ALA Booklist

Life just got really weird for fifth-grader Noah Keller. In fact, he just got a brand new life cluding a new home (East Berlin), name (Jonah Brown), and age (10) d he's not happy about any of it, though a severe stutter makes it difficult for him to express his dismay. His parents lay all this on him after school one day while driving straight for the airport. In 1989, few people are allowed extended visits to East Germany, but Mrs. Keller's research into speech pathology has granted them a six-month stay. A long list of rules accompanies this bewildering trip, including "don't draw attention to yourself" and not to forget that "they will always be listening." Nesbet gives readers a glimpse into life behind the Iron Curtain, but her intriguing premise soon languishes from the frequent intrusion of "Secret Files," which feel like mini history lessons. 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.

Kirkus Reviews

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)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

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.)

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8 Fifth grader Noah Keller is surprised when both his parents pick him up from school and astonished when they tell him that his mother has been granted permission to do "dissertation research" in East Germany for six monthsand that they're leaving immediately and temporarily changing their names. After learning "The Rules, as Explained by Noah's Mother," which include statements such as "they will always be listening and often be watching" and "don't ever talk about serious things indoors; in particular, never refer to people by name," Noah (now called Jonah) arrives in East Berlin with his family. A new friend, tragedy, and burgeoning suspicion about Noah's parents play out in a subtle and well-paced story about the months leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Tension mounts as Noah continues to gain an understanding of the fear and desperation people feel, while readers are privy to "Secret Files" that provide historical context. Multidimensional characters are developed piece by piece to keep mystery and curiosity alive. Noah and his parents share a loving bond that grounds the plot and provides a shelter from the uncertainty and confusion Noah often feels in light of unfamiliar surroundings and jarring situations. Nesbet writes an interesting and nuanced narrative that weaves history, mystery, and friendship with enough action to keep readers engaged. VERDICT A great choice for those looking for a thrilling historical fiction or coming-of-age tale. Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser, St. Paul Public Library.

Voice of Youth Advocates

On a perfectly ordinary day, Noah Keller discovers that everything in his life has suddenly changed. His parents change their names and Noah's, and leave behind anything that might lead to their former life. His mother presents Noah with a list of rules, beginning with "They are always listening," to go with his new nameJonah Brown. They board a plane for East Berlin where Jonah's mother will finish her doctoral dissertation on children with speech delays. Bewildered and frightened, Jonah tries to make sense of their new life. He makes friends with Claudia (pronounced Cloud-ia) who is visiting her grandmother in his apartment building. Claudia associates Jonah with the biblical story of Jonah and the whale and calls him Wallfish. When Claudia's parents supposedly die in a car accident, Jonah and Claudia create an imaginary land where they can meet again.Told from the perspective of an eleven-year-old, the sounds, sights, and smells of East Berlin come vividly to life. Jonah's stutter helps in getting them into East Berlin but his photographic memory allows him to unravel why they are there. Jonah memorizes a list of names he finds sewn in his coat. After his family is ejected from East Berlin because he and Claudia are accidentally caught up in a protest, Jonah is able to reconstruct the list of East German agents for his mother. 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.Nancy K. Wallace.This novel is a skillfully woven tale told from a child's point of view. When Noah is whisked away without explanation from his normal life and taken to East Germany, where his name and past are completely rewritten, he must navigate his way through the foreign land. Readers are brought back in time and discover parts of history they may have never known. Full of intrigue and deception, the story shows how Noah adapts to his new life and discovers the reason behind it. 3Q, 3P.Mary Kusluch, Teen Reviewer.