I first saw this book in my children's Book Fair at school. After discussing some other historical fiction with a friend, I decided to go ahead and read it (finally!) I'm so glad I did. I've heard of the struggles Berlin had after the wall, but this is the first fictional story I'd seen or read about it. I appreciate how the author was able to make it into a story that young adults would enjoy reading, but also learn something about history in the process. It was easy to connect with Gerta and want to know what became of her and her family. Adding in the difficulties with her friends and neighbors made the book even more realistic and tragic.

It's hard to imagine what it must have been like for the families that were divided when the wall went up, but this book brings you a little bit closer to seeing what it could have been like. The bravery that Gerta, and eventually her entire family showed was inspiring. We should always remember to speak up about injustices and fight for what we know is right. No one has the right to tell us what to think or believe. Not even the government.

If this book isn't already being used in the classroom for a historical fiction selection, I think it should be. This book touched me, much like Number the Stars and The Book Thief did. I'm not usually a big fan of Historical fiction, but this book drew me in from the very first page and held my attention to the very end.