*Shortlisted

Review by Harrison, St Mary’s RC High School Hereford
I really liked this book as it was set in cold war East Germany unlike most other books. My favourite character is Anja Schaumann as she is very adventurous and always trying to find a way over the wall. A new thing I learnt about the book was how strict the Stasi and Grenztruppen really were. The plot was exciting as it puts you from the point of view of a Stasi agent reviewing the case. It is also intense as they need to find a way over the wall in time before its finished building. The book has inspired me to learn more about the Grenztruppen and cold war Germany. I recommend this book to anyone interested in post war events or people’s stories under the Soviet sphere of influence.

Review by Laura, The Kingston Academy Surrey
My favourite character was Anja because she manages to overcome all the challenges that she and others had to face in Soviet Germany escaping all the Stasi, etc. All the characters were amazing in this book and showed a different part of the story. I learned more about the Stasi and how big of a problem they were to affect those in East Berlin. It was interesting to me as I find this topic really interesting. The plot was really good and showed a serious part of many lives in Soviet Germany. This book has inspired me to watch more movies of this genre. Dan Smith’s book shows the reality that many had to endure in Soviet Germany. I would DEFINITELY recommend this book!

Review by Jacob, Coombe Dean School, Plymouth
I will start off by saying that I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading and history.

Before I read this book, I didn’t really know anything about the Berlin Wall or anything in Germany in that era. The book slowly introduced new information to me instead of all at once which was very helpful for that reason.

The Period of History that this story was set in - 1961 - seems very far back in the past and, simultaneously, not very far back.

I thought the style the book was written in was very intriguing; I had never read a book like it before. It started off in a diary form, and later into the book, started adding in almost random seeming interlude pages (which later make a lot more sense) when Monika, one of the main characters, writes letters to Anja.

The plot was very exciting and gripping. The majority of the story is where Anja, arguably the most essential character in the book as the diary is written from her perspective, is stuck in East Berlin. She is at Monika’s home, alone and silent because no one can know she is there. She and Monika live on opposite sides of the street when the Berlin Wall is put up. Anja is in West Berlin; Monika is in East Berlin. East Berlin is Patrolled by the Stasi (also known as the Ministry for State Security) to try and watch people if they try and escape or are planning to. She gets stuck there when she follows her cat down a hole across her street to get to Monika in East Berlin. When she tries to get back to her home in West Berlin, she realises the hole is blocked and the walls are now 3 metres high.

What stands out the most for me about the book is the great plot twist at the end. The book also ends with an interesting epilogue.

I hope you enjoyed reading my review and maybe decide to read the book for yourself.