In Berlin Butterfly: Ensnare, author Leah Moyes has presented a truly human story of heartache and familial devotion during the Cold War in East Berlin.
The story begins on August 12, 1961, the day the barbs were laid in preparation for the Berlin Wall. 15-year-old Ella must make the decision that many of that time had to make: leave your family and be free, or stay and suffer the tyranny of Khrushchev. The lives on the other side of the wall may have seemed so much greener, but the relationships that were built, the love that was longed for, and the creation of new family bonds are what Moyes drives home.
The novel can be put in the young adult category, as there is a relative lack of complexity to the writing, but Moyes covers issues that pertain to anyone, and Ella makes a particularly compelling focal point to explore notions of family, identity, and the value of freedom. The major knock against the novel is the quality of the cover, which could potentially drive readers away.
Overall, Berlin Butterfly is a richly emotional novel steeped in history, yet always keeping the narrative locked to universal issues of family and belonging. Ella’s voice and story are gripping throughout, begging each page to be turned.
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