Sunday, May 11, 2014

Life Behind the Wall {a BookLook Bloggers review}

When I saw that Life Behind the Wall, by Robert Elmer, was going to be available to review, I made sure I'd be able to request it.  This is a bind-up of three titles -- Candy Bombers, Beetle Bunker, and Smuggler's Treasure.  All three take place near the Berlin Wall, featuring a 13 year old -- as the war is ending, as the wall is going up, and then as the wall is coming down.

A few years ago, Connor had read Candy Bombers in a summer reading program and he really enjoyed it.  I did not get the chance to read it myself, but I remembered how much he enjoyed it.

Now I've read it too, plus the next two titles.

From the publisher:
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. Titles include: 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.
What did I think?  Awesome book.  Or books, I guess.  The first title, Candy Bombers, introduces you to Erich, and is the only book with a male lead character.  He is in all three titles though.  Beetle Bunker and Smuggler's Treasure feature teen girls in later generations of his family.

These books are filled with action, and are realistic in terms of historical details.  The final book, in 1989, brought back all kinds of memories of Reagan's speech in Berlin, and then the eventual fall of the wall.

I found myself caring about the characters, and it was always fun to see them pop back up in later years.

I handed the book over to my 17-year-old, as he definitely wants to read the sequels (and re-read the first one), and then it is going to make the rounds of my other teens.

I highly recommend this book.



Disclosure of Material Connection: 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.”

2 comments:

annette @ A Net In Time said...

Hey Debra, I reviewed this book as well. isn't it a great book?

Debra said...

Yes, Annette! I loved it here!!