A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Title: A Night Divided

Author Name: Jennifer A. Nielsen

Lexile Level: 810L

Age Rating: 10+

Star Rating: ✦✦✦✦✦

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

With the rise of the Berlin Wall, Gerta finds her family suddenly divided. 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, 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 friends are prisoners in their own city.

But one day on her way to school, Gerta spots her father on a viewing platform on the western side, pantomiming a peculiar dance. Gerta concludes that her father wants her 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?

Favorite Character // Characterization:

I loved Gerta and her determination to escape. She was really brave to keep lying and even face death for her family’s chance at freedom. I also felt for Gerta when someone close to her didn’t actually care about her and was only there to spy on her.

I hated yet loved Anna. She was a girl who was conflicted with her determination to make things better for her family and her loyalties to her best friend. She took the spying job because she wanted to help her family (which I understand) but it only paints her as a selfish person who doesn’t really care about her friends.

I myself would’ve done the same as Anna to help my family. Death, or selling out your best friend? Any sane person would choose the latter. I found Anna to be a relatable character for all those normal people out there.

Storyline Development:

The storyline developed in a great way. Gerta was different from the beginning because keeping the secret about the tunnel made her more paranoid. She was more and more suspicious of others as the story progressed,

Worldbuilding:

This is a story set in the past, during Germany’s cold war. Gerta lives in East Berlin and is trying to escape so she can go to West Berlin. 

Feedback // Critique:

The story is easy to read, but it does contain minor character death. Might be a bit scary for younger readers due to the discussion of death and harsh rule. Should read if you can stomach a bit of violence. Nothing is too graphic, so there’s nothing that could cause nightmares.

I liked the conclusion of the story, where Gerta’s family is finally reunited. It’s all in all a good read.

But the author could’ve made it more gritty if one of Gerta’s family members died during the escape; a more realistic conclusion for us all.In the end, the story is a great read and can give you an insight into what life might’ve been like for real people who escaped to the West side of Berlin.