Wall

By Author / Illustrator

Tom Clohosy-Cole, Tom Clohosy-Cole

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Templar Publishing

ISBN

9781783700776

Format

Hardback

Published

01-10-2014

Synopsis

This spectacular book follows one boy's struggle to reunite his family from the two sides of the Berlin Wall. Although based around true stories, the wall is symbolic of separations around the world, whether it be between whole communities or two individuals. Powerful illustrations teamed with an emotive storyline makes this an impressive debut picture book.

Reviews

Wall is a most interesting and unique subject matter for a picture book. It is concerns the Berlin Wall, built in 1961 to divide East and West Berlin, and its publication coincides with the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Wall. Although the book has minimal text the subject matter is definitely for Key Stage 2 pupils. The story focus is a family divided by the wall; the father in West Berlin and the mother and two children in bleak East Berlin. The narrator is the young son who decides he cannot bare being separated from his father, so he digs a tunnel to escape. The book makes mention of the different ways people tried to escape from the East; some more successful than others. This escape has a happy ending as the family are reunited. A real strength of the book are Tom Clohosy Cole's illustrations which are very atmospheric and hold a great deal of the narrative. The book would be an excellent text to explore issues related to divided families, migration and feelings of loss. Picture book / Ages 8+ / Reviewed by Fiona Collins, consultant