“A Night Divided,” by Jennifer A. Nielsen.
Scholastic Press, New York, 2015, 317 pages, Grades 5-7.
The role of government is to protect the citizens. In American society, this is based on a philosophy known as The Social Contract. This theory holds that people assent to be governed by the state.
The state must hold up its end of the bargain, however. The state must protect and serve the people. If the government becomes corrupt, the people have the right to rebel against the government; hence, the American Revolution.
After World War II, the conquering Allied countries of Russia, Great Britain, France and the United States, partitioned the country of Germany. West Germany, governed by Great Britain, France and the USA, thrived and became a prosperous society. It enjoyed freedom and became an economic powerhouse. East Germany, governed by Russia, remained a poor, broken country ruled by a tyrannous Communist leadership. The supposed “workers’ paradise” evolved into an existential hell on earth.
On August 13, 1961, the East German government “solved” the problem of East German citizens fleeing to the west by building the Berlin Wall. The entire country now became a prison. Jennifer Nielsen tells the gripping story about how one family risked everything to gain their freedom.
Gerta Lowe wakes up on August 13, 1961 realizing that something has happened in the night. To her amazement, a concrete and barbwire wall has been constructed between East and West Berlin. As she looks out, she sees East German soldiers holding guns at their own citizens. Their job is not to keep the West Berliners out; their new occupation is to keep the impoverished East Berliners from fleeing to affluent West Berlin.
Gerta’s father has been pleading with Frau Lowe to leave East Berlin for months, but his wife refused to leave. The dreadful memories of the World War II bombing, battles and hunger are too much for her. So she stubbornly insists that life will get better in East Berlin. But when Herr Lowe decides to go over to West Berlin and see about the chances of getting a job, Frau Lowe tells him to take a child. He chooses Gerta’s older brother, Dominic and they pass over into West Berlin. Their plan is to only stay for several days, while they seek housing for the family and work for Herr Lowe.
Unluckily, the Berlin Wall is built right after they leave. Now the family is cruelly divided. Frau Lowe is stuck both emotionally and politically. To survive, she must prove to be a good citizen to this vicious government. Gerta and her other brother, Fritz, must play along with this charade or be considered “enemies of the state.” Everywhere, the secret police, the Stasi, is bribing and compromising people. Everyone can turn you in to the Stasi for any supposed “treason.”
As this grey evil descends on East Germany, Gerta and Fritz begin to devise an escape plan to West Berlin. Their father sends them obscure messages about digging a tunnel under the Wall. They take the risk and go to an abandoned bomb shelter and start digging. If they are caught they will be executed. Spies are everywhere. What do they do?
Though this is a work of fiction, Jennifer Nielsen captures the fear and bravery of Gerta, Fritz and other East Germans. The evilness of the Stasi is accurately described. Readers will understand how people find courage in terrible times when friends are threatened by a brutal government. The conclusion is both sobering and triumphant.
A compelling page-turner, “A Night Divided” will keep you on the edge of your seat. The book is on Nebraska’s Golden Sower List this year. I hope you take the opportunity to read this excellent novel.
