Through the Wall

by Alida Sims Malkus

Suddenly the sound of heavy footsteps drew nearer, coming up the stairs, tramp, tramp, tramp, nearer, strange and threatening. . . . The Russian police of East Berlin. Five of them!

When twelve-year-old Hansi’s father is arrested, his world is turned upside down. Why was his father taken away? Hansi discovers a past he didn’t know his family had, and soon after, he embarks on an adventure he never could have imagined—a daring trek to cross the great wall that divides East from West Berlin.

With the help of a small dog and some other friends he makes along the way, Hansi comes to realize that the things he’s been taught in post-World War II East Berlin may not provide the best way to live after all.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens

162 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

Reviews

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to my middle school class, and it held everyone's attention. It has lots of action and great historical detail, plus great heroes exhibiting positive character traits.
The name (and cover art) led me to believe it was a story about getting through the Berlin Wall. And it was, sort of. More than that though it was a story about a boy born in East Berlin finally discovering what life was like on the outside of the wall.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*, last history read aloud for this school year to go along with talking about communism, the Berlin Wall, Soviet Union, etc. The most unexpected part was realizing this was published in 1962, the year after the Berlin Wall went UP. When published it was essentially current events which is hard for me to wrap my head around reading it in 2025.

One part I thought was really well done was showing the difficulties Hansi faced going from communist schooling until age 12 and then being in a school that expected and encouraged independent thought. I also thought it very realistic the struggle he had to trust the Schweitzers and the things that had to happen for him to be able to. I also loved Fiffi the dachshund.

As sad as the disillusion events were I think they were an important part of the story and Hansi's development. To realize America wasn't a place without trouble or filled with perfect people. I struggled with the last chapter, it felt like it was introducing things that should have happened earlier in the story. Instead it left me feeling there were loose ends when we finished. I would have preferred the story finish up with Hansi's speech from chapter 12.

[Kristen H · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly realistic depiction of life during the Cold War, with some stark, grim, and sad details throughout. It ends on a positive, hopeful note, though bittersweet and not a guaranteed "happily ever after", keeping with the realism of this historical fiction. I would not recommend for younger children. My children and I enjoyed it as a read-aloud to accompany a history unit. It was a little complex for my 9 1/2 yr old, but my 11 1/2 yr old seemed to grasp most of it with my occasional explanations. Not the best grammatical writing, but the characters the plot were engaging and kept us interested and learning throughout the story.

[Nicole Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read this as a family for a history course for Homeschool. It did teach the history of East and West Berlin, but it wasn’t too exciting. Me and my kids both had a hard time getting into it. It seemed that the writing was a bit confusing, especially for my kids. I like the very end when Hansi talks about communism and the importance of our constitution and Bill of Rights, but I feel like there are other books out there about the Cold War Era that are more entertaining and exciting while still teaching the history. This definitely was not one of our favorites.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my kids for our history unit. It was about a boy in East Berlin during the Russian occupation after WWII. He’s been told to get to West Berlin if anything happens to his parents. The story was just okay. It seemed choppy in places and isn’t all about going “over the wall” (which may only be 1/4 of the book, at best). If you know nothing about this time in history or what communism is, I’d still recommend this book.

[Stephanie VanAlmen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was very hard to read aloud. It was very choppy and I had to continually stop to explain communism but also the storyline. I think it has lots of good history and the story has lots of twist and turns, but it was not a favorite book that we have read together.

[★Ashli★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in 1962, this is the story of 12 year old Hansi who escapes through the Berlin Wall from East Berlin into West Berlin. A great story about a time that is almost forgotten now.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read this for a history curriculum. It was ok. Exciting, but at the same time, slow. It always felt like it was on the verge of being great.