A Night Divided (Scholastic Gold)

By: Jennifer A. Nielsen

Narrated by: Kate Simses

From New York Times best-selling author Jennifer A. Nielsen comes a stunning thriller about a girl who must escape to freedom after the Berlin Wall divides her family between east and west. With the rise of the Berlin Wall, 12-year-old Gerta finds her family divided overnight. She, her mother, and her brother, Fritz, live on the eastern side, controlled by the Soviets. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west in search of work, cannot return home. Gerta knows it is dangerous to watch the wall, to think forbidden thoughts of freedom, yet she can't help herself.

She sees the East German soldiers with their guns trained on their own citizens; she, her family, her neighbors, and her friends are prisoners in their own city. But one day, while on her way to school, Gerta spots her father on a viewing platform on the western side, pantomiming a peculiar dance.

Then, when she receives a mysterious drawing, Gerta puts two and two together and concludes that her father wants Gerta and Fritz to tunnel beneath the wall, out of East Berlin. However, if they are caught, the consequences will be deadly. No one can be trusted. Will Gerta and her family find their way to freedom?

©2015 Jennifer A. Nielsen (P)2015 Scholastic Inc.

A night divided

This book is one of my favorites. I am 12 years old and this book had kept me at the tip of my seat to see what would happen next. I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a book about historical fiction, and excitement.

An enjoyable read

This is a well written story with a lot of detail in each character. The struggle of living in East Berlin is difficult at best. For a family that is divided, the difficulty is exponentially increased.

This story is told by a young girl who wants to reunite her family. She is frightened an describes the worries with a clear story. Escaping from East Berlin was a life or death activity, it wasn't something that could be attempted multiple times. There is a great level of maturity in this young girl, far beyond what one would expect from her age. The story is perfect for a family listen. The story even has a suspenseful timeline and a sense of urgency. I think this book could easily be finished across 2-3 days with a family sitting round the room.

Highly recommend.

Great listen with your daughter

My daughter, age 7, and I listened to this in the car to start but got so engrossed we found opportunities to listen elsewhere - doing laundry, cleaning up, coloring/drawing pictures of Gerta, the wall, etc. We talked a lot about what we thought might happen and I was surprised how much she understood and could theorize about what would happen next. Perfectly written for younger and older audiences to enjoy.

Cold War Story of a Family in Berlin

I can’t wait to read this book with my class. It was an amazing story about East Berlin during the Cold War. It really painted a picture of what it was like to live under communism during the Cold War. Well-written and a story that anyone will enjoy. It was so good that I finished in two days.

Excellent! Riveting!

World War II, a must-read great for all ages. Cliffhanger at every chapter. Worth it!