The girl behind the wall

How is your knowledge of history? Depends probably of the when and where you tell me. If so, what are your memories of the Berlin Wall? Vaguely after World War II. Well, expect to review your history lessons with today’s novel.

Short summary: August 1961, twins live in Berlin and although life is not the easiest, they and their family are doing well. One day, one of them goes to the east side of town to visit friends. Luck is not on her side, she has to go to the hospital. If her life is not in danger, the latter changes completely when she wakes up. A wall appeared separating her from her family and her twin. From then on, we follow the lives of the twins on either side of the wall. Will they be able to see each other again?

What to say? I devoured it! But I’m sure you already doubted it. Mandy Robotham has done a lot of research on Berlin, its life, its inhabitants, its traditions… Through her book, without giving us history lessons, she makes us experience the rise of the wall which distorted the Germany and part of Europe. The anguish of the unknown, the heartbreak of separation, the fear of being spied on at every street corner, the author presents a story that will remain forever engraved in my memory.

Should I recommend this book? Is this really a question? 100% yes! Go read it! It is true that I am not completely objective because I am a history buff and yet, my history teachers had a hard time getting me to be passionate about everything related to the last century. Is it because it’s too close to us? I would not know how to say it. Still, I have no interest in the world wars and other events that took place between 1900 and the present day. And yet, fictions in real events such as “The girl behind the wall” arouse my interest like never before in these parts of our history.

So, stop wavering! Have a Berlin cookie!