"A thrilling tale of friendship, conflict and code-cracking in 1960s Berlin"
This page-turning story of two teenage boys living either side of the Berlin Wall in the 1960s evokes a period that’s yet to be widely explored in UK children’s literature. As such, it offers welcome (and outlandish) coverage of a key time in modern history, while also delivering a thriller that reels with tension and personal conflict.
Harry is a comic-obsessed US citizen who’s recently moved from Washington to West Berlin - his dad has a high-powered job with the US government. In the opening pages, he witnesses the brutal, traumatic sight of a boy being shot while trying to flee the East for the West. As this haunts Harry, his parents become increasingly fraught by the strains of his father’s job, and he sends a message over the wall.
It’s found by Jakob, a boy living in the East. Jakob has been adopted by a prominent Stasi officer and his wife, who hope to mould him into a model citizen of the GDR while he clings onto hope that his mother and sister might still be alive. The boys strike up a friendship through exchanging letters over the wall, using secret codes to communicate what they really think, what’s really happening in their lives.
While an atmosphere of suspicion and fear radiates from the paranoid political context, their bond is based on trust and they share dangerous secrets, including an audacious plan - Jakob and his musician friends are working to escape to the West via a tunnel.
The escalating urgency is palpable as the escape draws closer and Harry discovers shocking revelations. No one is who they seem; the danger is very real and powerfully evoked. One for fans of thrilling action adventures with real-life “imagine being there” intrigue.
A page-turning thriller for 11+ readers set on either side of the Berlin Wall, perfect for fans of Alex Rider and CHERUB.
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A page-turning thriller for 11+ readers set on either side of the Berlin Wall, perfect for fans of Alex Rider and CHERUB. What would you risk for a friend you've never met . . . ?
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Boy Behind The Wall and determined it is suitable for children aged 11-12 years old
The Boy Behind The Wall features in the following genres: Historical Fiction, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Thrillers, Adventure Stories, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Recommendations
Paperback. £6.29, down from the £6.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Boy Behind The Wall was written by Maximillian Jones and published by Welbeck Publishing Group
The Boy Behind The Wall has 293 pages
£6.29, reduced from £6.99. In Stock.
