Cloud and Wallfish

Reviewed by: Mary Lehmer - Freeport Community Library, Freeport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 7, 2017

Review

Cloud and Wallfish are 2 of the characters in this book. They meet in East Berlin in the late 1980s right before "The Wall" comes down. Wallfish or Jonah is an eleven-year-old American in East Berlin with his parents for 6 months. Cloud or Claudia is about the same age and is trapped in East Berlin with her grandmother because her parents have both died. The two become friends, even though it is forbidden, and their friendship draws them both into the dangers behind the Iron Curtain. This historical fiction novel gives a glimpse into what it was like behind the Iron Curtain. The spying, bugging and intolerance for Western ways is woven throughout the story. Jonah's ability to piece together exactly what is going on is interesting. Unfortunately, the pace of the book is a bit slow and may loser readers' attention. Historical fiction fans will like the chapters that give actual information about what was going in East Germany, although these parts might be a bit technical at times for some younger readers.

Overall Book Score: very good