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The Boy Behind the Wall
Soon after moving to West Berlin for his US diplomat father's work, Harry Rogers witnesses the shooting of a boy trying to escape into the West over the Wall. In East Berlin, Jakob is the adopted son of a high up Stasi officer, Hans Eberhardt. The two boys become pen pals with a dangerous plan...
304 pages, Paperback
Published October 14, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 2, 2021
This MG tells the story of two boys, Harry, an American thirteen-year-old who just moved to West Berlin, and Jacob, a fourteen-year-old living with his adoptive parents in East Berlin after his father was sent to prison and died eventually, and his mom and sister fled to the west. When Jacob finds a balloon Harry let up from the west, the boys start a correspondence.
I could give four stars and a raving review because I really liked the premise, Jacob and Harry, and their love for music. I could give four stars because the author didn’t focus on how bad the east was but wrote a nuanced story. I could give four stars because I was invested in the story. But as you already found out, I didn’t.
To be honest, I didn’t like the writing very much. The past tense felt like someone from the present was telling a story of what happened in the past. And therein lies the second part of the problem. The story was way too telling for my liking. For example: ‘I could feel my heart rate rising’. Why not ‘My heart rate rose’?Or even more active, using present tense throughout the story: ‘My heart rate rises’. Bam! As a reader, we immediately feel that something is happening. We don’t need to read the word feel, we feel it ourselves. And why did his heart rate rise? Show us the action! Now it’s an explanation, which means telling. Sadly, the phrase I could feel has been used a lot ... (just as I knew and I realized).
Furthermore, I missed how Jacob felt about his mom, his doubts, his questions like any fourteen-year-old would have. Why didn’t his mom take him when she fled? Had she even fled? What happened back then? Did she fight for him without his knowledge? Would she ever have tried to get him to the west? Would she still welcome him with her arms open when they’d meet? Or would she have a new family and almost forgotten him?
For now, I think the story is mediocre. However, with the proper writing, it could be an incredible story for 10-14 year-olds. Therefore, may I suggest another editing round? Make the story more showing (not only the ‘I could feel’ parts), change the writing to present tense (my personal preference in MG and YA when written in first person), and if you take up my suggestion, please let Jacob question his mom a little more!
I received an ARC from Welbeck Publishing UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I could give four stars and a raving review because I really liked the premise, Jacob and Harry, and their love for music. I could give four stars because the author didn’t focus on how bad the east was but wrote a nuanced story. I could give four stars because I was invested in the story. But as you already found out, I didn’t.
To be honest, I didn’t like the writing very much. The past tense felt like someone from the present was telling a story of what happened in the past. And therein lies the second part of the problem. The story was way too telling for my liking. For example: ‘I could feel my heart rate rising’. Why not ‘My heart rate rose’?Or even more active, using present tense throughout the story: ‘My heart rate rises’. Bam! As a reader, we immediately feel that something is happening. We don’t need to read the word feel, we feel it ourselves. And why did his heart rate rise? Show us the action! Now it’s an explanation, which means telling. Sadly, the phrase I could feel has been used a lot ... (just as I knew and I realized).
Furthermore, I missed how Jacob felt about his mom, his doubts, his questions like any fourteen-year-old would have. Why didn’t his mom take him when she fled? Had she even fled? What happened back then? Did she fight for him without his knowledge? Would she ever have tried to get him to the west? Would she still welcome him with her arms open when they’d meet? Or would she have a new family and almost forgotten him?
For now, I think the story is mediocre. However, with the proper writing, it could be an incredible story for 10-14 year-olds. Therefore, may I suggest another editing round? Make the story more showing (not only the ‘I could feel’ parts), change the writing to present tense (my personal preference in MG and YA when written in first person), and if you take up my suggestion, please let Jacob question his mom a little more!
I received an ARC from Welbeck Publishing UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2023
Nothing says history like the cold war. A war of words - and in this case the war involving a large ridiculous wall. Learning about this in history class could not prepare me for this book. Seeing statistics and learning conditions will never compare to being inside the mind of a 14 year old boy, innocent and naive (or should I say oblivious) to the atmospheric danger which is hauled around him like a storm cloud.
This book is incredibly written, just being able to see how a child is forced to mature under cruel conditions. You are thrown between East Berlin and West Berlin, liberty and captivity, suffering and joy. The ultimate question is can unity overcome a political stand? Never has human nature been more challenged in its own mirror.
Although I appreciate the book is fiction - it would have been nice to have a degree of accuracy. The small details which add a sense of the genre spy thriller were intriguing - but in my eyes, far too unrealistic. Furthermore, I was left wanting more after the finish. Being a multiple-book reader I'm always looking for a good ending and whilst I'm aware this book has a sequel, I feel as though there was so much potential to have a heartwarming ending, not a chopped up story chunk at the back.
However, I will always recommend historical fiction - although it seems forbidden to mix entertainment with the true suffering of many - there is a lot to learrn. I promise you will walk away with a second perspective after reading this book.
This book is incredibly written, just being able to see how a child is forced to mature under cruel conditions. You are thrown between East Berlin and West Berlin, liberty and captivity, suffering and joy. The ultimate question is can unity overcome a political stand? Never has human nature been more challenged in its own mirror.
Although I appreciate the book is fiction - it would have been nice to have a degree of accuracy. The small details which add a sense of the genre spy thriller were intriguing - but in my eyes, far too unrealistic. Furthermore, I was left wanting more after the finish. Being a multiple-book reader I'm always looking for a good ending and whilst I'm aware this book has a sequel, I feel as though there was so much potential to have a heartwarming ending, not a chopped up story chunk at the back.
However, I will always recommend historical fiction - although it seems forbidden to mix entertainment with the true suffering of many - there is a lot to learrn. I promise you will walk away with a second perspective after reading this book.
June 21, 2022
Told from the point of view of two boys in 1960s Berlin - Jakob in East Berlin, the adopted son of a Stasi official and whose real parents were enemies of the state. Harry is in West Berlin and the son of an American diplomat whose demeanour is becoming cold and distant. A lucky contact starts a friendship and their secret messaging leads to action. It becomes quite gripping and would be a good option for Alex Rider or maybe Katipo Joe or Alan Gratz fans.
November 16, 2021
August 2021: I'm sitting beside the pool on a long-awaited summer holiday and I cannot lie, it's bliss. I feel so fortunate to finally be away from gloomy, cold England where summer 2021 never seemed to arrive. I've decided that historical fiction is my pick of holiday genre for the week and The Boy Behind the Wall, debut YA novel by Maximillian Jones, is my first book.
Releasing on Welbeck Kids on 14 October 2021 and set in the 1960s, The Boy Behind the Wall is about two boys, Harry and Jakob, living on the West and East sides of the Berlin Wall respectively. The boys become penpals after Harry sends a helium balloon over the wall with two notes attached. The balloon is shot down, of course, but the notes find their way into Jakob's hands.
So begins a tale of friendship, mystery and sabotage set during the fraught and dark times of divided Berlin. The action is non-stop from the very first page and this book is near impossible to put down.
Perhaps the best thing about The Boy Behind the Wall is the characters that Jakob and Harry meet along the way and the stories they have to tell. There is the comic store owner who tells Harry about how Jews were treated during the war and the cafe owner who tells Jakob about his time in the resistance. Throughout the novel is the notion that a society on the losing end of a world war was further brutalised by an authoritarian regime.
I remember watching with incredulity as the Berlin Wall came down. Now The Boy Behind the Wall can give YA readers a glimpse of what it was like to live during that time and how it felt for a thousands of people whose families were torn apart when the wall went up.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Boy Behind the Wall and give it a superb five out of five stars. I recommend to fans of historical YA as well as those who love a good spy thriller.
I was intrigued about the identity of author Maximilian Jones and have discovered that the author is fictional! From the LoveReading4Schools website:
I received an electronic copy of this novel for the purposes of this review. I will always provide an honest review, whether books are provided to me or purchased by me.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Releasing on Welbeck Kids on 14 October 2021 and set in the 1960s, The Boy Behind the Wall is about two boys, Harry and Jakob, living on the West and East sides of the Berlin Wall respectively. The boys become penpals after Harry sends a helium balloon over the wall with two notes attached. The balloon is shot down, of course, but the notes find their way into Jakob's hands.
So begins a tale of friendship, mystery and sabotage set during the fraught and dark times of divided Berlin. The action is non-stop from the very first page and this book is near impossible to put down.
Perhaps the best thing about The Boy Behind the Wall is the characters that Jakob and Harry meet along the way and the stories they have to tell. There is the comic store owner who tells Harry about how Jews were treated during the war and the cafe owner who tells Jakob about his time in the resistance. Throughout the novel is the notion that a society on the losing end of a world war was further brutalised by an authoritarian regime.
I remember watching with incredulity as the Berlin Wall came down. Now The Boy Behind the Wall can give YA readers a glimpse of what it was like to live during that time and how it felt for a thousands of people whose families were torn apart when the wall went up.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Boy Behind the Wall and give it a superb five out of five stars. I recommend to fans of historical YA as well as those who love a good spy thriller.
I was intrigued about the identity of author Maximilian Jones and have discovered that the author is fictional! From the LoveReading4Schools website:
Welbeck Flame and Tibor Jones have collaborated to develop this book with a talented team of writers, including two German editors, who work collaboratively with a dynamic and creative approach echoing the TV script-writing model. The Boy Behind the Wall, and its sequel publishing in 2022, will be published under the fictional author name Maximillian Jones.
I received an electronic copy of this novel for the purposes of this review. I will always provide an honest review, whether books are provided to me or purchased by me.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
March 20, 2022
Moving to West Berlin with his parents was going to be an adventure. A least that's what Harry thought it would be. Dad's new job as an American Diplomat in the 'American quarter' on the West side of the Berlin Wall would be full of exploring trips together as they embraced their new city and home.
Seeing a boy shot as he tries to escape East Berlin changes all that for Harry. It troubles him deeply, giving him nightmares and filling his head with thoughts and worries about what is going on behind the wall only metres from his new home. Music is a great distraction, although his piano teacher scorns the type of music he'd like to play. A new friend in a local comics store also helps him pass his days and occupy him as he watches his mum become more homesick and his busy dad become more distant to them both.
Meanwhile, on the East side of the wall, Jakob is also killing time. He just needs to finish school then he plans to leave. His parents are ten times stricter than Harry's, his father being a highly ranked Stasi Security official. People fear him and so does Jakob, the truth being they aren't his parents at all. He's been adopted after his own parents were arrested years before, and then told he should be grateful to have such an important 'father'.
With a balloon, some postcards and lemon juice, these two 14 yr olds connect over a shared desire to know what is happening on the opposite side of the Berlin Wall. They also share a love of music, Jakob being an accomplished violinist and even a valued member of a band called The Stamp Collectors.
This band has a secret however - one that could be life threatening if ever discovered. Jakob begins a double life. One helping his friends and one being a dutiful son, and comrade to the East.
The stakes rise for both of these young teens as they collaborate on a plan. But Harry discovers a devastating truth about his own father, the danger rising even further.
To me, the cover of this novel didn't portray the tension within. But the struggle of two teen boys with dangerous fathers on both sides of the Berlin Wall, is an increasingly tense one. The historical aspect of this time in the world was as interesting as the story itself - two boys raised with different political views, but essentially the same.
Told in both Harry's (West side), and Jakob's (East side) points of view, The Boy Behind the Wall is a gripping read, building to a crescendo of action, flying bullets, an escape plan collapsing around them and life or death right alongside. Harry has always been a super hero comic fan, and the use of an adult comic storyline coming to his aid whenever he is faced with despair, is a great connection throughout the story.
Both boys grow up quickly as they face terrible truths about their fathers, and many lives are put in jeopardy. Alex Rider (Anthony Horowitz), or The Haven (Simon Lelic) fans will enjoy The Boy Behind the Wall.
Author - Maximillian Jones
Age - 11+
Seeing a boy shot as he tries to escape East Berlin changes all that for Harry. It troubles him deeply, giving him nightmares and filling his head with thoughts and worries about what is going on behind the wall only metres from his new home. Music is a great distraction, although his piano teacher scorns the type of music he'd like to play. A new friend in a local comics store also helps him pass his days and occupy him as he watches his mum become more homesick and his busy dad become more distant to them both.
Meanwhile, on the East side of the wall, Jakob is also killing time. He just needs to finish school then he plans to leave. His parents are ten times stricter than Harry's, his father being a highly ranked Stasi Security official. People fear him and so does Jakob, the truth being they aren't his parents at all. He's been adopted after his own parents were arrested years before, and then told he should be grateful to have such an important 'father'.
With a balloon, some postcards and lemon juice, these two 14 yr olds connect over a shared desire to know what is happening on the opposite side of the Berlin Wall. They also share a love of music, Jakob being an accomplished violinist and even a valued member of a band called The Stamp Collectors.
This band has a secret however - one that could be life threatening if ever discovered. Jakob begins a double life. One helping his friends and one being a dutiful son, and comrade to the East.
The stakes rise for both of these young teens as they collaborate on a plan. But Harry discovers a devastating truth about his own father, the danger rising even further.
To me, the cover of this novel didn't portray the tension within. But the struggle of two teen boys with dangerous fathers on both sides of the Berlin Wall, is an increasingly tense one. The historical aspect of this time in the world was as interesting as the story itself - two boys raised with different political views, but essentially the same.
Told in both Harry's (West side), and Jakob's (East side) points of view, The Boy Behind the Wall is a gripping read, building to a crescendo of action, flying bullets, an escape plan collapsing around them and life or death right alongside. Harry has always been a super hero comic fan, and the use of an adult comic storyline coming to his aid whenever he is faced with despair, is a great connection throughout the story.
Both boys grow up quickly as they face terrible truths about their fathers, and many lives are put in jeopardy. Alex Rider (Anthony Horowitz), or The Haven (Simon Lelic) fans will enjoy The Boy Behind the Wall.
Author - Maximillian Jones
Age - 11+
April 27, 2023
I was immediately intrigued when I opened up this package. I hadn’t read any tween books set in this particular time period and was looking forward to the dual narrative structure of the story.
‘What would you risk for a friend you’ve never met . . . ?
In 1960s Berlin the Wall is everywhere. It cuts through streets, parks, even houses. Teenagers Harry and Jakob live either side of the divide.
In West Berlin, American Harry witnesses the brutal shooting of a boy trying to escape over the Wall into the West, and decides to emulate his comic book heroes and help those in the East however he can.
On the other side in East Berlin, Jakob is the adopted son of a high up Stasi officer, feeling suffocated by the rules of a strictly regimented society and desperate to find his real family.
When Jakob finds a message that Harry has sent over the Wall, he grasps the opportunity. The boys begin a secret friendship, evading the authorities using lemon juice as invisible ink to share hidden messages.
They soon realise that a bold plot to carve a tunnel under the wall is the only way out for Jakob – and it’s time to put their friendship to the test. Just how much are they prepared to risk for each other – and for freedom?’
This book sensitively reflects the struggles faced by many ordinary West Berliners under the ever watchful eye of the Stasi. It literally starts with a bang and the pace doesn’t let up for a moment.
Although there are a few scenes of violence, these are neither gratuitous or graphic. They are simply there to illustrate what life was like at the time and to allow the plot of the story to move on as it should. I wouldn’t hesitate to give it to a mature eleven year old to read.
I also loved the pivotal role that music and comic books played in both the narratives. It was interesting to see how musical prowess was used as a form of propaganda by the East Berlin authorities and how Western music was banned. Certain sequences within the story read very much like a comic book action sequence, which I think is a reflection of the TV script-writing model used by the team who created the story.
I have to confess that I raced through the final chapters as the stories of Harry and Jakob drew to their conclusions – I was so desperate to see how things ended up for them. This book will definitely hook in any readers who like an action-packed read. The unusual historical time period is an added bonus! I’d recommend this for readers aged 11+
‘What would you risk for a friend you’ve never met . . . ?
In 1960s Berlin the Wall is everywhere. It cuts through streets, parks, even houses. Teenagers Harry and Jakob live either side of the divide.
In West Berlin, American Harry witnesses the brutal shooting of a boy trying to escape over the Wall into the West, and decides to emulate his comic book heroes and help those in the East however he can.
On the other side in East Berlin, Jakob is the adopted son of a high up Stasi officer, feeling suffocated by the rules of a strictly regimented society and desperate to find his real family.
When Jakob finds a message that Harry has sent over the Wall, he grasps the opportunity. The boys begin a secret friendship, evading the authorities using lemon juice as invisible ink to share hidden messages.
They soon realise that a bold plot to carve a tunnel under the wall is the only way out for Jakob – and it’s time to put their friendship to the test. Just how much are they prepared to risk for each other – and for freedom?’
This book sensitively reflects the struggles faced by many ordinary West Berliners under the ever watchful eye of the Stasi. It literally starts with a bang and the pace doesn’t let up for a moment.
Although there are a few scenes of violence, these are neither gratuitous or graphic. They are simply there to illustrate what life was like at the time and to allow the plot of the story to move on as it should. I wouldn’t hesitate to give it to a mature eleven year old to read.
I also loved the pivotal role that music and comic books played in both the narratives. It was interesting to see how musical prowess was used as a form of propaganda by the East Berlin authorities and how Western music was banned. Certain sequences within the story read very much like a comic book action sequence, which I think is a reflection of the TV script-writing model used by the team who created the story.
I have to confess that I raced through the final chapters as the stories of Harry and Jakob drew to their conclusions – I was so desperate to see how things ended up for them. This book will definitely hook in any readers who like an action-packed read. The unusual historical time period is an added bonus! I’d recommend this for readers aged 11+
November 26, 2022
The Boy Behind the Wall is set in Berlin in 1967 during the Cold War. The story begins with Harry witnessing the death of a young boy. He is shot by East German guards as he tries to scale the Wall which separates East and West Berlin.
Harry has recently moved with his parents to West Berlin from the US so his father can take up a new employment opportunity. Their home is so close to the Wall, that Harry can see into East Berlin from his bedroom window.
Meanwhile, 14-year-old Jakob lives in East Berlin with his adoptive parents Hans and Margot. Jakob’s biological parents are considered traitors and his father is dead. However, his mother and sister managed to flee to West Berlin. Hans works for the Stasi, the East German authorities. Hans has plans for Jakob to play an important role in the Stasi, but Jakob wants to escape to the West and find his mother. Harry and Jakob become pen pals and communicate secretly. They discover they have much in common, especially around music. Chapters alternate between Harry and Jakob, each giving their perspective on the events that transpire.
As the story concludes, there are some loose ends. It’s not clear what happens to some of the characters but perhaps these issues are resolved in the sequel, Breaking Down the Wall.
The story is engaging and well-paced. Harry and Jakob are bold and daring in their attempts to secure Jakob’s freedom. This creates much adventure, drama and tension.
Overall an exciting story, especially for young teenage boys.
Thanks to the Book Curator for providing a free copy for review.
Harry has recently moved with his parents to West Berlin from the US so his father can take up a new employment opportunity. Their home is so close to the Wall, that Harry can see into East Berlin from his bedroom window.
Meanwhile, 14-year-old Jakob lives in East Berlin with his adoptive parents Hans and Margot. Jakob’s biological parents are considered traitors and his father is dead. However, his mother and sister managed to flee to West Berlin. Hans works for the Stasi, the East German authorities. Hans has plans for Jakob to play an important role in the Stasi, but Jakob wants to escape to the West and find his mother. Harry and Jakob become pen pals and communicate secretly. They discover they have much in common, especially around music. Chapters alternate between Harry and Jakob, each giving their perspective on the events that transpire.
As the story concludes, there are some loose ends. It’s not clear what happens to some of the characters but perhaps these issues are resolved in the sequel, Breaking Down the Wall.
The story is engaging and well-paced. Harry and Jakob are bold and daring in their attempts to secure Jakob’s freedom. This creates much adventure, drama and tension.
Overall an exciting story, especially for young teenage boys.
Thanks to the Book Curator for providing a free copy for review.
August 2, 2021
Jacob and Harry strive for something that is just out of their grasp. They have each have different demons that are creating obstacles to their happiness, and time is running out as the Stasi are on their trail.
The Wall is the main barrier to overcome but the manipulations by Jacob & Harry’s guardians make the mental challenges just as hard. I loved that there was light and shade in both boys lives and that they had to depend on the newly created bond between them to survive when they didn’t know if that trust was valid. It gives a flavour of the distrust & fear that would’ve been in the air of the time period to younger readers without being too heavy-handed. I definitely feel that the balance was right for the subject matter, and it may encourage further study. I was drawn to this story by the vibrant cover and the intriguing description, as this is such a fascinating period of history that is often overlooked in fiction. I certainly don’t remember seeing another children’s book highlighting this era of Germany’s past.
I received a copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
The Wall is the main barrier to overcome but the manipulations by Jacob & Harry’s guardians make the mental challenges just as hard. I loved that there was light and shade in both boys lives and that they had to depend on the newly created bond between them to survive when they didn’t know if that trust was valid. It gives a flavour of the distrust & fear that would’ve been in the air of the time period to younger readers without being too heavy-handed. I definitely feel that the balance was right for the subject matter, and it may encourage further study. I was drawn to this story by the vibrant cover and the intriguing description, as this is such a fascinating period of history that is often overlooked in fiction. I certainly don’t remember seeing another children’s book highlighting this era of Germany’s past.
I received a copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
April 16, 2023
I always enjoy an alternating viewpoints novel.
Set in Berlin in 1967, The Boy Behind the Wall tells the stories of two teenage boys living on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall.
Harry is an American in West Berlin with his family as a result of his dad's new job.
Jakob lives in East Berlin with his adoptive parents - Hans Eberhardt being high up in the Stasi, the East German Secret Police.
Both boys love music and both boys are unhappy.
On arriving in West Berlin, Harry witnesses an escape attempt across the wall, which results in a young man being killed.
Jakob desperately misses his real family, from whom he has been cruelly separated.
When Harry sends an anonymous note across the wall, which Jakob discovers, they start communicating. This communication leads to the seed of an idea... a very dangerous idea.
This story will appeal to readers of Jennifer A. Nielsen, and specifically her own Berlin Wall book - A Night Divided. I will also be recommending it to Alan Gratz readers as well.
I am looking forward to reading the sequel, set in the days when the wall comes down - Breaking Down the Wall.
Set in Berlin in 1967, The Boy Behind the Wall tells the stories of two teenage boys living on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall.
Harry is an American in West Berlin with his family as a result of his dad's new job.
Jakob lives in East Berlin with his adoptive parents - Hans Eberhardt being high up in the Stasi, the East German Secret Police.
Both boys love music and both boys are unhappy.
On arriving in West Berlin, Harry witnesses an escape attempt across the wall, which results in a young man being killed.
Jakob desperately misses his real family, from whom he has been cruelly separated.
When Harry sends an anonymous note across the wall, which Jakob discovers, they start communicating. This communication leads to the seed of an idea... a very dangerous idea.
This story will appeal to readers of Jennifer A. Nielsen, and specifically her own Berlin Wall book - A Night Divided. I will also be recommending it to Alan Gratz readers as well.
I am looking forward to reading the sequel, set in the days when the wall comes down - Breaking Down the Wall.
September 28, 2021
Harry is the son of an American diplomat, living with his parents in West Berlin. Jakob lives in East Berlin. He was adopted by a Stasi officer and his wife, following an unsuccessful attempt to escape with his family to the west after the construction of the Berlin Wall.
Following a science lesson at school, Harry finds himself in possession of a helium balloon and on impulse, he attaches a message and sends it over the wall. Thus a pen friendship develops between the two boys, as they exchange secret messages and plan a daring escape from East Germany.
This is the first children’s book I’ve read set in this context and it provided a fascinating insight into life in East and West Berlin during the Cold War. The dual narrative works effectively. A great book about espionage in an unusual historical setting.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Following a science lesson at school, Harry finds himself in possession of a helium balloon and on impulse, he attaches a message and sends it over the wall. Thus a pen friendship develops between the two boys, as they exchange secret messages and plan a daring escape from East Germany.
This is the first children’s book I’ve read set in this context and it provided a fascinating insight into life in East and West Berlin during the Cold War. The dual narrative works effectively. A great book about espionage in an unusual historical setting.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2021
A historical middle grade book, that's something new for ME! Have you guys picked up any from this genre?
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3.5 🌟
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This is a story about Harry an American living in west berlin and Jacob living in east berling with his family. One day Jacob find the balloon 🎈 which harry set free and they started to talk then.
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Overall the story is told from the boys perspective but you will not know which chapter is who but i really would like to change to be changed in the next book.
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Thanks @definitelybookskids for the amazing copy. This is available in all good bookstores in SG.
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3.5 🌟
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This is a story about Harry an American living in west berlin and Jacob living in east berling with his family. One day Jacob find the balloon 🎈 which harry set free and they started to talk then.
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Overall the story is told from the boys perspective but you will not know which chapter is who but i really would like to change to be changed in the next book.
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Thanks @definitelybookskids for the amazing copy. This is available in all good bookstores in SG.
August 15, 2021
I really liked this book, the way the author portrayed the differences between the East and the West stood out to me as well as Jakob and Henry's friendship towards the 2nd half/end of the book which really reminded me of Mateo and Rufus from "they both die at the end" (another amazing book you should check out)! I pretty much read it in a day and really recommend that you read it
June 10, 2022
I wanted to love this more than I did. Love the premise - alternating perspectives from a boy on either side of the Berlin wall - but the story lacked a certain depth. Still, an enjoyable, action packed historical story that I think will be popular in the library for fans of historical adventure. Interesting idea behind the writing; a team of people writing under a fictional name.
September 16, 2022
I loved this book. I love how it is told from two perspectives, and that we can delve into their lives so deeply. This book is gripping and intriguing and had me up past my bedtime reading it. It made me feel like I am there with the characters, going through the tunnel with them, feeling their emotions. I am really looking forward to reading the sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2022
Okay. One word: WOW! This book had it all: suspense, action, tension, drama, conflict, history — I could ramble on and on but I don’t think you would want to hear that. Anyways, ‘The Boy Behind the Wall’ by Maximilian Jones (the pen name of many collaborative authors) was by far in my top list books I’ve read this year. Just… wow!
July 19, 2022
A gripping and compelling introduction for many young people and middle grade readers into the harrowing details of the Berlin Wall and separation of Germany. Told in a really interesting narrative style, this is an endearing and warming tale of friendship and bravery. Very enjoyable!
March 31, 2023
A teen story about teenagers growing up in Berlin in the Cold War. It is an interesting story that we read at a book club I had been going to. Some interesting plot twists in the book keep you on edge.
September 11, 2021
Though it’s told from two perspectives, both voices sounded so similar I couldn’t tell who was who
April 13, 2022
I think this is the first time I've read a fiction book by multiple authors
July 3, 2022
The Boy Behind The Wall is a powerful and very interesting read about life in the cold war, Told through dual perspective it gives lots of depth and insight.
November 25, 2022
I've preordered the next one as there was a lot of great content for our students and there is little on this topic in fiction.
February 14, 2023
Not bad, enjoyed it but not sure it's anything special
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews