The advent of the Wall Heidi's thirteenth birthday is coming up, but she's disappointed -- her mother is pregnant and refuses to make the annual summer visit to Heidi's grandmother. What's more, it's 1961 and the government is cracking down on border crossers, people who work in the West but live in the East. Heidi's father is a border crosser, and her best friend, Petra, has been forbidden to see Heidi until her father finds a new job in East Berlin. Heidi feels betrayed. Then, as political tension mounts, her parents tell her they are secretly moving West, and Heidi must travel alone to get her grandmother. But how can she do it without Petra's help? The author captures all the terror of the time in her gripping story of an indomitable heroine who steals across the Berlin border by facing her greatest fear.
When Heidi's father is called a border crosser for living in the East but working in the West,the Westerners are very angry because he has a very well paying job and some of the westerners don't because easterners take their job oportunities.Vater, Heidi's father, must lie and say he is currently looking for a job in the East.When the family built up enough courage they decided to live in the West so he can keep his well paying job,he needs to keep his job because Mutter(Heidi's Mother)is pregnent and can not work she doesn't make any money so Vater must make enough to keep food on the table. The family took such a long time to make this decision, some terible things began to happen in Berlin, like the war, the Berlin wall is going up and its difficult to cross because of gaurds. To make matters even worse Heidi's Grandfather Opa has just died of a heart attack,so Oma,Hiedi's Grandmother,must come live with Heidi and her family.She thinks she has time to make desisions on what to take...but she soon finds out the wall is going up and they must cross NOW!!! Will Heidi,Vater,Mutter,and Oma make it across the border...find out by reading this GREAT book that is full of adventure and mystery. To tell you the truth i had to read this book for a book report, normally when reading for a book report i am bored out of my mind. this time it was different this story was just soooo interesting i just could not put it down...i give this book TWO THUMBS UP!!! *Tabby =)
Well Researched, Educational, and Entertaining
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
Escape to West Berlin is a wonderful "can't-put-it-down" book for young readers of all ages. Like Maurine Dahlberg's other novels, this one is well researched, educational, and entertaining.
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