The Hunt for David Berman
Yesterday, as part of the Blog Tour for this book, I shared a fascinating interview with author, Claire Mulligan about how she started writing and her journey to getting published. I really enjoyed this story and so today, here is my review.
Robert and his little sister, Elsa, have been evacuated from London to his grandparents’ farm in Scotland whilst his father is fighting in the war and his mother is in the Wrens. Finding it hard to adjust to farm life and missing his parents, he explores the caves along the coast, hoping to find the treasure his grandfather’s stories are full of. Instead of pirate gold, he finds a young boy, David, who has been living there. A Kindertransport child, David was fostered by a family on a nearby farm who were cruel, leading him to run away. However, David is unaware that he is carrying something with him which the Gestapo are trying to track down and a secret agent has been instructed to hunt for David Berman.
‘The Hunt for David Berman’ is an exciting, pacy thriller of a tale which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. It offers a traditional romp of an adventure, but one full of historical detail- a perfect combination!
The boys are both very sympathetic characters and their friendship is one built on mutual trust and respect. It is great to see kind, sensitive children at the heart of an adventure like this. Both are separated from loved ones that they are constantly worried about, both have been taken from the lives which they know and can empathise with the other’s experience, offering comfort and support. Robert is genuinely concerned about his friend’s welfare and seeks to help him at every opportunity.
As he shares his memories with Robert, David’s experiences clearly expose the impact of war on the individual. He has experienced the terror of the Nazi’s actions against Jews, seen those he thought to be friends turn against him, lost his father and had to leave his mother and grandmother behind whilst fleeing to an unknown land. Having experienced all of this, he is then exposed to a brutal foster father who sees him as labour on his farm. His friendship with Robert offers him emotional as well as practical support. Although Robert has fared better than David, he also is finding his situation difficult to cope with, resulting in bad dreams which lead to bed wetting.
Scenes in the story focusing on the Gestapo and their hunt for the codebook which has been hidden in David’s suitcase are suitably sinister and there are some very tense moments in the story. However, the ending is deeply satisfying for those who have been caught up in the boys’ story.
‘The Hunt for David Berman’ would be a great book to use in school, both as an excellent story and as the starting point for discussions about events during the Second World War. It also offers much in terms of developing empathy and exploring the importance of getting to know others.
The Hunt for David Berman Claire Mulligan
The Moth ISBN: 978-0956979575
Out 5th May 2020
The blog tour continues…
