Smuggler's Treasure

This fabulous conclusion to Robert Elmer's Wall series is probably my favorite. Smuggler's Treasure has the kind of pacing and intrigue that kids need to keep them engaged in a book. Plus, they will learn about history while absorbing information about the events that took place in Berlin in 1989. I'll never forget when the Berlin Wall came down. I was a freshman in college and watched with fascination as the events unfolded on television. The story of years of separation and broken relationships between families within the same city being suddenly restored when the wall was taken down by force touched America's heart. It was a thrilling time in history and one that should never be forgotten. Freedom is an important thing that our children need to learn about so they will appreciate the sacrifices made to hear freedom ring. Unfortunately, the liberal media has nearly destroyed patriotism in the minds of many US citizens over the past several years. I admire Elmer's intention to educate our youth about important historical events that relate to today's world. Smuggler's Treasure wraps up three generations of history starting with book one, and the ending is guaranteed to make the reader smile. I don't want to give details and spoil the story, but I will say that it got me a bit misty-eyed when I read this final book in the series. I highly recommend Smuggler's Treasure (and the entire series) because it's highly entertaining and historically fascinating...plus it's interesting enough for adults to enjoy. I'm just bummed to see the series end.

It's 1989 in Berlin. Sabine and Willi are married and have a teenage daughter, Lisel. They live in West Berlin now and life is good. Eric, Sabine's brother still lives in East Berlin, and occassionally she and Liesl go through the border checkpoint to visit him, but he can never come to them. Presiden Regan came to Berlin, and made his famous demand, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." But Lisel doesn't believe it will ever happen. Then Nick Wilder comes from America, bringing devastating news for Lisel and her family. Robert Elmer's three volume series, The Wall, should be required reading for all teenagers. This is a extraordinary time in our history, which should never be forgotten. Books like this help us to remember.

In Book III of Robert Elmer's The Wall Series, Liesl Stumpf, Sabine's and Willi's thirteen-year-old daughter, is safe in West Berlin. But while working on a school project regarding The Wall, Liesl stumbles onto a family secret. Is it possible her American grandfather is still alive? Does her mother know? Does her grandmother even know? When an American boy brings a treasure belonging to a church decimated during the Berlin bombings of World War II, Liesl's suspicions regarding her grandfather are confirmed. Her Uncle Erich might be able to shed some light regarding this family secret, but he is stuck behind the wall - the wall that continues to keep her family separated. The Year is 1989 and East Berliners are hopeful in the words of the American President, Ronald Reagan, who commanded that Mr. Gorbachev tear down the wall. Too many lives had been lost in efforts to escape to free West Berlin. Liesl remembers the story of her parents' narrow escape. The Wall continues to be a barricade to her family's reunification as well as her country's. Robert Elmer's conclusion to The Wall Series holds the same gripping drama as the previous two and is told with equal historical accuracy. A great read for any age.