Somehow I lost track of this book, but luckily I found it again because it is a fascinating young adult historical fiction tale about two cousins living in Germany right before the building of the Berlin wall. The main character, Drew, is an American whose father is in the military and his cousin, Matthias, is a German living in what is about to be isolated East Germany. The writing is accessible and perfect for a YA audience and the accompanying actual photographs from the time period add so much to the story. I definitely recommend this book to kids interested in historical fiction! Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers and NetGalley for the advance copy for my honest opinion.

Great Young Adult look at the days leading up to the beginning of the Berlin Wall from both sides of the fence, so to speak.

Wonderful historical fiction book about the events and climate leading up to the construction of the Berlin Wall. The book is divided into the twelve months leading up to the night of the wall’s erection and each month begins with photos and captions of political, social, and culture events to set the stage. Elliott uses cousins to contrast the stark differences between East and West Berlin. Her fictional narrative is filled with sympathetic characters who depict the challenges of military life, PTSD, loss, struggle, and hope. Fabulous story supported by a unique and interesting format.

WALLS - 5 Stars

This book opens with Drew and his two sisters not wanting to join a party on base. Their father has recently been transferred to a base in Democratic-controlled west Berlin. Their mother is German and brings her cousin and her son, Matthias, along with her to the party to get to meet her kids. And this begins the dangerous friendship between Drew and Matthias that spreads across the east-west divide of Berlin as the wall goes up.

Ultimately, this tale was a story of how two boys become fast friends once introduced now that they live in the same city. There’s just one big problem – Drew is an American boy while Matthias is a communist German. They live on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall and both risks ruining themselves and their families if they are caught even speaking to each other. For me, family is very important and I couldn’t imagine just flat out NOT having an option when it comes to seeing family members, especially for something so small as to live on opposite sides of the same city.

I loved reading this book! The story of Drew and Matthias really spoke from the pages. They were realistic characters and I wanted to see nothing but the best for them both. I think my favorite part was the addition of numerous drawings, photos, and information in between pages of the story.

Elliott gives us another richly-imagined and well-researched historical fiction YA. It’s 1960, and Drew’s father has just been posted at the American base in West Berlin. Drew and his family are used to moving around every couple of years and know how to settle in quickly, but being at the epicenter of the Cold War is unlike anything they’ve ever experienced. Complicating matters is the fact that Drew’s mother has relatives in East Berlin. As Drew gets to know his cousin Matthias, he gets a first-hand look at the stark differences between communism and democracy, East Berlin and West Berlin. Russia-controlled East Germany demands unwavering loyalty from its citizens, more and more of whom are trying to defect. Given the tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States, anything that hints at Western influence is swiftly punished.

This engaging novel provides a great introduction to Cold War issues during the early 1960s for teens who may not have a lot of background knowledge. Each chapter covers a month of Drew’s life between September 1960 and August 1961. Archival photos and mixed media precede the chapters to highlight some of the stories making headlines that month.

Thank you, NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers, for the electronic ARC.

L.M. Elliott writes a beautiful salute to military family members in Walls. I know the synopsis emphasizes the relationship between Drew and Matthias, but Walls is about so much more. Elliott describes what it is like for military brats when their parents get reassigned every couple of years. The hardships can be unbearable at times. Imagine not being able to take your dog who is your best friend. Or having to extend your graduation because the new school doesn’t accept your points. Or having to recreate your whole life from sports, to friends, to routines. Elliott does a fantastic job connecting with these real issues that families deal with today.

Elliott also introduces how racism can play a part in segregating someone who is white or in Drew’s case Irish too. Drew’s aunt and cousin live in East Berlin in the Russian sector. This opens Drew up to nasty communist and nazi comments from other American kids and from Germans. I cannot tell you how many times I wanted to smack Bob upside the head.

Alongside the story of the book is a factual history of the times. Each chapter is a month starting with August 1960. There are photos and illustrations done by Megan Behm that tell us where the world is when this chapter starts. It is a plethora of information and grounds you to what else is going on globally.

I cannot recommend Walls enough. Elliott gives us a realistic glimpse into military family life, political terror, different points of view for commentary, and a slice of history. Walls is easy to read and highly recommend it for young adults and schools to add to their reading lists. Heck, even I learned things reading this (not that I am a know-it-all (laugh)). Read Walls.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to L. M. Elliott, Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

"West Berliners park on our side of Zimmerstraße all the time without any trouble. In this neighborhood, at least, there is cooperation between the sectors."

It’s August 1960. WWII may be over, but the Cold War is in full effect. Germany is split in half: West Germany held by NATO countries, and East Berlin by the Warsaw Pact countries. Berlin itself is also split in half in a similar fashion: the Russians have the East, and America, Great Britain, and France share the West, each with their own sectors. It’s considered a Cold War because there were no large-scale battles fought directly between the two superpowers, but they each supported major regional conflicts known as proxy wars.

This is something that some history classes may have taught you – the accuracy and the exact kind of information taught in different schools varies and will be something I can’t directly comment on – but the Cold War is an event that the world has knowledge on. What some of us don’t have, like those born after the Cold War like me, is personal experiences of what actually happened, what life was like, and how things changed between the end of WWII and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Elliot does what she needs to in order to bring this human side of the Cold War into the forefront, from the eyes of an American teenage boy living with his family in West Berlin. Why? Well his father is stationed there, and from what it sounds like, his father was ecstatic about the change in duty station. Luckily, Drew isn’t the only military child on this trip, as he has both his older and younger sister with him. Not only that, but once in Germany, they find out that their mom actually has a sister still in Germany, and they finally get to meet her and her son after all this time. Yes, finding out you have additional family and being able to meet them should be an amazing experience, but in this case, maybe not.

Maybe not, because with the tensions of the events of WWII still fresh in everyone’s minds, having German relatives automatically relates to having Nazi relatives – at least according to those who can’t tell the difference.

Grabbing another handful of Fritos, Bob said, "Your mom's German?"

"Half. Her mother immigrated to the United States right after World War I. Her sister stayed here, though. That'd be my great-aunt, I guess."

"So... you have Nazis in your family."
Clearly all Germans are Nazis, according to the other army brats living in Berlin. At least this person, Bob, who I do not like at all. I could stand to not hear about him anymore. There are others that know better, and luckily Drew finds someone like this rather early in this new duty station, but nonetheless it’s something that Drew has to be wary about.

One of the best things that could have happened to Drew was meeting his cousin Matthias. Sure, when they first meet, they are extremely wary of one another. It’s almost an immediate dislike, and from the preconceived notions that both of them have about the other person, the other country, the other side of the war, it only makes sense that there’s a bit of animosity there. But the good thing about this is that they now have the opportunity to learn about other points of view besides their own. Drew has to learn that not everything America does is correct, and Matthias has to learn that not everything Germany does is correct either. Both aren’t perfect. Both aren’t evil. Both are just different, and learning about your country and your beliefs through the eyes of someone else can truly allow you to understand the bigger picture.

"I am a nurse at Charité Hospital, where they are training me to be a doctor."

"A woman doctor?" The woman stared at her in amazement.

"Yes," answered Cousin Marta. "One of the good things about the socialist state is the equality of opportunity. Women who are found capable are trained as readily as men to be doctors. Almost half the doctors delivering babies at Charité are female."

For once, I am able to find a historical fiction novel that isn’t directly taking place in WWII, and its a bit refreshing to say the least. From what I have seen, WWII seems to fascinate a lot of people, to the point that there are so many historical fiction novels taking place in WWII. Having a story that takes place during the Cold War, albeit still in Europe, was something that appealed to me early on when I learned about this book. It’s a different time in history, even if it happened after WWII, and one can see just how much can shift in the years after a major world war. For those like me who haven’t experienced it firsthand, it’s quite jarring to think about what people our age had to go through, and how they needed to be a little more aware than we are right now.

I believe that Elliott did a swell job in portraying this story, and it is one that reminds readers that there is never a situation that is clear cut, where everything is black and white and knowing right from wrong is simple. It reminds readers that there is a human element to war and its aftermath, and that so many people can be affected by the actions of others, even if they never wanted to be involved in the first place.

It’s 1960, and Drew and his family have just been stationed on an American military base in West Berlin, Germany. Set in the year leading up to the building of the Berlin Wall, Walls explores Drew’s experiences, and the friendship he, a Western “Army Brat,” establishes with his cousin, who has grown up in Communist Party-controlled East Berlin.

As Drew and Matthais get to know each other, they find that there are things that bond them, and things about their friendship that put each of them at risk. Rock ‘n Roll records, popular fiction, and other western capitalist materials are forbidden in East Berlin, and Matthias’ commitment to the communist party is under scrutiny at all times. Alternatively, American military culture at the time means that there’s only so close that Drew and his family can be to those with ties to communism.

Interspersed throughout the historical fiction narrative of Walls is a photo essay with month-by-month key points in American and German politics, history, and pop culture of the time. I also loved how the narrative included mentions of pop-culture of the time (songs, films, and books). I thought it enriched the setting, and it made me think about diving back into some of the books mentioned here.

Walls takes place in an Era that I had limited knowledge of, and I found it very interesting to learn more about the events that lead to the construction of the Berlin Wall, and how families on both sides of Berlin were impacted. L.M. Elliott’s writing was informative, intriguing and suspenseful, and I enjoyed this young adult historical fiction novel as an adult.

As I read Walls, I kept thinking about how this would be the ideal novel companion for a history unit on this topic, or could work really well in an immersive LA/History unit utilizing pop culture. I definitely think educators should be on the lookout for this one, and think this will appeal to Young Adult and Adult readers interested in historical fiction.

Thanks to Algonquin Young Readers, Algonquin Books, and L. M. Elliott for the gifted copy and for including me on this tour. All opinions are my own.

Walls, by L M Elliott is a truly remarkable novel. Though the book started off a bit slow, once it picked up I couldn’t stop reading it.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was how we were able to see the drastic differences in life in East and West Berlin during the cold war.

Drew has a cousin named Matthias living in East Berlin, and through him Drew learns what communist Russia was like, and the reader learns with him,

The book takes you through the time leading up to the construction of the Berlin Wall, in sections covering each month. Something I loved was how at the beginning of each of the little sections, there are a few pages writing about what was happening in Berlin during that time. There was also a really interesting part with information on what was happening elsewhere in the world, and that gave me some perspective to what was happening, and to see what was happening all over the world.

The brutality and relentlessness of the soviet communism, on kids especially, was written so well, and in such a way that you had to really empathize with the kids who had been taught the same things their entire lives, the same Russian propaganda shoved in their faces.

The references to Animal Farm were also really interesting to read. I read Animal Farm a couple months ago, and I’m really glad that I had the knowledge of the book while reading Walls because of the references to it, and how the main character Drew was constantly noticing the parallels between Animal Farm and Stalinism.

The side characters were all very well developed, and were all really given their own arcs. Bob, another son of a military official stationed in Berlin was an interesting character, and so was Shirley, another military kid.

Drew was also really close to his sisters, and their relationship was always sweet to read about. Because of moving so much, they were very close, and the author showed that well.

Walls is a really great book, and I am so glad I was able to read it!! I learned so much from the book, and it was such a unique historical perspective. I definitely recommend it to people interested in the time period, and in general to fans of historical fiction!

My rating:
4.5 stars (an incredible book, it just started out a little bit slow for me)

Walls is a YA novel about two cousins living in East and West Berlin in 1960/61.
I am always curious about books set during this time, especially when they're set in Germany and written by someone from outside of Germany 😅
First off, I highly appreciated the added historical info and photos throughout the book, as well as the list of sources at the end. While reading, I definitely noticed that the book was well-researched. We mainly follow Drew, an American army kid who recently moved to West Berlin. He meets his cousin Matthias, who is from East Berlin and obviously influenced (and struggling) with what he has been taught by Soviet occupants.
It becomes clear that both sides have their negatives and positives, though, and the cousins slowly but surely warm up to each other.
The writing was well paced and easily understandable, which, for a historical setting, is always important in YA.
I got to say though that I noticed some grammatical errors in the German sentences that the author used, and hope that those have been fixed in the finished copies. (Example: no capitalization of nouns). But those issues are minor and, for non-German speakers, matter only little.
A solid 4 / 5 stars for me - a fast-paced, fun and educating novel.
Thanks to Algonquin YR for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Walls

Author: L. M. Elliott

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: historical fiction, young adult

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Publication Date: July 27, 2021

Publisher: Algonquin Children's

Pages: 331

Recommended Age: 13+ (violence, mentions of war, gore, and "re-education")

Synopsis: Drew is an army brat, a hotshot athlete poised to be his high school’s star pitcher, when he has to move for the sixth time in fifteen years—this time to West Berlin, where American soldiers like his dad hold an outpost of democracy against communist Russia in Hitler’s former capital. Meanwhile, in East Berlin, his cousin Matthias has grown up in the wreckage left by Allied bombing during World War II, on streets ruled by the Communist Party’s secret police.

From the opposing sides of the Cold War, Drew and Matthias begin to overcome the many ideological walls between them to become wary friends. They argue over the space race, capitalism, socialism, and even the American civil rights movement, and bond over rock ’n’ roll—music outlawed in Matthias’s part of the city. If Matthias is caught by the Stasi’s neighborhood spies with the records or books Drew has given him, he will be sent to a work camp for “re-education.” At the same time, Drew’s friendship with the East Berlin Jugend—who ardently spout communist dogma—raises suspicions about his family’s loyalty to America. As the political situation around them gets all the more dire, Drew and Matthias’s loyalty—to their sector, their countries, their families, and each other—will be tested in ways that will change their lives forever.

Set in the tumultuous year leading up to the surprise overnight raising of the Berlin Wall in August 1961, and punctuated with real-life photographs, headlines, and personalities of the time, Walls brings to vivid life the heroic and tragic choices of the Cold War.

Review: For the most part I enjoyed this book. I loved seeing the photographs and it helped me visualize the story better. The characters were well developed and the pacing was well done. I also loved the world building and combined with the pictures this is one of those books I'd love to see high schoolers read.

The only thing I really had issue with is the plot of the book. It took me awhile to connect with the characters, but when I did I consumed the book.

Verdict: It was good!

Walls is a young adult historical fiction book that takes place during the year of 1961 in West and East Berlin, Germany. Although it wasn't a book geared toward my age group, it was still eye opening and I liked the way it was told through the eyes of two kids that are cousins living in two very different worlds even though they are both living in the same city.

Drew and his family are Americans that have just gotten the call to move to Germany because Drew's dad is in the Army. They are a military family that is used to moving, but it's always the hardest on the kids to keep moving around. Not ever having a home and leaving friends behind constantly. But this move just may put them in more danger than they are used to with the Soviets and communism taking over the the East side. The plus with this move is that Drew's mother has family in Germany and it will be the first time she has seen them. Drew and his family will be stationed in West Berlin and Matthias (his cousin) lives in East Berlin with his mother and grandmother.

The story unfolds with each chapter focusing on one month in 1960/1961. Each chapter begins with photographs of that time from America and from Germany. It shows how different each country and each side of Berlin is so very different. It helps the reader understand the dangers and the way of life for each side. At first Matthias and Drew really don't want to have anything to do with one another because their beliefs are so different. But once their families start making them spend more time together, they see that they aren't so different and they just care about each other.

Elliott made this a very readable book for a younger reader by having the story told through teenagers and having it told in a simplistic way to make the reader really understand the times. As an older adult, it opened my eyes to a time that I wasn't as familiar with, but it was very relatable to the times we are experiencing now. I liked having Drew and Matthias at odds through a lot of the book and showing us the differences they had in the way they were brought up. Family was at the center of the story, but the love of one's country was there as well.

Overall, this is a story that I think would be good for a middle to high school reader looking to expand their knowledge of the Cold War or to see life and how things have changed.

Before reading this book, I didn’t know much about the conflict between Eastern and Western Germany during the ‘60s and the formation of the Berlin Wall. I’d heard about it in school but wasn’t aware of the nuances of the situation. “Walls” is a helpful book to put a personal (fictional) side to the conflict, but unfortunately, it didn’t completely capture my imagination or attention.

“Walls” tells the story of an Army brat named Drew whose family is stationed in Germany in 1960. He tries to adjust to the many cultural differences he discovers and is taught so much by his German cousin (who he is reluctant to trust as a ‘commie’). Each chapter of the book is a different month in Drew’s life. My favorite part of this book was the photos and info that was included at the beginning of each chapter. It was a fun way to bring the history of the time to life by incorporating different cultural elements into the story.

My issue with the novel is that for an incredibly tense and scary period of time, there wasn’t a lot of forward action driving the plot. I was interested in Drew’s life but never felt quite connected to the storylines. I went into the book expecting lots of dramatic moments but there were only a select few events that actually had me eagerly turning the pages.

I can’t quite put my finger on what didn’t work for me with this book (especially because I started it with high hopes). I think it would be suitable for a YA audience and provides a lot of historical context that could be helpful (especially for teenagers learning about this period in history), but I wouldn’t necessarily rush out and recommend it. It was missing a spark for me that held me back from truly appreciating it.

“Walls” by L.M. Elliott

This is a Young Adult historical fiction novel that I think both teens and adults will enjoy. Set in Berlin in 1961, Drew is an American “army brat” whose father has been assigned to West Berlin. His cousin Matthias lives with his mother and grandmother in East Berlin. Elliott writes of the living conditions in East Berlin - the food shortages, the lack of heat, the constant fear of neighbors informing on you, the tension between the US forces in the West and Soviet forces in East Berlin. I was shocked when I read that people on both sides were celebrating a children’s festival. They went to bed and awoke the next morning to find a wire barrier had been erected. Through Elliott’s excellent writing, I could feel the contest sense of danger, the fear, the urge to always look over your shoulder.

I thought the story realistically reflected the life of the military children who have pick up and move when their parents do. (Drew’s family has moved six times in 15 years.) Drew’s older sister Joyce was the head cheerleader in her school and got the lead in all their plays. But she has to start all over in Berlin. Linda, his younger sister, has had to leave her beloved dog behind and is insecure in her new environment. Drew’s neighbor Bob is a bully, hiding his problems at home. Matthias is aggravating at times but is also vulnerable and endearing. While Drew and Matthias disagree over many things, they bond over rock ’n’ roll music.

I loved the format – Each chapter covers an entire month, and opens with news headlines, photos, and quotes from that month. Be sure to read the Afterword where Elliott tells us to “draw from Drew and Mathias’s story the importance of thinking for yourselves, of listening and opening up your hearts to others who differ from you, and of our responsibility as a free people to not simply stand by when witnessing others fighting for their own rights, whether in a foreign nation or on our own streets.” A statement that is sadly appropriate for today’s environment: The Wall was a “symbol of the cruel walls people can build between themselves out of political zealotry”

I highly recommend this amazing book. I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book was so GOOD!

We meet Drew and his family who just recently moved to Germany in 1961, the siblings are not that happy about the move since they had to leave America, but when they come to Germany they see a whole new world, a country divided, something that they don’t really understand. Then Drew meets his cousin Matthias, who is a communist, if he lives in East Berlin, they cant do certain things, or listen to certain things, I never knew THAT!

I learned so much from reading this book, and I really enjoyed the real-life photos, of the year 1961, it illustrated things that were going on in Germany throughout the year, it was very informative, and very heartfelt, I wont give it away, but the characters in this book were amazing, what Drew’s family did for Matthias, to save him and pass through the Wall so they can be together, made me cry so much, this would make for an amazing movie.

I love the Afterword as well, the author made it her business to tell us about how she came about creating this awesome book, and even explaining the main characters, its great that’s we are able to read a book based on true events and real people. LM Ellliott gave us some history but also made it fun to read.

Thanks Netgalley and Algonquin for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I really worried this book would be dry, long and boring. I am not into history and reading historical fiction, but I really liked the description of the book and thought this might be good for my 11 year old.

It turns out that it was fantastic. I mean really good. This book has the power to open young minds (and maybe some old!). It is a reminder that not everyone is like you and that in order to understand someone else's life and views you may have to step out of your comfort zone. It was also a great reminder to stand up and be heard when things are not right.

I loved the book layout. In between, each chapter the author put photos and/or newspaper clippings about things that were happening during that time. It might have who became famous or who had a big music hit during that time in history.

This is definitely a must read for ages 12 and up to learn more about the Cold War and the Berlin wall. The story of 2 young people who were related, but were complete strangers. The story definitely pulled at my heart strings.

Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers and NetGalley for the #gifted book.

This is a period of history that I don't know very well, and I learned a great deal from reading this book. Young adult readers especially will be able to empathize with Drew's thoughts and feelings about school, the constant moving he deals with as an army brat, and his friendships and rivalries. Highly recommended for both young people and adults. Thanks to the author and Algonquin Books for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book.

This is a very emotional story. This story shows how hard it was for people living in East Berlin right before the wall was built and how hard it was for people living in West Berlin to understand why anyone would want to stay in the East. There were a few laughs but there are a lot of tears in the story. I love the photos that are included in the book. These showed how different but also how alike many parts of the world can be. I received a copy of this book from Algonquin Publicity for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

One of the best young adult historical fiction books I have read in a long time! I pre-read in hopes this would be a good read for my middle schooler and it is going to be perfect! As an Army family I immediately connected to that lifestyle. I felt the relationship of the mom and cousins in order to show the different sides of the the Berlin conflict. This is book was unbiased and factual with in a plot I know my son will enjoy.

I really enjoyed the photo essays that accompanied each chapter to give historical background to the story. From these photo essays we get specific information on what was happening both in Berlin and in US-Russia relations during the period that the story takes place. So when there are references to these events or people in the narrative, it's a lot easier to follow. However, I found the writing and the overall tone of this book to be incredibly disappointing. It felt very patronizing, patriarchal, and propagandist. I think the author was trying to capture the atmosphere of the time, but it was not an enjoyable reading experience. I will not be recommending this book.