Book Talk notes on the novel A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen. Includes paragraphs, with corresponding page numbers, to read aloud to students.

1. A Night Divided
Jennifer A. Nielsen
What would you do if you woke up to a changed world? If suddenly,
over night, a barbed wire fence and soldiers with guns separated
your country? Imagine the terror you would feel upon realizing that
your father is now stuck on the other side of the fence. Will you be
brave and formulate a plan to rescue him, even if it could cost you
your life? Could you carry such a large secret, unable to trust
anyone? This happened to Gerta, but the biggest question of all, is will
she succeed?
If you enjoy thrillers and adventure books, this book is the one for
you!
Teasers
“Fritz said Peter had told no one else about his escape. And Fritz had
told nobody else about it but me. We were the reason they had
caught him. The reason he was killed.” Page 57
“You don’t understand how bad it is, Gerta. They have a file on you
too.” Page 62.
“My father wasn’t here. Nor was my brother Dominic. They had been
in the west for two nights, and were supposed to have come home
later today. With an endless row of guns and soldiers between us, the
fence just changed that.” Pages 2-3.
“The Berlin Wall had to be nearly over my head right now. And I
realized that even if Papa had wanted me to find something buried in
this dirt, it was far too dangerous for me to dig. Because every

2. centimeter I clawed in there put me one step farther inside the Death
Strip. If I went too far, I’d-” Page 105
“I could try to run, but wouldn’t get more than a few steps away
before he’d draw his gun.” Page 180
“Whoever was on the other end had a flashlight- we saw glimpses of
the light as it bounced from one wall to another. Then it turned in our
direction and the footsteps came toward us. I didn’t move, I didn’t
breath. We both already knew that Fritz’s broken handle was useless
against the weapons likely heading our way.” Page 191
“I had always known there was a risk of someone I knew becoming a
spy against us. But never in a million years would I have expected it to
be...” Page 224