Author: Peter Sis
Title: The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain
Illustrator: Peter Sis
Readability score: Grade 3 to Grade 5
Genre: Non-fiction
Subgenre: Biography
Theme: Rising up in the face of adversity; following your dreams despite what others say.
Primary and secondary characters: Peter, the Communists, the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Elvis Presley,
Awards: 2008 Caldecott Honor Book
Date of Publication: 2007
Publishing company: Frances Foster Books
ISBN number: 978-0-374-34701-7
The Wall is the story of a young boy who grew up in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War. Peter tells his story through his secret drawings. Communism and capitalism had divided Europe like an Iron Curtain, the Wall. Peter was on the communist side. His life was spent following rules and being brainwashed. At one point during the Cold War, he thought the war would end. He joined a band and listened to American and British music. However, the communists took back over. He continued to draw and hope for freedom. Finally, in 1989, the Wall came down.
While the story gives an account of Peter Sis' life, it also gives a detailed account of the worldwide events of the Cold War. I feel that the Cold War is not emphasized as much in the curriculum today because there was no physical fighting in the 'war.' It was merely a power struggle between the free world and the communist world. Many people, including Americans, lived in fear of nuclear warfare and communism. This was the turning point in modern foreign policy. It also seemed to be the end of all the problems leftover from World War II. People were able to breathe again. I feel this book would be appropriate for 5th grade students. The Cold War is difficult to describe in some ways. I would use this story as an example of what it felt like to live on the other side of the Wall. Upon reading, I would have the students respond through writing with this prompt: How would you feel if you could not do as you pleased because your government did not allow it? What is one activity, such as drawing, that you would continue to do, even if it is against the law?
The Wall is the story of a young boy who grew up in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War. Peter tells his story through his secret drawings. Communism and capitalism had divided Europe like an Iron Curtain, the Wall. Peter was on the communist side. His life was spent following rules and being brainwashed. At one point during the Cold War, he thought the war would end. He joined a band and listened to American and British music. However, the communists took back over. He continued to draw and hope for freedom. Finally, in 1989, the Wall came down.
While the story gives an account of Peter Sis' life, it also gives a detailed account of the worldwide events of the Cold War. I feel that the Cold War is not emphasized as much in the curriculum today because there was no physical fighting in the 'war.' It was merely a power struggle between the free world and the communist world. Many people, including Americans, lived in fear of nuclear warfare and communism. This was the turning point in modern foreign policy. It also seemed to be the end of all the problems leftover from World War II. People were able to breathe again. I feel this book would be appropriate for 5th grade students. The Cold War is difficult to describe in some ways. I would use this story as an example of what it felt like to live on the other side of the Wall. Upon reading, I would have the students respond through writing with this prompt: How would you feel if you could not do as you pleased because your government did not allow it? What is one activity, such as drawing, that you would continue to do, even if it is against the law?
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