Freya on the Wall

Five months after the opening of the Berlin Wall, Irene, an American teen studying in Bonn, visits her East German cousin. Freya, who is much taken with chaos theory, tries to make sense of the present by sifting the events of the past. She recounts for Irene her grandmother Dulla's version of her family's 1945 flight from their home in eastern Germany, threatened by advancing Soviet soldiers. The story, embellished over the years, shows how the fates of Dulla and her sisters, their children and grandchildren are affected by a seemingly insignificant incident: the escape of three hens from a stop along the refugees' route. Alternating between the points of view of the two cousins, Degens (Transport 7-41-R) contrasts the experiences and lifestyles of teens growing up on opposite sides of the Wall while exploring their visions of the world. The book's nonlinear format, heavy use of symbolism and dissection of complex philosophical concepts demands a certain sophistication from readers; those well-versed in the events of 20th-century Germany will most greatly appreciate this intricate, thought-provoking investigation of personal and political history. Ages 12-up. (Mar.)