overwhelming for younger readers.

[little potato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical fiction

[Liz Derouet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. My review, with a booktalk you can share, is here:
https://lizderouet.wordpress.com/2019...

[Dianne Wolfer]

Wow, I read this powerful insight into Berlin's history in one day.
And the characters are still with me...