A Night Divided (Scholastic Gold)

Started out well but close to the halfway mark I began to skim a lot. Not enough enough introspection from main character. Too many details that were unnecessary. I was however pulled along to the end.

This book is totally amazing!!! I think Jennifer A. Nielsen is the best author , I rate this book five stars,and I would also recommend Jennifer A. Nielsen's book the false prince trilogy if you haven't read it already
Love,megan

They say that truth can be stranger than fiction, and in some cases, it can be much more frightening. Such is the case in A NIGHT DIVIDED by Jennifer A. Nielsen, the story of the Lowe family, seen through the eyes of 12-year-old Gerta. The Lowes live through the horrifying rise of communism in East Germany in the 1960s and the literal rise of the Berlin Wall, one of the most notorious symbols of oppression of the 20th century.

The night the fences ascend, Gerta, her older brother Fritz and her mother can only watch helplessly, knowing that her father and other brother are trapped on the other side after visiting the west that day. Since her father used to belong to a cohort of rebellion, the chances of him ever returning are slim to none. The days grow dark, and everyone is silenced under the terrifying regime of the GDR.

Fueled by an indomitable spirit, Gerta longs to cross to the other side and taste the foreign sweet honey of freedom. But when friends and neighbors begin to die from attempts to escape, the Lowe family is put under heavier surveillance, many viewing the family’s history of resistance as a poison to the community and a threat to anyone who befriends them. More than ever, Greta feels that fewer and fewer people around her can be trusted.

But one day, Gerta sees her father across the chasm of the wall. At first she thinks he has dancing to a silly childhood song to show his love for her, but she comes to realize that he is sending her a message of a plan. More clues fall into her lap, and Greta knows what she must do --- she and Fritz will dig a tunnel across the divide to her family and freedom.

A NIGHT DIVIDED was a wallop to the face because it's so hard to believe that something this terrifying was happening so close to home not too long ago. In an age where dystopian fiction is at the height of its popularity, it's almost easier to believe in those made-up societies because none of them compare to the horrors of reality. Through both research and prose, Nielsen did a magnificent job depicting this bleak, suffocating world. To live in a society without hope or room to breathe or any free thought or expression is unimaginable in America, and the atrocity of the situation is overbearing, potent and never lets you go for a second. These types of situations are full of moral struggles and angles, and Nielsen did great work incorporating them into A NIGHT DIVIDED and balancing them with the perspective of a child.

The same can be said for the pace of A NIGHT DIVIDED. I couldn't put the book down because the tension drove me to turn each page; I needed to know what would happen next, even though I knew I probably wouldn't like it. I greatly enjoyed the dynamics between the characters, and all of them were vivid individuals with deep, expansive personalities that shone through even in the shortest sentences. The intense motivations that drove the characters in turn drove me, and there was never a moment where I wasn’t rooting someone on; I was always 100% emotionally invested in these characters and the outcomes of their crises.

Any criticisms that I have are small. There were a few times where Gerta seemed a bit uneven, and it bothered me that she sometimes made careless mistakes. It didn’t bother me that she made mistakes in general; that made her realistic and human. What bothered me was when she made mistakes that she really shouldn't have made. For example, I was honestly surprised it took her as long as it did to interpret her father’s message that he wanted her to dig a tunnel.

That’s a small note, though, and overall, I strongly recommend this book. Even though it is historical fiction, it can reach far more people than the genre’s normal audience. In this age where horrible acts of oppression still occur, A NIGHT DIVIDED is a beacon of hope. It shows that throughout history, humans have prevailed over the direst of circumstances. I also hope that the book will inspire others to pursue modern injustices and squash them out; I know it did that for me, and I want to look into what I can do to help those who suffer in the world. A story this powerful and sadly universal must be shared. Despite the despair, though, I walked away from A NIGHT DIVIDED feeling pensive and hopeful, and I would love for others to experience this same reaction from this fantastic novel. I urge you to pick it up --- you won't regret it

Reviewed by Corinne Fox

Young people and others who love young adult literature will want to have this riveting book on their shelves. It makes The Cold War real, beginning with "There was no warning the night the wall went up." Find out why twelve-year old Gerta's family is split, with her father and one brother trapped in the west and herself and another brother, Fritz, and their mother and her mother in East Berlin. The restrictions and watchfulness of the Grenztruppen (border police) do not set well with the strong, independent Gerta or her brother who is soon to go into the Soviet military. One day Gerta thinks she sees her father on the other side, dancing and digging. Is he telling her to tunnel out? Could she? She would be risking prison, or death, despite her age. The courageous Gerta loves freedom more than life itself, but she wants to bring her family with her. Learn what it was really like in the postwar years for those living behind "The Iron Curtain." The book is dedicated, "For Llona, who made it out. And for all those who didn't."

Good for 3rd grade to 6th grade, it tells the story of a girl's life in East Berlin. The wall went up when she was 8 years old, dividing her family in half, and events that happen 4 years later.
Three stars because I thought the story was well paced, but told very superficially, even for a older child's novel.
The main focus of the story was escaping to the west for various reasons. Each person in the family had some specific reason why they want to escape. But the characters were one dimensional, no character development. There isn't much tension in any of the characters except for whether they'll succeed crossing the border or not. A 12-year-old deciding that her freedom of thought was being violated seems unrealistic. I would believe it more for a 14 or 15 year old. Stasi characters where just Stasi enforcing the rules, no explanation as to how or why they are so by the rules, even when given the opportunity that one of the Stasi used to be friends with Fritz.
The novel doesn't really go into many of the reasons why people were so desperate to escape aside from the divided family, and being spied on, which admittedly are very bad already. But it was so superficial that it didn't make you understand or feel the desperation of the people.
Not much on place development. Not sure if the assumption was the reader should already know how bleak it was in East Berlin (which would be a wrong assumption IMHO, given the audience)
Pacing was good enough, there weren't really any slow parts to it.
All in all, it was a decent read. It would be a good book to share with a 3rd-5th grade with an adult giving more background to help understand why the escape was so important to the characters.

n case you hadn’t already noticed by my previous reviews of her books, I’m a fan of Jennifer A. Nielsen. She creates worlds that pull you in, and her writing keeps getting better. Nothing is more evident of that than her new book, “A Night Divided,” which is a departure from her more fantastical imaginings.

When I was in school, history was jam packed at the beginning, but we always seemed to run out of time by the 1940s. We’d finish up World War II and rush through the rest of the century. Because of that, the Cold War era has always felt a little impersonal to me. I was 9 when the wall fell. I remember seeing people in tears on the TV, but I didn’t really understand it. That’s why I’m glad books like “A Night Divided” have and are being written. With “A Night Divided” the era is brought to life.

The plot of “A Night Divided” is perfect for a movie, book or play. You couldn’t ask for better. But what really makes it work is Jennifer’s ability to build and maintain tension. She masterfully creates a tone that pushes the reader forward, almost willing you to turn page after page after page. That combined with flawed but likeable characters makes this book a winner.

Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm not usually a big fan of historical fiction. I generally prefer books in the fantasy/scifi genre, but I would be stupid if I refused to read a book by one of my favorite authors that I won for FREE in a raffle (Thanks, Peggy Eddleman!) just because it's not in my usual genre. That said, I actually really enjoyed "A Night Divided."

This is the story of Gerta, a girl who lives in East Berlin after World War II, when Germany and its capital city have been divided up into two sections: East and West. The conflict begins when Gerta's father and older brother Dominic make a trip to the West to look for work opportunities, since work is scarce in the East. Before they can return, the Berlin Wall goes up and Gerta's family is suddenly ripped in half, with Gerta, her mother, and her brother Fritz in the communist East and Gerta's father and other brother Dominic in the free West.

One day Gerta sees her father across the wall, where he mimes digging. Along with a note he sends her, this pantomime leads Gerta to start digging a tunnel from the basement of an abandoned building under the Wall to the West in a desperate bid for freedom. If the Stasi (the German secret police) catch her, she'll likely be killed, or worse. But it's not just the Stasi she has to worry about--every friend and neighbor has the potential to be a spy for the secret police, and the only person Gerta dares trust with the secret of her escape plans is her brother Fritz.

Jennifer Nielsen captures the atmosphere of suspicion and fear in East Berlin masterfully. Things are always happening to ratchet up the tension, which you can feel just oozing out of the book. There is never a dull moment; it feels like a high-stakes thriller movie. And believe me, the stakes are sky-high.

Although the story deals with some very serious subject matter, the content is entirely appropriate for the middle-grade audience it's written for. There is a part near the end where a few people get shot, but the description is not graphic. And speaking of the end, what a climax it was! The whole time I was reading it, I was tense in my seat, holding my breath at times as I and Gerta's family raced to the story's conclusion.

I have to say that I really admired Gerta's character. Not only is she brave to undertake an escape attempt that she knows will get her killed if it fails, but she forgives people who spy on her for the Stasi and allows them the opportunity to come along with her to the West once the tunnel is complete.

All in all, "A Night Divided" is a tense and touching story that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the very end. I would recommend it to anyone, even if, like me, you don't usually read historical fiction. It's so worth the time.

When she was only eight years old, Gerta's father and older brother Dominic sneaked from their home in Communist East Berlin into the West. They intended to stay only a weekend in order to make plans, hoping to return home for Gerta, her mother and other brother Fritz.

But life had other plans. Just before the two were to return, the government put up the Berlin Wall, separating the family permanently.

Now Gerta is 12, and it doesn't seem likely that her family will ever be reunited.

One day Gerta receives a mysterious note and a sign. She becomes convinced that her father is telling her to dig a tunnel into West Berlin - a crime punishable by death.

How much are Gerta and her family truly willing to risk for freedom?

Nielsen has clearly done a great deal of research into life in 1960s East Germany, deftly interweaving it with her own unique characters. This book is a wonderful introduction for readers of all ages into a dark period of history, easily relatable and long remembered.

Summary: When Gerta was 8, her father and brother Dominic went to west Berlin to look for work, preparing to move there from the east. While they’re gone, the Berlin wall goes up overnight. Four years later, she spots the two of them on an observation platform on the western side of the wall. Her father seems to be pantomiming for her to dig; when he manages to smuggle her a picture of a building, Gerta is sure she and her other brother Fritz should start digging a tunnel through the wall for the family to escape. As they work on their tunnel, suspicions of their neighbors and friends grow, and before long, completing the tunnel becomes a life-and-death proposition for them. Grades 5-8.

Pros: An eye-opening story of life behind the Iron Curtain during the early 1960’s, with danger lurking everywhere for Gerta and her family, resulting in an exciting story from start to finish.

Cons: The page-turning suspense was so intense that I thought I might need to book a cardiologist appointment before I was done.

Imagine a couple members of your family go out of town for a night. When darkness descends a fence is erected; enclosing your home, neighbors and half of the city. From the next morning forward, part of your family is on one side of the fence, unequivocally separated from you.

Almost incomprehensible, yet this isn’t the beginning of a dystopian saga. A Night Divided is a heart-breakingly honest retelling of a monumental event experienced by the citizens of Berlin, merely fifty-four years ago. Certainly, most people know “of” The Berlin Wall; albeit in a vague, didn’t-I-hear-about-that-coming-down-David-Hosselhoff-or-something, kind of way. That really doesn’t seem good enough.

In her remarkably ingenious way, Ms. Nielsen took true government oppression and resilient, determined traits of the people to give us vibrant characters against gray, dismal lives. With unprecedented freedom to speak within the pages of this compelling tome; courageous, captivating—yet ordinary, every-day folks--tell their story in a way that will affect everyone.

Introduced as a spunky, outspoken little girl; Gerta grows exponentially, as she relays her years behind the wall in an admirably confident voice. Innocently, and only initially, Gerta watched invasive actions of the police against many of her East Berlin brethren. She puzzled as to why the adults just stood alongside her, also only watching. Frustration and anger quickly overtook her benign curiosity.

Bonding with her beloved older brother, repeatedly witnessing stark, harsh grief as time and again former friends were killed in escape attempts; Gerta learned. And she accepted. There was only one person that could initiate change and there was only one person that she could absolutely, wholly and completely trust. She had only herself. With that resolution, Gerta springs into a fast-paced, harrowing and gripping mission that takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride of feels.

As this young girl doggedly follows her heart, her spirit and hope spread to touch others with varying and surprising effects. More than one family’s story, or even one city’s story, A Night Divided is about true friendships, kindness, generosity, sacrifices and regrets. Of course, Ms. Nielsen wrote it, so it also stands that A Night Divided is just an outstanding, enthralling, fun read …. for Middle Graders, High Schoolers, Young Adults as well as Not-So-Young-Adults.

This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.

I have always been freaked out by history, especially the World Wars. When I heard about 'A Night Divided' I was immediately disappointed because I didn't want to read something historical, fictional twist or not. But, it was Jennifer A. Nielsen and after reading 'The Ascendance Trilogy' I was determined that if anyone could make a good historical fiction book that I would enjoy, it would be her.
When I first got the book I flipped through the first pages and saw the old photographs of the wall and it reminded me how real this wall was.
It was such a different story and my heart wrenched as I read it, Nielsen has a gift with her writing, I was literally unable to put this book down.
Thank you, Jennifer for making me want to read an important part of our history.
A heartfelt applause to you!

We own some of Jennifer A. Nielsen's middle grade fantasy books. Just recently started The False Prince with my 10 year old (we were enjoying it), but didn't think it was appropriate to share with my 8 year old on car trips, so we started listening to A Night Divided in the car instead. I bought it on a whim with one of my precious credits (I like WWII fiction), and I do not regret it! We are now FANS.

A Night Divided is about a young girl whose father and younger brother snuck over to West Berlin in search of work and never returned because a temporary Berlin Wall was built literally overnight before they could sneak back. Gerta, her older brother Fritz, and their mother are left behind for years to face hardship and suspicion from neighbors and the German Stasi (East German Special forces).

Gerta, like her father, feels stifled in East Berlin. She wants to live and think freely. The majority of the book is about Gerta trying to find a way to reunite her family without alerting their close friends, neighbors or the police. My 13, 10, 8 year old and I were on the edge of our seats throughout the entire book because terrible things happen to people who try to escape or even talk of escape.

My kids didn't want to get out of our car! Could Gerta convince her mother and brother to go with her? Would she leave them behind? Was it worth dying for?

The characters were well developed, and there were some good supporting characters as well. I didn't notice until I read another review that only the police spoke with a German accent! I still think the narration was great. It wasn't as good as George Guidall in The Book Thief, but it was great nevertheless. The young-sounding female narrator was a good choice since the main character is a little girl. Her male voices were good too, being just a little deeper than the female voices.

The family is Christian, so fans of Christian fiction would enjoy it, but it wasn't in your face, more of a sprinkling of references to God, prayer, and the Bible. It wasn't the focus of the book.

I highly recommend for family listening. Note: there is some violence mentioned. Some people die. However, it's not graphic.

OMG – please end this! These were my thoughts as I was reading the end of this novel last night as I thought my heart couldn’t take it much longer. I was plowing through the pages yet I was trying to read each word as I thought if I skipped over just one word, I might just miss the most important event and Gerta’s world would all come crashing down. Wow! The second half of this book was rather intense. It seemed as if everyone was doing their own thing, tensions were high, my nerves were getting frazzled, and just when there seemed to be some relief in sight suddenly things turned around for the worse and I was right back on the edge of my seat and things didn’t slow down until the end of the novel. Jennifer Nielsen had me, I was stuck in 1961, between the East side and the West side of Germany, I was with Gerta trying to help get her family back together, digging and digging but the clock was ticking and time was running out.

The Wall went up overnight. The wall of wire and thorns which would later become concrete with shards of glass and watchtowers when the police realize people still wouldn’t obey their commands. Papa and Dominic left a few days ago to find housing and work in the West side for the family. Mama had refused to leave her home and her mother and now the Wall has divided the family leaving Gerta, Fritz and Mama in the East where promises of a better life have yet to materialize. Time passes and the Wall becomes a part of life but not for Gerta, she analyzes the individuals who patrol the Wall. She misses her brother and father and cannot wait for the day her family is reunited. People attempt to escape to the West side and there is talk of a resistance. Her brother is arrested and Fritz and Gerta find out that they have a police file. They haven’t been arrested before, yet they have a file? I love Gerta’s attitude when she discovers this information, she could be upset and want to know what’s in it but her attitude is, she really doesn’t care. She’s mad at the police for dividing her family up, she knows she must obey some laws or face the consequences if she doesn’t so she follows the laws to the bare minimum and later, she takes matters into her own hands. She is a fighter and she knows she must look after herself for right now, no one else is. What a terrific novel, one that will definitely get your heart racing.

A Night Divided was a vivid and heart-warming story about a determined girl's mission to bring her family together. The book can be enjoyed by all ages as it provides a unique perspective on the construction of the Berlin Wall. That being said, the main character is 12 and the young voice was a bit much for me at times. Even though the narrator is younger, she is true to her age; Gerta is a bit stubborn, sometimes moody, and at times naive but it all fit her personality very well.

The struggles Gerta and her family face and try to overcome really is the central focus of the book. Gerta gives the reader a view of what life would have been like during the West and East Berlin struggles. This is not a time frame I am quite familiar with so I found the story to be a refreshingly different historical fiction.

The family dynamics between Gerta and her brother Fritz evolve over the course of the story into something wonderful. The book is mixture of family bonding moments and high stake actions. A Night Divided is a family-oriented, well written, historical fiction that glimpses into the life of a 12 year old girl digging for her freedom. I recommend this book especially to a younger reader!

It’s a tense thriller and makes the history of the Cold War period come alive. The book depicts the struggles and day to day life of twelve year old Gerta, her older brother Fritz, and their mother as they deal with the Berlin Wall that separates them from their brother and father.With the "Stasi" ready to shoot at anyone who attempts to escape. And neighbors who spy on neighbors, how will the family make it to the other side? Gerta sees her father across the divide and his pantomime gives her a daring escape plan.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book from start to finish—many late nights attest to the need to move from one scene to the next, to the final exciting climax. In reading about author, Jennifer Nielsen, I found out that true events of a family being separated by the Berlin Wall and their escape to West Berlin inspired the story.

Highly recommended for middle grade students. Warning: there is some violence and death but otherwise totally appropriate for middle school and up.

I've been reading a lot of WW2 books lately, and realized that I haven't really read anything on the after effects. Specifically, books about the wall. I was pretty excited when I saw this book was available from my library, so I put a hold on it.

Fast forward a couple months, I got the notification that the book was ready for me on Overdrive. (I love Overdrive so much!)

One thing I'd like to note is there is exactly zero romantic anything anywhere in these pages. (Not including the bit about the main character's parents being married. I give that a pass.) I've read so many of it lately, that I was just sick of it. So, this was a pleasant relief. Instead, it focused on the struggles of a teenager, Gerta, whose family was split in half because of the Berlin Wall. Her father and one of her brothers were on the west, while she was stuck in the east with her mother and eldest brother.

I recognize this book is perhaps the one of fluffiest recounts from this time period that I could have read, but it still had a good deal of drama going on. I was never sure which other characters, outside of Gerta's family, were trustworthy. That kept up during the duration of the book, so I never knew when even a minor offense would be reported to the authorities. So, I found myself holding on to the edge of my seat while waiting to hear what would happen next.

I felt this was a great introduction read to this topic, and it is especially good for younger teenagers. I enjoyed it and I am interested in seeing more from this author.

—VB Book Reviews—

"This book caught my eye on the racks of a bookstore—and from that instant, I was hooked." -Violet Bear Reviews

Explore what it's like inside the tiny, contained world trapped inside of the boundaries of the giant wall that locked in East Germans for years. Experience it through the eyes of a bold young girl, named Gerta, who's father is untrusted in everyone's eye. Gerta's determined to be reunited with her father and brother, whom she was/is separated with because of the stubborn wall in her way. Using the help of her brother, they stir up a dangerous plan to get themselves out of the cage they're in. If they're caught—then something far more worse than death will happen to them.
---

STATS:

Content Style: Historical Fiction
Page Length: 317 (not including bonus content)
Appeals to: Girls & boys ages 10-15
NEW VB RANK: Violence Meter (10 most violent): 5

QUESTION(S) YOU MAY WONDER:

Q: I don't like romance....
A: Don't worry! This book doesn't have a lot of romance at all! Only little mentions about Gerta's older brother's girlfriend.

Q: What are some positive elements in this story?
A: There is a strong bond between brother and sister, and it focuses on the power of family!

Vi Bear Says:

A great read!! I love great books, and this is one of them! The author paints a accurate story that shares what its like inside the dull and forced lives inside of 'the Wall'. A vivid, powerful theatrical experience is created when you scan chapter after chapter of "A Night Divided"!

- Violet Bear Book Reviews

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen is about a family who is split by the Berlin Wall during the Cold War. Greta, her brother Fritz and their mother are stuck in East Berlin and her Father and other brother Dominic are in West Berlin. Greta and Fritz don’t like the Communist government running the country but are still trying to stay under the radar because they are afraid of the Stasi, the secret police. When Greta sees her father telling her to dig from one of the West’s platform she doesn’t quiet understand what it means. She soon realizes that he is telling her to tunnel out of East Berlin, that it is more essential then ever before because her brother will soon be old enough to join the military. This book is a great Middle Grade book about the Berlin Wall, I don’t know very much about the Cold War, only what I have learned in my APUSH class. And this book was really interesting because it showed the different generations attitudes about what was happening in East Berlin, the adults were tired of fighting while the young adults and children couldn’t understand why they weren’t fighting. I would recommend this book to middle school history lovers.

"A Night Divided" is a compelling piece of historical fiction. The story centers around Gerta and her family who with the construction of the Berlin Wall, find themselves separated. Gerta, her mother, and brother Fritz are trapped on the east side of the wall while her father and middle brother who had gone west to look for work are unable to return to them. The Soviets, who control the eastern side of the wall, impose draconian laws to keep residents in East Germany under their control. The state police, the Stasi are brutal in their treatment of those they deem to be threats, and Gerta finds her own family in danger.

This is a compelling and well-written story that explores life in Germany before reunification. Gerta has a strong voice and readers will find a lot to relate to in terms of her anxieties, her hopes, and dreams. Recommended for grades 4-8.

Gerta is the main character. Setting is in Berlin during the crisis and the wall is built to divide the city. Father and younger brother go to West Berlin to seek work. The wall goes up overnight and they cannot come home. Gerta, brother Fritz and mother are stuck in EAST Berlin. Over the course of time, Gerta and Fritz decide to dig a tunnel to the West. They see their father on the West side doing a dance and the digging motion. The two siblings work on this as much as possible to avoid the attraction of the soldiers. Mother is away carrying for the Grandma. When she comes home, surprisingly she joins in along with others that were opposed to escaping. Great history lesson on that era. My husband was in the National Guard and the 32nd Division was activated for 10 months because of Wall going up. To a large extend we say "he was called up to active duty during the Berlin Crisis" and no one can remember that. Great to recall the true facts of this era. A bit of prayers and bible reference included, but not overly religious. Good for YA portion of a church library.

3.5* rounded up to 4*
I read this book for a discussion with 7th graders at the local middle school for a wonderful program they have called “inter-generational literary lunch”.
This book was enjoyed by both the adults and students at the table.
It reminded me of “Oranges for Christmas” that I had read just a few months ago.
It was interesting that the students at my table had little to no knowledge of the Berlin wall and how gratifying it was to see how interested they were in this subject.
I will not go into the plot since so many reviewers before me have done so and have done it well.
I do recommend this book for both middle school students, high school students and their parents.

I am almost 11 years old and I finished this book over the summer. It is an amazing story of perseverance hope and determination. The story is about a 12 year old girl in Berlin during the time of the wall (1961). Her family is separated by the wall leaving her and her mom and older brother on one side and her dad and other brother on the other. The story is wonderfully written and really showed me what it must have been like living at this time. I found myself talking to the book and almost really feeling like I was there, that must be really good writing! I did cry once or twice (then again I sobbed during FROZEN). The book is so action packed and it makes it impossible to stop reading. It is about a very violent time in our worlds history so here is some violence and one part at the end that will leave you in tears, but I don't like scary books so I can promise it is not scary. I can recommend this book to anyone 10 and older (I don't this this is only a kids book) Overall it is a amazing story and I would highly recommend.

My 1st and 3rd grade boys and I loved this story. I am amazed at how well Nielsen depicts the tensions in East Germany. The story, through fictional, is true. My boys had no trouble relating to Gerta and Fritz and would stay up talking about the story. At the end after they finished the story, the youngest talked to me about it for quite a while. I will show him more pictures of the wall, of bomb shelters, and even some pictures of East Germans escaping to the West through a tunnel.

The book gives the boys a new sense of what it means to be free and what it's like to be imprisoned under communism. They realized that the wall was not built to keep people out, but to keep them in.

This is an interesting historical fiction story about a family divided by the Berlin Wall. Gerta is 12 and lives in East Berlin with her parents and two brothers . . . until the night her father and one of her brothers left and never came back because a fence went up during the night separating East and West Berlin. Her father and brother were stuck on the other side! Then, before very long, the fence became a wall to keep the Eastern Berliners under Russia rule from leaving. Gerta is bold and determined to somehow get the rest of her family reunited with her father and brother on the other side of the wall but time is running out because Fritz, her oldest brother, is about to be inducted into the military in just a few weeks!

This is a very good story of bravery, courage, staying true to one’s beliefs and adventure that moves quickly. I couldn’t help but pull for Gerta to succeed and liked the ups and downs with her friendship with Anna. It soon got to the point where she didn't know who she could trust.

As a Mom, I love books that bring history to life and A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen does just that! Ms. Nielsen was able to capture the essence of the turbulent times surrounding the Berlin Wall. She brings history to life through her characters who are humanly flawed, fearful yet heroic at the same time.

Her ability to capture the essence of the emotions that occur in the tween/teen years is spot on. In fact, all of her characters in this story are so well developed they just jumped off the page and came to life in my imagination.

I highly recommend A Night Divided ~ it is a very worth while book just for the pleasure of reading it! This book would also be a great teaching tool for teachers, homeschooling and or just parent/child reading. I rate it ~ 4.5 Stars!

Thanks to Scholastic Press and Edelweiss for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Totally amazing book! Set in East Berlin when the Berlin wall was built overnight with no warning, it is the story of a family who was divided in two by the wall and their struggle to escape to freedom in the west as a family. The story really shows what life was like in East Berlin and is the story of the courage twelve year old Gerta who is determined to help her family to be reunited by digging a tunnel under the wall and the death zone adjacent to it. I listened to the audio version of this book which was excellent. The story was compelling and I did not want to stop listening until I found out what happened. This is a fantastic book and I highly recommend it.

In this middle school novel, a family divided by the Berlin Wall must struggle to unite again, as must all of Germany. Overnight, Gerta, her mother, and her brother are separated from their father and brother by an impenetrable wall of stone. As more and more news of failed escapes travels around, Gerta and her brother decide they must tunnel past the wall and escape to freedom. They find unexpected allies and lose friends, all building up to the shocking ending.

Overall, this was an amazing story as well as an extremely well-written book. It makes you wonder what lengths you would go to to reach your loved ones. This book is similar to the other books she has written in the theme of escaping from someone desiring to use you. It is different from her other two series in that it features the escaping as the main part of the book and is set in a far different time period. The historical accuracy coupled with the courage and determination of the characters makes this a page turner that will keep you reading all night! Readers of her other books will enjoy this book.

Wow! This book for young people brought to life the desperation and heartache that people felt when the wall went up between East and West Berlin so well! I remember notes that were smuggled out and read over german programs on the Christian radio station HCJB to let listeners know that we got them... I also remember the joy felt worldwide when the wall finally came down and families could finally be reunited...

You don't know who you can trust, but you must keep going and never give up. Being trapped on the East side of Berlin and wanting to get to the west must be painstaking. I felt the freedom that Gerta, the main character, wanted. The theme of this book would be to take risks and be yourself no matter if someone says you can't. When friends and family die trying to escape Gerta can only hope it won't be the same for her family in this thriller of a book called ( a night divided). Her father and middle brother are trapped in the west , and Gerta, her mother, and her oldest brother must dig to freedom if they ever want to see their family reunited again.

This story is about Gerta Lowe and her family during the early years of the Berlin Wall. After her father and brother are separated from the rest of the family by the raising of the wall, Gerta works to reunite with them while escaping the confines of her life in East Germany. She not only has to avoid the police and navigate the streets while not breaking curfew, but also has the added obstacle of neighbors who will turn her in to better their own situations. The characters were compelling, and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened.

As a middle school teacher, I try to occasionally pick out books for my classroom library. I picked this book up at a school sale, and found that I couldn't put it down once I started. I found Gerta to be an great choice to tell the story through, and think my students will really notice the growth she made over the course of the story. They can't help but learn what it must have truly been like to live through the sudden division of someone's home and country. I highly recommend this book to children, and adults who would like a quick, fascinating read.

Wow! When I picked this up at our school's Book Fair, I was interested, but I was also prepared for disappointment. Historical fiction tends to be a hit or miss genre, but A Night Divided is definitely a hit.

Gerta is not the average East Berlin citizen, and it's her tendency to notice, to think, and to act that will endear her to readers. Her story is one fraught with emotional conflict and courage, and her passion is conagious.

You won't be disappointed.

This is a well written fiction that very well could have be real, albeit sensational. Thanks to Jennifer Nielsen for providing an interesting story about life behind the Iron Curtain. This book should motivate my sixth grade son to study the history behind the division of Germany following WW-II. It’s always good to personalize what life might have been like under such horrible circumstances. And, yes ... “Geschichte wiederholt sich. History repeats itself.”

I enjoyed this middle-grade thriller, based on the construction of the Berlin wall in 1961 and the years immediately following. Fast paced and filled with suspense, A NIGHT DIVIDED is also a realistic peak into the cold war and behind the iron curtain.

There is some violence, none of it graphic, but most of the conflict comes from the psychological warfare waged by the East German regime, backed by very real threats.

Highly recommended for middle-grade and up, especially for those who like historical fiction.

Good historic fiction. I've read a lot about WWII, but less about the period after and I liked Nielsen's other books a lot, so this was something I was excited to read. Germany history is super interesting. The plot is fairly simple, but there’s a steady stream of tension to keep things moving that I think is kind of Nielson's trademark. I think the brother was my favorite character . . .
Yeah, I don’t really have much to say about this one, but it was really good. :)

My daughter bought this book at the book fair at school. She is not a reader but she could not put it down. She came to me and said mom will you please read this. My heart broke reading this story. I could not imagine being stuck inside of this wall. All the characters became alive with each word that was written. Its a page turner. I sat in my chair last night not being able to stop. Will they make it to the West? Are they going to get caught? Who will be the enemy. Friend or Foe? Great job.

This book is sooo sooo good. I picked it up one night with about 70 pages to go and just expected to read like a chapter or so but I could just not put it down!! My two favorite things are history and books. The author does such a good job to tell the life of a 12 years old girl [ Gerta ] and how she misses her family on the other side. I don't know about you but I think that is the sweetest thing ever. This book is just actioned packed!! Like I said I COULD NOT put it down.

A good author even from the beggining hooks you in. I don't know about you guys but I was just hooked in by the cover " A Night Divided " yet I love books and it doesn't take much to get me interested. But still it was a great book! I totally recomend this one.

Taking place in Berlin and having the wall come up is hard, A Night Divided shows that the characters have struggles in this time in their life. Gerta's life never was easy living in East Berlin in August of 1964. Her family divided and not having any communication, left her, her mother and her brother searching for a safe way to cross to get back to her family. The book is as historical fiction and based on a true story. The family learns that it is better to stick together and stay together. You can really see how much East Berlin and West Berlin fight over what they think is right.

This book is very enticing and hard to put down. I had others in my family read it and they loved it too. I would recommend reading it because it is written very nicely and has a lot of detail. I feel like the book is for everyone 12 and older. The only downside to the book is that is that they use some German Language and that can get confusing at times. The end of the book is very suspenseful and is fast pace, this is where it got hard to stop reading. It is a little sad at the end with a friend of the families, but at the same time exciting.

Interesting story of life under communism in East Berlin and the lengths some people would go to in protecting themselves while others made qualifier to escape. For my preference, some detailing was too lengthy and I discovered that I could follow the story easily through skimming highlights. However, as three stars indicate, I did like the story.

It compliments their study of history well. Lots of opportunities for further research and writing. The novel is filled with action and drama and moves quickly. I assigned five chapters, and every student read more. The 11- and 12- year-old boys can't put it down. Enough said.

This book is about frightening WWII. If These type of books scare you, don't ever get this. Even so it had a good ending and you couldn't stop reading. The book will frighten you and give you dreams you'll want to forget. If you like these types of books, this is perfect for you.

I've been trying to think of super eloquent or fancy ways of saying how amazing this book is, but honestly, there is just no better way of saying it than this: this book is unbelievable. Amazing. It delivers the most entertaining and intense and emotional connection to this fascinating part of history. It is hard to imagine that the Berlin Wall is part of recent history. I can't wait for my 11 year old to read this. I can think of no better way for her to learn about this and to understand what it must have felt like to be found on the other side.

Jennifer Nielson, well done! Bravo! This is a masterpiece!

3 1/2 Stars
A nicely drawn out young adult novel. Well written plot and fleshed out characters. This book was hard to put down. The story continued to build until the tense filled ending. I was disappointed that this wasn't a true story. I was really hoping it was!

My 11 year old daughter got this book as a gift, and I read it first and LOVED it! It is so suspenseful and intriguing! Then my daughter loved it and every day she read it, she would give me updates on what was happening in the book, saying how much she enjoyed the book! It turned out to be one of the best books each of us has read!

I was born and raised in East Berlin. When I first heard about this book I was very skeptical on how this story would be and if it would be true to how life for us really was. But while reading this book, i went through so many emotions I can't even explain, I smiled, I laughed, I worried, I cried. It's like I was living on the east side again.
The first time my parents visited the West side after the Wall "fell", my mom brought me back bananas! Just like in the book, the first thing Gerta wants to eat is a banana. :-) ( banana were very rare and hard to get on the east side, usually only around Christmas time we would get to buy bananas)
Jennifer Nielsen did a fantastic job. I absolutely loved the book and I recommend this books to anyone.

Very interesting story of a time that isn't written about very often. Frustrating at parts, but true to how things really were. I liked the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, very thought-provoking.

Riveting story from first to last. My daughter and I both enjoyed this book equally. The characters were so real, and the storytelling so well crafted that we felt like we were there with Gerta as she and her family sought to escape East Berlin. Highly recommended.

Jennifer A. Nielsen tells an incredible story getting into the mind of a girl fighting to be herself and refusing to give homage to those controlling East Berlin. Friendships are strained, neighbors can't be trusted, and family is what's most important. This book will give you nervous exhaustion. Be prepared to finish the last quarter of the book without eating, drinking, or even blinking. Truly incredible. This book is more than just a great story. It's a life-changing history lesson which every generation should read.

The book was very amazing because it was about a historical event in the real world. It was a very powerful book.
the book was a very exciting and had a good sense of nervousness and excitement in a time where Gerta and her family were were separated by the Berlin wall. and there tremendous story of being split by by the sudden uprising of the Berlin wall. I liked this book also because every chapter became became a new event of Gerta and Fritz being stressed and also excited. I also think the book was great because these things in the story all happened in real life.

I loved this book so much. It had a lot of feeling and I just thought it was the best. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure. I loved how it holds you and makes you want to read more. Although I loved it I wish It never ended. So in conclusion This is my all time favorite book and hope you like it to!

This book is definitely a page turner. It was recommended to me by my 5th grade niece. Her teacher read it to their class and they loved it. It’s an amazing depiction of the bravery of a family torn apart by By the Berlin Wall. I couldn’t put it down.

This was an awesome story. It made me look at the history of the Berlin Wall and that time period. I felt the pain, anger, fear and excitement right along with the characters. Great job again Jennifer Nielsen !!!! Reading it aloud to my fifth grade class.

middle / upper grades
first person POV
AR test
standalone
historical

Jennifer Nielsen tells good stories but I personally find her writing style simplistic, which colors my rating.

Set in Berlin in 1965, 12-year-old Gerta desperately misses her father and middle brother who were in west Berlin 4 years earlier when the Wall went up, dividing the family. She chafes under the restrictions of the East German regime. But one day she notices her brother on a viewing platform on the other side of the wall, and the next day her father is there, too, pantomiming a song he used to sing her. This begins a dangerous quest to tunnel under the Wall to freedom.

The story recounts the oppression of the secret police, the worries about nosy neighbors ratting on you, the distrust that drives friends apart. But Gerta and her older brother (and eventually mother) are determined to leave - once they start the tunnel, their lives depend on finishing it. By the time you get to the end of the story it's very tense.

A good introduction to life during the Cold War. This was a real life dystopia.

Greta never dreamed of seeing her father and brother again. With bravery and courage, she defied the East Berlin government by executing an impossible plan to see them again.

I recommend this book for anyone who loves YA and historical fiction.

The book was very enlightening and just when I wondered how the author would fill the rest of the chapters, a new twist would be added and it was very gripping right up to the end. A very sad time for the people who endured that period.

WOW! This is one fantastic book! I LOVED IT! It is thrilling literally from cover to cover. If you have a child who loves to read or if YOU are interested in reading a great book.. this is the one for you!

I am a fan of Jennifer A. Nielsen's books, and this one was equally as good as others I have read. A great perspective for YA wanting to understand more about the Berlin wall and how it came about. Excellent read.

I didn't set out to enjoy this book…it was a pick for a teacher book club…I was pleasantly surprised and drawn into this story! I generally stay away from historical stories, butthis one has me rsconsidering!

i was reading this feeling like i might be overheard by grenzers! it felt so real. gerta is a twelve year old who has her father and brother in west berlin when the berlin wall goes up. she is frightened but remained strong through hard times .

Greta never dreamed of seeing her father and brother again. With bravery and courage, she defied the East Berlin government by executing an impossible plan to see them again.

I recommend this book for anyone who loves YA and historical fiction.

Such a great novel! I teach 5th grade and will definitely want to read this aloud. It's very suspenseful. Often times I read with one hand covering my mouth as if I could barely stand what would happen next.

I do not believe this author. My kids recently met with her at school where she claimed about millions of Germans shot when tried to cross Berlin wall. She claimed all this was done by Russians (not even Soviets but Russians). This author didn't even cared to read history of Berlin Wall, which was raised 15 years after WWII, by GDR, when GDR already had their own border control troops, army and police. It has been 15 years after WWII, Karl! More then 3 millions of germans moved to West Germany before it - everyone who want to left, did it.

My honest disrespect to author who:
- Didn't care to study history.
- Makes national harassments by telling 10 years olds who have absolutely no background of WWII about evil Russians who killed pure Germans...

People who do not know history are doomed to repeat its worst mistakes... Raising national hate is a very bad thing... We will contact regional and state school departments to prevent her spreading false point of view.

Wow! I love when a book leaves me breathless and overwhelmed by its powerful message. This YA book is perfect for adults. I loved the historical content about the Berlin wall built in the 1960’s and how it affected families. In this book, the wall goes up overnight while the father and brother are over in West Berlin trying to find an apartment for their family to live in when they leave. Overnight a family is divided, and years go by without a word between them. The government is in control of their lives now. The easterners have no freedom, and are taught that freedom and individuality is evil, and those who want it are evil as well. Gerta is the 12-year-old heroine in this story. I absolutely loved that girl. What she goes through day by day is horrific, and her plan to get out courageous. This perfect is perfect, in my opinion. It has a great theme, deep characters who struggle and struggle, a intriguing and terrifying setting in Communist East Berlin. I can’t say enough good about it. It’s definitely one of my new favorites. My son and I couldn’t put it down once we started and finished in two days.

The title of this review is nothing special, it's just what popped into my after I finish this book. At first I wasn't sure that this would be a good book but boy was I wrong. I don't know if any of the characters in this book were real but I think Jennifer A. Nielsen did a marvelous job on this book.

In this middle school novel, a family divided by the Berlin Wall must struggle to unite again, as must all of Germany. Overnight, Gerta, her mother, and her brother are separated from their father and brother by an impenetrable wall of stone. As more and more news of failed escapes travels around, Gerta and her brother decide they must tunnel past the wall and escape to freedom. They find unexpected allies and lose friends, all building up to the shocking ending.

Overall, this was an amazing story as well as an extremely well-written book. It makes you wonder what lengths you would go to to reach your loved ones. This book is similar to the other books she has written in the theme of escaping from someone desiring to use you. It is different from her other two series in that it features the escaping as the main part of the book and is set in a far different time period. The historical accuracy coupled with the courage and determination of the characters makes this a page turner that will keep you reading all night! Readers of her other books will enjoy this book.