The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER

I was born at the beginning of it all, on the Red side--the Communist side--of the Iron Curtain. Through annotated illustrations, journals, maps, and dreamscapes, Peter S s shows what life was like for a child who loved to draw, proudly wore the red scarf of a Young Pioneer, stood guard at the giant statue of Stalin, and believed whatever he was told to believe. But adolescence brought questions. Cracks began to appear in the Iron Curtain, and news from the West slowly filtered into the country. S s learned about beat poetry, rock 'n' roll, blue jeans, and Coca-Cola. He let his hair grow long, secretly read banned books, and joined a rock band. Then came the Prague Spring of 1968, and for a teenager who wanted to see the world and meet the Beatles, this was a magical time. It was short-lived, however, brought to a sudden and brutal end by the Soviet-led invasion. But this brief flowering had provided a glimpse of new possibilities--creativity could be discouraged but not easily killed.

By joining memory and history, S s takes us on his extraordinary journey: from infant with paintbrush in hand to young man borne aloft by the wings of his art. This title has Common Core connections.

The Wall is a 2007 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year, a 2008 Caldecott Honor Book, a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year, the winner of the 2008 Boston Globe - Horn Book Award for Nonfiction, and a nominee for the 2008 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids.

Author: Peter Sís
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
Published: 08/21/2007
Pages: 56
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.27lbs
Size: 12.24h x 9.40w x 0.45d
ISBN: 9780374347017
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.2
Point Value: 1
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 117633 / Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain


Award: Beehive Awards - Nominee
Award: Flicker Tale Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Parents Choice Award (Fall) (1998-2007) - Winner
Award: Caldecott Medal - Honor Book
Award: Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award - Winner
Award: Book Sense Book of the Year Award - Honor Book
Award: Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards - Winner
Award: Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens - Recommended
Award: Cybils - Finalist


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Best Books 05/15/2007 pg. 21
Publishers Weekly 07/09/2007 pg. 55
Kirkus Review - Children 07/15/2007 pg. 736
School Library Journal 08/01/2007 pg. 139
Horn Book Magazine 09/01/2007 pg. 599
Booklist 09/01/2007 pg. 117
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 10/01/2007 pg. 111 - Book Of Special Distinction
New York Times Book Review 11/11/2007 pg. 28
Publishers Weekly Best Books 11/05/2007 pg. 37
Kirkus Best Children's Books 11/15/2007 pg. 1
Voice of Youth Advocates 12/01/2007 pg. 463 - Recommended - Better Than Most
SLJ's Best Books 12/01/2007 pg. 38
Booklist Ed Choice Youth 01/01/2008 pg. 13
Voya Top Ten Graphic Nvls/Teen 04/01/2008 pg. 7
ALA Best Books Young Adults 01/01/2008 pg. 1
Shelf Awareness 01/01/0001

About the Author

PETER SÍS, a MacArthur Fellow and internationally renowned artist, received Caldecott Honors for Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei and Tibet Through the Red Box. He has lived in and around New York City since 1984.