Berliners

August 15, 2022
Fifteen-year-old twin brothers Rudi and Peter M�ser-Fleischmann come of age in a divided Berlin. Short, dark-haired, stocky Rudi is a loyal follower of the East German communist government. Peter, who cleverly sees through the lies and longs for freedom, is tall, slender, and blond, the golden boy of both the family and the narrative. Politics and personal lives intertwine for the brothers as their family is split by the wall and by personal conflict, ideological differences, and mental illness. The author ambitiously attempts to tackle many issues, but the result is largely unsatisfying: The plot lags in the first half, the tone is unfortunately judgmental toward those who struggle with ideological brainwashing, and none of the characters grow significantly over the course of the story. Some of the lessons are impactful, such as not believing a government's words without the actions to back them up and that life is complex, with many gray areas. A minor but effective plotline is the twins' father's struggle with his past as an enthusiastic Hitler Youth member. Readers will recognize contemporary commentary in the author's criticism of anti-fascism. Yet, while East Germany is rightly criticized, Western capitalism, a subject that would have benefited from additional context and nuance, is presented as an obvious positive. Scattered full-page black-and-white illustrations give a sense of the 1961 setting. Does not stand out in the crowded field of Cold War stories. (historical note, map) (Historical fiction. 12-16)

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September 12, 2022
Fraternal twins Peter and Rudi, 15, struggle to maintain their relationship while navigating opposing ideals in this sprawling Cold War–set novel by Stamper (A Cloud of Outrageous Blue). In East Berlin in April 1961, the boys lead a tense co-existence with their unhappily married parents and paternal great-grandmother. “Golden boy” Peter is the leader of the siblings’ youth Communist group, though he privately questions the party’s motives. Meanwhile, quiet photographer Rudi is a dedicated Communist. Rising political tensions, their parents’ increasingly turbulent marriage, and inter-personal challenges, such as their mother’s declining mental health, exacerbate the brothers’ ideological differences before physical distance pushes them further apart. The boys’ alternating perspectives sometimes read too similarly, and portrayals of the supporting cast can feel problematic, as when a Black soldier’s seemingly primary purpose is to teach the siblings about racism in America: “this country of yours was exterminating anyone ‘non-Aryan.’ And now... I feel more at ease here than in my own country.” Occasional spreads of somber-toned artwork enhance the gloomy ambience of life in a divided Germany in this ambitious portrayal of one family’s personal suffering. Ages 12–up. Agent: Lori Kilkelly, LK Literary.

October 1, 2022
Grades 8-12 It's 1961, and 16-year-old twins Peter (fair haired and charismatic) and Rudi (darker in complexion and outlook) live in Berlin with their dysfunctional parents (Rudolph and Ilsa), and Rudolph's chain-smoking oma. Peter dreams of acting and leaving the German Democratic Republic; party loyalist Rudi wants a future in photography and ridding the world of fascism. When Rudolph and Ilsa split, Rudolph defects to West Berlin, taking Rudi along, although the disgruntled teen continues to visit the east thanks to papers provided by his mysteriously well-connected uncle Martin. Stamper's depiction of East Germany during the rise of the Berlin Wall is grim and gritty, but her portrayal of propaganda and how teens can easily fall prey to this kind of rhetoric is spot on, as is her characterization of the consequences suffered by those who would speak against the regime. Other themes include residual German antisemitism and the dangers of hiding one's Nazi past. With black-and-white line drawings by Stamper, this offers a chilling look at authoritarianism and the destruction it wreaks on one family.

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October 1, 2022

Gr 10 Up-Stamper's new book richly mixes story and art during the torrid 1960s of Berlin, Germany. Twin teenage brothers Rudi and Peter have heard "twins against the world" all their life. Now in their teens, two experiences are causing strain: their parents' marriage, and the political climate beside their own growing divide. Little do they know that the Berlin Wall will be erected, which will catalyze Rudi and Peter's disdain. Choices about which career to embark on when the artistic ones seem like fantasies, who to ally with, and when to push back against tightening restrictions provide profound conflict. The incorporation of Stamper's illustrations provides a layer of richness, though there are missed opportunities at pivotal scenes to do more. The second device of dual points of view speeds up and slows down the action with tempered chapters over a year's worth of time. Tension ebbs and flows with the changing narrative as the family's history unfurls and their mother is institutionalized. Made stronger by the noir mood immersing readers, the palpable build-up in story comes from Stamper's research and understanding as a German-born creator. This is an ambitious work with a strong sense of justice. VERDICT A historical fiction title set in Europe in 1961, this will need a place on the shelf for zealous teen readers whose favorite authors include Julie Berry and Ruta Sepetys.-Alicia Abdul

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Starred review from November 1, 2022
An engrossing look at the emerging new world order after World War II, told through the experiences of one fractured German family living in 1961 Berlin. Stamper begins with a flashback to 1945, with teenage couple Rudolf and Ilse, numb from the soul-crushing brutality of war, learning they are expecting twins. Anxious about their future in the newly partitioned country, they settle in the Soviet sector and scramble to support their family. Their fraternal twin boys grow up in the fledgling Soviet-controlled German Democratic Republic, which touts itself as pro-worker and anti-fascist. Rudi is dutiful and well behaved, with the inquisitive eye of a photographer and a tendency to brood; Peter is the golden boy -- smart, talented, a committed optimist -- who longs to be an actor. Things come to a head in the summer of 1961 when their parents suddenly split up and the fifteen-year-olds find themselves living in different sectors and reassessing everything they've been taught to believe. The overnight erection of a wall around the entire Western part of the city halts the ability of citizens to move freely throughout the area. Stamper (What the Night Sings, rev. 5/18) explains the complex geopolitical and ideological landscapes in a teen-friendly manner and helps readers gain perspective via the boys' alternating chapters as they come of age and gain individual agency. Vivid descriptions bring the city to life and are enhanced by the author's haunting, multilayered grayscale paintings. There are powerful messages here about postwar trauma and the generational consequences of burying the past. An excellent, nuanced piece of historical fiction. Luann Toth

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2022
An engrossing look at the emerging new world order after World War II, told through the experiences of one fractured German family living in 1961 Berlin. Stamper begins with a flashback to 1945, with teenage couple Rudolf and Ilse, numb from the soul-crushing brutality of war, learning they are expecting twins. Anxious about their future in the newly partitioned country, they settle in the Soviet sector and scramble to support their family. Their fraternal twin boys grow up in the fledgling Soviet-controlled German Democratic Republic, which touts itself as pro-worker and anti-fascist. Rudi is dutiful and well behaved, with the inquisitive eye of a photographer and a tendency to brood; Peter is the golden boy -- smart, talented, a committed optimist -- who longs to be an actor. Things come to a head in the summer of 1961 when their parents suddenly split up and the fifteen-year-olds find themselves living in different sectors and reassessing everything they've been taught to believe. The overnight erection of a wall around the entire Western part of the city halts the ability of citizens to move freely throughout the area. Stamper (What the Night Sings, rev. 5/18) explains the complex geopolitical and ideological landscapes in a teen-friendly manner and helps readers gain perspective via the boys' alternating chapters as they come of age and gain individual agency. Vivid descriptions bring the city to life and are enhanced by the author's haunting, multilayered grayscale paintings. There are powerful messages here about postwar trauma and the generational consequences of burying the past. An excellent, nuanced piece of historical fiction.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)