I am immediately drawn to any book involving World War II and how it changed the world. When I read a good one, I feel the need to shout it from the rooftops . The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke is one of those stories.

The story is told in three points of view: a Jewish teen living the horrors of World War II, a contemporary teen girl who travels in time, and a boy living in East Berlin during the Cold War. Each character brings us so deeply into their world, the horrific realities are impossible to ignore. But a touch of magic in the form a red balloon helps us find hope.

When sixteen-year-old Ellie Baum accidentally time-travels via red balloon to 1988 East Berlin, she’s caught up in a conspiracy of history and magic. She meets members of an underground guild in East Berlin who use balloons and magic to help people escape over the Wall—but even to the balloon makers, Ellie’s time travel is a mystery. When it becomes clear that someone is using dark magic to change history, Ellie must risk everything—including her only way home—to stop the process. Goodreads

There are so many wonderful things about this book. Overall, the story of survival and the dedication of those willing to help people trapped in dangerous and oppressive conditions is heartwarming. The story flows like a balloon floating in the sky. The plot is clear and well written and pulls readers in as we fight along with the characters to get Ellie Baum home. We are quickly introduced to the six main and secondary characters whose relationships with each other are subtle yet complex. They are well developed with strengths, weaknesses, and strong motivations. You can’t help but root for them all, and even those with questionable methods have commendable goals.

In my travels, I spent some time in Berlin, after the wall fell, and was astonished at the stark contrast between the east and west that remained. Locke describes the dismal and depressing East Berlin with such clarity, as I read, the images in my mind were gray.

Yet there are the red balloons. The balloons and the magic written on them float in and out of the past joining the stories. They bring color and hope for the characters to the very last sentence.

The Girl with the Red Balloon, Book #1 in the Balloonmakers series, comes out September 1, 2017, and can be found at bookstores and libraries including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

For more information about this book and the author, please visit her website at Katherine Locke.

HALLI GOMEZ teaches martial arts and writes for children and young adults because those voices flow through her brain. She enjoys family, outdoors, reading, and is addicted to superhero movies. You can find her on Twitter.