When 11-year-old Noah's parents suddenly take him out of his Virginia school for a six-month trip to East Berlin, he enters a life of subterfuge and a longing to understand the mysterious demands of the adults around him. It's 1989, and the story spans the era of the Berlin Wall's collapse. Narrator Will Ropp handles Noah’s severe stutter in a manner that contributes to his identity but doesn’t intrude on the narrative's accessibility. Ropp creates pleasing youthful voices both for Noah and his new friend Claudia, although not all of his German pronunciations sound quite as natural. The factual details following each chapter work well in audio, making this a good choice for young listeners of historical fiction. F.M.R.G. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
08/22/2016
Nesbet’s (The Wrinkled Crown) author’s note (“Some books live on the history shelves, and other books are fiction—but Cloud & Wallfish has deep roots in both”) captures the essence of this intricately detailed story of an American boy forced to move to East Berlin in 1989. Eleven-year-old Noah Keller is shocked when his family abruptly relocates to communist-controlled Germany and even more surprised when his parents change his name and birthday. Before entering the city, his parents lay out important rules, including “Don’t ever talk about serious things indoors” and “Don’t call attention to yourself.” Noah’s self-described “Astonishing Stutter” isolates him until he meets his adventurous neighbor, Claudia. With her help, Noah unravels why his parents are acting strangely and what happened to Claudia’s dead parents. Through Noah’s innocent but perceptive eyes, readers receive a first-hand look at this secretive and highly controlled world. Post-chapter “Secret Files” provide fascinating historical context, but the story’s heart lies in the friendship between Claudia and Noah, and in the lengths loved ones will go to in order to break down even the most formidable walls. Ages 10–14. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (Oct.)
In this atmospheric page-turner set just as the Iron Curtain begins to lift, Nesbet deftly ratchets up the tension, using a close third-person omniscient narration to keep readers experiencing one unnerving event after another, just as Noah does...This is edgy, dramatic, and emotionally rich historical fiction that provides a vivid look into an extraordinary moment in history.
—Horn Book (starred review)
[Nesbet's] author's note reveals the personal history behind the novel, suggesting a labor of love that does show in the carefully crafted details and effective scene-setting...Nesbet's detail-rich novel offers tenacious readers an interesting window into the fall of the Iron Curtain.
—Kirkus Reviews
Nesbet writes an interesting and nuanced narrative that weaves history, mystery, and friendship with enough action to keep readers engaged. A great choice for those looking for a thrilling historical fiction or coming-of-age tale.
—School Library Journal
Nesbet gives readers a glimpse into life behind the Iron Curtain...Noah’s friendship with his neighbor Claudia is genuinely touching, and some truly tense scenes unfold as secrets are revealed and readers witness events leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
—Booklist
Through Noah’s innocent but perceptive eyes, readers receive a first-hand look at this secretive and highly controlled world. Post-chapter “Secret Files” provide fascinating historical context, but the story’s heart lies in the friendship between Claudia and Noah, and in the lengths loved ones will go to in order to break down even the most formidable walls.
—Publishers Weekly
Nesbet cleverly contextualizes events via “Secret Files” ... that follow each chapter, drawing fact and fiction together into entertaining little bundles.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Told from the perspective of an eleven-year-old, the sounds, sights, and smells of East Berlin come vividly to life...Jonah is both credible and endearing. Even when his parents are secretive, he attempts to do the right thing. Side bars list pertinent historical facts. This makes an enlightening and inspiring choice for classroom units or book discussions.
—VOYA
A brilliant novel of friendship that seamlessly blends history with mystery and suspense, Cloud and Wallfish is certain to expand readers' perspective on multiple levels.
—Day (syndicated from Kendal Rautzhan "Books to Borrow")
Nesbet somehow manages to bring East Germany in 1989 to full-blown, fascinating life.
—A Fuse #8 Production (blog)
12/01/2017
Gr 4–8—Apart from what he refers to as his "Astonishing Stutter," Noah is an average kid, with loving parents and a nice home in Oasis, VA—until his parents inform him that his real name is Jonah, his 11th birthday has not yet happened, and the family is leaving immediately for East Berlin, behind the Iron Curtain, so that his mother can study children with speech impairments. There, Noah struggles to fit in at school. His friendship with neighbor Claudia offers a diversion, and life gets exciting as as Noah begins to wonder who his parents really are. While some aspects of the story demand a leap of faith, Nesbit has crafted a wonderful story of friendship, loyalty, and personal identity against a backdrop of everyday life in the German Democratic Republic just before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Will Ropp voices the characters brilliantly; each is distinguishable, and their emotions and personalities are aptly conveyed. VERDICT An engaging story in a fascinating setting, with adventure, mystery and a cast of characters that will appeal to a broad audience.—Mary Ann Karre, Binghamton, NY
2016-07-26
A sudden adventure to East Germany changes Noah’s life forever—literally, as he assumes a new name and family history.Swooped up by his parents after school one day, fifth-grade stutterer Noah must dump his backpack on the way to the airport and learn his “real” name and history so that his mother can take a sudden opportunity to conduct research in East Berlin. The white American boy becomes “Jonah” and experiences the world behind the Iron Curtain in 1989 with the help of a new German friend, Claudia, also white. Nesbet (The Wrinkled Crown, 2015, etc.) ventures from fantasy into a new genre and unpacks her story slowly, sometimes ponderously, by inserting “secret files” from an omniscient narrator who explains much of the context required to appreciate the history in the fiction. There is intrigue involving the reported death of Claudia’s parents and Noah’s suspicions about his own mother’s story, but the suspense and character development are bogged down by slow pacing. Noah’s stutter effectively portrays him as the misunderstood outsider, but his photographic memory becomes purely plot device as Nesbet unravels a belatedly thrilling ending. Her author’s note reveals the personal history behind the novel, suggesting a labor of love that does show in the carefully crafted details and effective scene-setting. While not fully absorbing, Nesbet’s detail-rich novel offers tenacious readers an interesting window into the fall of the Iron Curtain. (Historical fiction. 10-14)