Summary:
Ada and Stefan have fallen in love, but there is a literal wall keeping them apart. Ada lives in West Berlin with rebels and punks, while Stefan lives in East Berlin with his grandmother in an apartment building. Determined to be together, Ada shares her love by painting for Stefan along the wall. Each picture filled with brilliant escape attempts. Stefan uses his telescope to keep an eye out for his love while he builds his courage up to escape, terrified that his fate will be like his grandfather's who was killed in an escape attempt. Along with their love story is a tale of their individual lives. Ada wants to save the world, starting with a two year old that is being abused at home. Stefan lives in fear and sorrow while he attempts to help his grandmother cope with life.
My thoughts:
My goodness! This is an emotional ride. I cried several times and was also on the edge of my seat in several others. Kephart has brilliantly shared with the audience a view of Berlin after WWII before the wall was brought down. Her descriptions will paint a clear picture in your head that will only be blurred by your own tears. Ada is so hopeful and filled with life, but she is living in a difficult time and place and the realities of that do have to settle in. Mush to the reader's dismay a lot of the lessons learned are extremely difficult and ones that we would gladly shelter from the beautiful characters that Kephart has imagined. This is a must read but grab a box of tissues and get ready to fall in love with brilliant writing, complete characters, and situations you wish wouldn't have happened in history.
Ada and Stefan have fallen in love, but there is a literal wall keeping them apart. Ada lives in West Berlin with rebels and punks, while Stefan lives in East Berlin with his grandmother in an apartment building. Determined to be together, Ada shares her love by painting for Stefan along the wall. Each picture filled with brilliant escape attempts. Stefan uses his telescope to keep an eye out for his love while he builds his courage up to escape, terrified that his fate will be like his grandfather's who was killed in an escape attempt. Along with their love story is a tale of their individual lives. Ada wants to save the world, starting with a two year old that is being abused at home. Stefan lives in fear and sorrow while he attempts to help his grandmother cope with life.
My thoughts:
My goodness! This is an emotional ride. I cried several times and was also on the edge of my seat in several others. Kephart has brilliantly shared with the audience a view of Berlin after WWII before the wall was brought down. Her descriptions will paint a clear picture in your head that will only be blurred by your own tears. Ada is so hopeful and filled with life, but she is living in a difficult time and place and the realities of that do have to settle in. Mush to the reader's dismay a lot of the lessons learned are extremely difficult and ones that we would gladly shelter from the beautiful characters that Kephart has imagined. This is a must read but grab a box of tissues and get ready to fall in love with brilliant writing, complete characters, and situations you wish wouldn't have happened in history.
