Freya on the Wall [Hardcover]

T. Degens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1997

This profoundly moving and imaginative novel takes readers on an intricate journey ending in the fall of the Berlin Wall. “The book’s non-linear format, heavy use of symbolism and dissection of complex philosophical concepts demands a certain sophistication from readers; those well-versed in the events of 20th-century Germany will most greatly appreciate this intricate, thought-provoking investigation of personal and political history.”-Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9. Toward the end of World War II, the Koenig family is evacuated from East Prussia along with the rest of the villagers to flee the advancing Russian army; in the midst of the chaos, three sisters are separated. One ends up in the U.S. and one in West Germany, while the third remains behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany. In 1989, after the Wall comes down, two of the sisters' 14-year-old granddaughters meet. Irene, from America, learns Freya's story of growing up in East Germany. Tales are related about school, the secret police, food shortages, German-Soviet friendship, and the drabness of everyday life (blatantly exposed through gifts and letters from relatives abroad). Most of all, Freya relates her obsession with chaos theory and its effect on human affairs, particularly the Koenig sisters' 1945 trek, which she acts out in infinite variations. This novel is an absorbing, creative look at life behind the Iron Curtain. Freya is an intriguing character, as are her feisty grandmother, her loyal friend Winno, and her overburdened mother. Degens's writing is fluid and descriptive, and the symbolism is nicely handled without being overdone. The book's major drawback is Irene's first-person narration, which begins each chapter (Freya's account is related in third person). Though it conveys some essential information, it is annoying and sounds forced and false. Elizabeth Lutzeier's The Wall (Holiday, 1992) is a gripping, action-oriented novel about East Berlin teenagers during the same period, for slightly older readers.?Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

From Degens (On the Third Ward, 1990), an intricate, cerebral picture of life in East Germany just before the Berlin Wall's destruction, as seen through the eyes of a teenager with family on both sides of the Iron Curtain. Inspired by her grandmother Dulla's folkloric tale of how she and her sisters fled the advancing Soviet army in 1945 and were separated, Freya reenacts the flight, with numerous imaginative variations. At the same time, fascinated by chaos theory, she tests the idea that small local events can have large consequences. Events and revelations put Freya on an emotional rollercoaster: She learns that Dulla hasn't told her the whole story; a romance with a neighbor is nipped off when his family joins the rising tide of defectors. Degens develops this family saga slowly, framing it as a story that Freya later tells to her American cousin; thoughtful readers who keep track of the shifting eras and narrators will be rewarded with a steady look at attitudes and living conditions during East Germany's last days, a large but well-differentiated cast led by a sensitive protagonist, plus insight into how Nazi atrocities still haunt the psyches of many Germans. While it is not a page-turner, this novel is studded with subtle connections and concepts. (Fiction. 12+) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1ST edition (April 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152002103
• ISBN-13: 978-0152002107
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,490,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Freya on the wall book review, December 9, 2001

By 

Leann Palumbo (Arvada, Co USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freya on the Wall (Hardcover)

Freya on the Wall to us was a big eye opener. The author, T. Degens, vividely describes everything that goes on in the book. We felt like we were walking right next to Freya throughout the book. When you read this book you feel like you are actually getting sucked into the story. On that note we would like to commend T. Degens for doing such an unbelievable good job. The ending took my breath away! When we all read it we could actually picture the Berlin Wall coming down. The one thing that we all didnt like was how T. Degens went from past to present almost every chapter. It confused us all and caught us off guard. Another thing T. Degens needs to talk about Freya's home and living conditions. All in All we liked this book very much. This book definately gave us a better understanding about a part of history. We would all like to recommend this book to anyone and we promise that you will enjoy it.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About Freya on the Wall, December 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Freya on the Wall (Hardcover)

I thought that in the 1st few sections of this book it was a bit hard to understand. Then I realised that Freya was telling another person the story about her life before the falling of the Berlin Wall. My favorite parts are when Gran Dulla tells Freya and Winno about when she was a little girl.This book defenatly interests me and I will defenatly read more books by this author.