'Close to the Wind' is the story of 10-year-old Malik, who has to leave his home and family as a result of war, so a particularly topical subject. The story is written through Malik's perspective as he and his grandfather (mysteriously referred to as 'Papa') prepare to board a ship named The Samaritan, and then follows Malik on his voyage.

The author has deliberately not specified too many details about time or place of these events - for example, by using names from a mix of lands - which gives the story a universal, fable- quality. The reader gets only the impression (from the text and the cover illustration) that it's probably mid 20th century, leaving Europe to head for America. This makes the story a little different from other children's books about war, such as 'Goodnight Mr Tom' or 'The Silver Sword' - and probably means that it is better suited to older children who can read between the lines about what is going on.

It's a beautifully written story, deceptively simple, with strong themes of belief, hope, family and trust covered. My one question - not a criticism - is whether it's really more of a book for adults. I suspect that children of Malik's age would find the references to trouser-wetting rather embarrassing to read - at that age, you still want your main characters to be without too many failings.

But maybe the point is that it's a book that defies categorisation - all ages can enjoy the story, albeit on different levels.3 s Aimee?600 43

I received a copy of Close to the Wind from Scholastic New Zealand in exchange for an honest review. I wasn't expecting anything from them so when this and two other books were delivered I was surprised but excited to read them.

I only had one problem with Close to the Wind and it has nothing to do
with the writing or the story. The book doesn't have any chapters. I normally leave the book at the end of a chapter at night (part of my bookish OCDs) but there are little compasses throughout the book to leave breaks in the story. If they didn't have them I wouldn't know where to leave it.

The story reminded me of Tomorrow When the War Began. An unknown country is under attack by unknown people. The survivors who can get passage on the ships are being taken to another country, also unknown. However, there are a few hints with the names of the characters to what part of the world the book might be set in. I'm not going to give it away though.


Close to the Wind follows Malik on his journey from an abandoned street with his grandfather, trying to find a way onto the ship that could take them both to a new life. At the start, Malik trusts everything his grandfather tells him but as the story goes on Malik starts to think for himself. I think he's ten so I think it's something most children do, trusting the adults around them.

There are a few twists in this book that I saw coming but that didn't make me the book any less. It's a really good book and I love how you're not 100% sure on where the book is set or the backstory to the war. Being set in Malik's perspective for most of the book, it makes sense that he wouldn't know a lot of what was going on around him because of his age. I enjoyed Close to the Wind. It was a really fast read and had a few funny moments hidden in it. read-in-2015 sent-from-publishers1 Meg702 27

Grades 5-8. This story, told in three parts, begins with a boy and an old man. Malik and Papa. Malik, who is nine, doesn’t know his estranged grandfather very well, but both are bound together ever since soldiers came in the night to take Malik's mother away. Papa assures Malik that his mother will be waiting for them at the port, the place where Papa and Malik are heading. Papa, who once owned factories and Malik, who lived in a nice house, are now scavenging for food and seeking hiding spots in abandoned homes and they bide their time for the ship, the Samaritan, to take them away. While hiding out, they cross paths with two of Papa’s former business acquaintances, and Malik, we are never sure if we should trust them as they make a deal with Papa that could mean the difference between life and death, for “nothing is ever assured in life unless you can pay for it”. All the while, a thread of hope keeps the situation from turning desperate during these desperate times, but questions linger: will Malik reunite with his mother? Will they find the money to buy tickets for the ship? Will the soldiers discover them in their hideout? The setting and time period are not defined as Walters attempts to convey a sense of the timelessness of war and upheaval. VERDICT The story’s lack of context, time, and place are a distraction, despite building a sense of empathy for the characters.middle-grade-fiction school-library-journal-1 Polly73

Close to the Wind was a very interesting book to read at this point in time, when my other reading material is news articles about the huge migration of people into Europe.

Malik and his grandfather are refugees fleeing their war-torn country, and desperate trying to escape. Malik is a young child who senses that is grandfather is keeping information from him, but his grandfather is just trying hard to shelter him from the reality of their situation.

The place and time the story takes place is never stated, which really makes their experiences seem they could be shared by many people throughout history (and the present day).1 Ebony Ryan1 review1 follower

Magnificent. I have a little boy and it was impossible not to imagine him in Malik's (the protagonist) place. My heart broke and I cried (a lot) - this book is, to me, necessary reading. I'll put it on the shelf next to The Silver Sword and The Diary of Anne Frank, ready for when my children are old enough to read it. 1 Ashley Choo270 2

This book has so many tear-jerking moments that just pull at your heart-strings and it's so jarring when you realise that the pain and suffering that these characters go through is something that happens to real people every day. I was panicking and tearing up when Malik swapped Booty for the diamond and that ending scene had me biting my lip hard to hold back tears. 1 Andrea57

One of the best children's books I have read in a long time. I wouldn't recommend it for under 10 years. 1 Alica230

"Jenseits des Meeres" ist mein drittes Buch aus dem Königskinder Verlag, der für besondere Jugendbücher bekannt ist/war. Inhaltlich klang das Werk auch durchaus spannend und wichtig - denn Thema ist die Flucht aus dem eigenen Land aufgrund von Krieg. Entsprechend hohe Erwartungen hatte ich - doch leider waren sie offenbar zu hoch...

Erzählt wird aus der Sicht von Malik, einem Jungen, der mit seinem Opa auf der Flucht ist. Ziel ist der Hafen, wo ein Schiff sie aus dem Land und in Sicherheit bringen soll. Dabei fragt Mailk immer wieder, wann seine Mutter denn kommt und ob sie wirklich am Schiff auf sie warten wird. Durch die Erzählperspektive des kleinen Jungen, der die Welt um sich herum noch nicht vollends versteht, bekommt man einen guten Einblick in seine Gefühlswelt und wie befremdlich die Situation auf ihn wirkt.
Auch tauchen im Laufe der Handlung verschiedenste Personen auf, die alle anders mit den Problemen in ihrem Land und den Verlusten, die sie erleiden mussten, umgehen. Das alles ist durchaus nachvollziehbar und stellenweise wirklich traurig.

Doch leider wurde dieser gute Grundansatz für mich durch haufenweise fehlende Informationen zerstört, sodass sich "Jenseits des Meeres" zwar zügig und kurzweilig liest und auch recht gelungen die Gefühlswelt der Flüchtenden zeigt, zeitgleich aber ein Fragezeichen nach dem anderen hervorruft.
Es wird nämlich niemals gesagt, in welchem Land sie sind, warum sie flüchten müssen, wohin sie dann flüchten, warum dort jeder ihre Sprache spricht, was mit Maliks Mutter genau passiert ist. Die Handlung bleibt distanziert, raumlos. Mir ist schon bewusst, wieso so erzählt wird: Es soll zeigen, dass jeder Mensch, egal wo, in die Situation kommen kann, aus seinem Land flüchten zu müssen. Aber das ganze wirkte so lückenhaft, dass ich Schwierigkeiten hatte, mich in Maliks Lage vollends einzufühlen.

Zum Ende hin war dann auch irgendwie die Luft raus und wurde zu einem schnellen, erneut nicht ausreichend erklärten, dafür melodramatischen Ende geführt.
Alles in Allem hatte ich viel zu hohe Erwartungen an "Jenseits des Meeres" und bin entsprechend eher enttäuscht zurück geblieben. Andy19

I d it so much. I didn't have any kind of expectations before reading it because I had never heard of it before but I ended up liking it so much. I found the first 100 pages a little bit slow, I feel the best part starts when Malik actually gets to the ship. Nevermind, the book is hearthbreaking because it shows the reality of so many children around the world and sometimes children are being left apart. We can find some books about adults refugees but never kids. This one was so cruel and real and I loved that it was all from Malik's point of view so there were some things he didin't fully understand because he, above anything else, was a child.
Malik is brave, clever and loyal. I also loved Oskar and Steffan, the got my heart and their story is such a real thing that it hurts to read.
I honestly didn't expect that ending. I thought he would just stay with Lucy so the ending made me really happy, even though Lucy was such a kind and sweet woman who did everything she could to help Malik. She was also a refugee and I think that was a curious and important fact.This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review Kate Hastings2,128 41

Grades 4-8. A timeless, faceless refugee story about 10 year-old Malik and his Papa who are trying to escape the violence of their country by gaining passage on a ship that is overbooked. The author captures the desperation and the grayness of right/wrong as characters struggle to survive. Lies to protect. Stories we allow ourselves to believe. Justification for actions.

My largest criticism is that Malik seemed more a 7 year-old than a 10 year-old in many of his mannerisms and conversations. The placeless/faceless story could make this WWII or Serbia or Syria. In some ways it reminded me of the book Fish by S. Matthews.middle-school survival-adventure-j Infamous Sphere211 16

The absolutely beautiful cover grabbed me. This is an evocative story of refugees trying to leave a war-torn city, but it's kept very nonspecific in terms of time, conflict, setting, destination - and I kept reading, hoping that there'd be a proper clue about where the story was actually set, but it's ultimately ambiguous, which I found frustrating. I wanted an actual conflict or time period in history! By the way there's a very brutal dentistry scene that I found extremely unpleasant to read so maybe just skim over that bit if you don't feel up to it.childrens-books Jenni McReddie48

I found this book left me with a lot of questions.
I d the ending, I can't resist a happy ending in a book. However, I now have so many questions! The book lacks context - I don't know where or when the book was set, who was at war, why did his grandfather lie, where was his mother, did Oskar and Steffan do okay, how old is Malik?
On the other hand, as a teacher it would raise a lot of questions which the children could be free to answer with their imaginations.adventure bereavement family ...more Frau Ott780 4

This was a wonderful book about a young boy whose grandpa takes him to a ship leaving the country in war. He lied to his grandson in order to get him to safety. Nowhere does it discuss what country / war / or confrontation is happening. I really enjoyed this. I was however a little disappointed at the ending with the major news for Malik coning in the last two pages. But it definitely left the door open for a continuing series! This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review Kate Atkinson319 20

A beautiful story from the voice of a young protagonist, caught up in war-time confusion and escape. This 'read-between-the-lines' story was almost fable , as no identifying details give away time frames or countries, but instead you are swept along in an emotional journey of desperation, a family making extremely difficult choices, and the impact of change. The ending was a tear-jerker! Nina#Sreads192

Ich kam lange nicht mit dem sehr einfachen Stil des Romans zurecht, der perfekt ist, da er dem Alter des Jungen Malik entspricht und wir so sein Erleben der Kriegssituation und Flucht per Schiff übers Meer erleben.
Das Buch lässt sich Zeit.
Gott sei Dank sind die wenigen Kapitel des dritten Teils voller Glück!

Bin gespannt auf mein weiteres "Königskind" von Jon Walter! Nadine1,882 46

Hard to put an age on this book. Although the protagonist is 10 the voice is very mature and quite scary. The setting and time is deliberately ambiguous. Clever twists to the story. Probably 12/13+ with some reading endurance Carla960

I didn't quite know how to categorize this book - historical fiction? Seems it - a story about people escaping a war-torn country. But no country or time period is specified. And that really annoyed me.This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full reviewhistorical-fiction la-1 Milla1 review

Close to the Wind was an excellent book, was combined fiction and war-torn countries, as well as the themes of thievery. It kept me on my toes and fortunately was a nice book to finish quickly and easily. Karen144 3

A beautifully told story of war, turmoil, abandonment but also one of selflessness, love and hope. Rishika14 Read

Nice plot! Daniella8 2

Gut-wrenchingly beautiful. What a memorable book that made me happy, sad and laugh! HannahAuthor 12 books47

3.5 L130

Clever. Amanda Parrack23

If you are in middle school or maybe the 4th grade Pranav6 2

Close to the Wind by Jon Walter is a great/excellent book and it is a book that I could not take out of my hands. I would definitely recommend this book for grades 6-10th and basically for anyone who is interested in war and suspense. The book to me had never had a point when it got boring un most books. I would rate this book a 10/10 because the overall flow of the book was good and it did do a good job of explaining everything and I could understand everything that the author was saying without thinking a lot. At times, I had my mom yelling to do my homework, but I would still not stop reading.
The book is very interesting to me because I suspenseful books and it will be to anyone who s these types. This type of book will make you want to read the whole book in one sitting. This book has a really abrupt start but it makes you want to learn more about what the author is talking about. Near the middle, is when the book starts to get suspenseful. Here, the book is going through the main part of the story, so if you don't read this part you won't understand the rest of the story that much.
The book has a very funny part in the middle when Malik, a ten year old boy, the main character and his grandfather are hiding because they think that soldiers have come when actually it is just there friends. This makes me laugh because they got so scared over nothing.
Then the book near the end starts to get a bit sad because Malik's grandfather leaves him to go to a new place by himself on a ship, but he did this for his betterment because otherwise Malik would have gotten killed by the soldiers.
Malik is really courageous and brave on the ship and un what most people would have done he stays strong despite the condition that he is in. He tries to think of plans on how he can get money from people, so he can return back to his family. Even the people and captains on the ship were surprised that Malik didn't have any hard feelings. This just proves that Malik is strong just his grandfather had thought him to be. It ends with a happy ending though, when Malik gets to reunite with his Mom.extra-credit_english Julia472 93

Inhalt: Ein Land im Bürgerkrieg. Eine Hafenstadt in Flammen. Nur ein einziges Schiff nimmt noch Flüchtlinge auf. Doch der Preis für die Überfahrt ist für die meisten viel zu hoch. Wie sollen Malik und sein Opa an Bord kommen? Und wird Maliks Mutter es rechtzeitig zu ihnen schaffen? Malik muss all seinen Mut zusammennehmen, damit ihm die Flucht gelingt. Sein Erfindungsreichtum, eine streunende Katze und Opas besonderer Zaubertrick sorgen dafür, dass er dabei nie die Hoffnung verliert. Ein erstaunliches und zutiefst menschliches Debüt über Krieg und Hoffnung, Flucht und Heimat – erzählt durch die Augen eines Jungen. (Quelle: Verlag)
Meine Meinung: Als ich mit Jenseits des Meeres begonnen habe, wollte ich das Buch am liebsten nach wenigen Seiten weglegen. Das Buch ist anfangs so bedrückend und emotional, dass ich mich dafür einfach nicht in der richtigen Verfassung gefühlt habe. Nach einer kurzen Pause ging es jedoch besser und je weiter man voranschreitet, umso mehr Hoffnung gibt es in der Geschichte und umso heller wird sie. Je länger ich darüber nachdachte, umso logischer erschien mir dies auch. Denn Maliks Geschichte ist die eines Flüchtlings und spiegelt wohl die Gefühlslage beim Leser wieder, die ein Flüchtling erlebt, wenn er flieht, aus seinem Heimatland rauskommt und zu neuen Ufern aufbricht. Genauer gesagt spiegelt es die Gefühlslage wieder, die aufkommt, wenn letztendlich auch alles gut läuft. Wenn alles so läuft, wie es sein sollte, was in der Realität leider selten der Fall ist. Hier geht Jenseits des Meeres jedoch mit einem guten Beispiel voran.
Wir verfolgen die Geschichte von Malik. Malik, einem Flüchtlingsjungen auf seiner Reise zu einem neuen Land und wir erfahren auch ein wenig von seinem Leben nach der Flucht. Er hat mit Dingen zu kämpfen, die für jeden problematisch sind, der flieht und er löst sie meist auf ganz wundervolle Weise, meist aber auch so, wie sie wohl jeder kleine Junge lösen würde: Mit Trotz. Ihm stehen das ganze Buch über wundervolle Menschen zur Seite und die meiste Zeit über auch ein kleiner tierischer Begleiter, der für mich das Buch an vielen Stellen noch einmal ein wenig menschlicher erscheinen lies, als es insgesamt schon ist. Das Buch erzählt Maliks Geschichte in wundervollen Tönen und nachdem die ersten Hemmungen überstanden waren, habe ich mich in die Geschichte verliebt.
Einziger Wehmutstropfen: Als ich das erste Mal von Jenseits des Meeres gehört habe, dachte ich: Endlich mal eine Geschichte, die perfekt in die heutige Zeit passen, zu den Problemen passen, die uns tagtäglich beschäftigen und doch thematisiert das Buch mehr die Flucht an sich und in dem Land, in das Malik flieht, geht alles glatt und dort hat er mit keinerlei Problemen zu kämpfen. Dies schien mir zu einfach. Ich will nicht glauben, dass eine Flucht, die so viele Schwierigkeiten gemacht hat, im neuen Land so reibungslos verläuft. Was ist mit den Menschen dort, was sind ihre Ängste, mögliche Probleme etc.? Wieso findet dies keinen Platz im Buch? Ich kann nicht sagen, ob dies eine generelle Empfindung von mir ist oder ob dies allen ein wenig fehlt. An dieser Stelle hätte ich mir für das perfekte Leseerlebnis allerdings mehr erhofft.
Fazit: Jenseits des Meeres ist ein bezauberndes Werk über die Flucht und alles, was dahinter steht. Mit dem Flüchtlingskind Malik teilen wir seine Ängste, Sorgen und Schicksalsschläge, aber auch all die schönen Momente, die er erlebt. Ein tolles Werk, das den Zeitgeist zwar nicht perfekt trifft, den Leser jedoch sensibilisiert und hinter das Schicksal eines Flüchtlings blicken lässt.
00-standalone 20161 Barbara13.6k 290

Although it's hard not to think about the Holocaust and Nazi Germany while reading this book, the author never specifies where or when the story is set, which makes its appeal more wide-reaching. Ten-year-old Malik and his grandfather are making their way to a ship that will sail soon for another country where they can find sanctuary. Tickets are quite steep, but the grandfather has hidden resources--a large diamond secreted in a tooth in his mouth. When two men with whom Papa is acquainted betray the old man, leaving with few resources, he must scramble to come up with another way to get Malik on that ship. Malik constantly annoys his grandfather with questions and his interest in a stray cat that happens along into the cottage where they are hiding. Readers will realize just how worried about his daughter's whereabouts the man is even while he's searching for a way out of the city. Once Malik and the cat, late named Booty by the purser, are on board the ship, he is placed with the other orphans who offer survival tips. A chance encounter with the sons of Angelo Vex, his grandfather's betrayer, leads to his agreeing to a trade, and Malik is torn between his conflicting thoughts about the value an object or a living thing has. The affection he has for Booty, the only thing from his former life, is quite understandable and will move readers. The book is compelling, heartrending, and ends on the perfect note. Clearly, access to money can make life much easier, but it isn't what matters. Originally published in the United Kingdom, this book is a fantastic debut that will stay with readers long after they have reached the last page. After all, it explores loyalty, value, compassion, generosity, and treachery, and encourages readers to explore what they might have done had they been in Papa's or Malik's shoes. animals character-building civil-rights ...more Stephanie Bange1,625 16

Ten-year-old Malik and his grandfather, Papa, must secure a berth aboard the Samaritan, one of the last big ships taking on refugees to escape an unnamed war-torn country. Debut British author Walter spends the first half of the book developing character, setting, and tension, then takes off once the action begins onboard the ship. Malik is initially naïve and overly curious – always asking Papa questions. Although he has not spent much time with his grandchild, the old man exhibits much patience, understanding, and love for the boy. The desperation of their situation is palpable; details allow readers to see and feel the extent Papa will go to secure Malik’s safety. The second half of the book is Malik’s three-day voyage to his new home, which is never named. During the journey, the boy learns to determine what is important in life, how to trust himself when facing challenges, and becomes mature beyond his years because of this experience. Walter is intentionally vague in details that springboard this incident – there is mention of war and soldiers, but no locations or reasons for them. There is a feeling of this happening years ago with little/no mentions of modern technological advances, yet some descriptions have a sense of contemporary times making this have a timeless in quality. This ambiguity might make this title difficult to place within a curriculum, however it would make an excellent discussion piece if dealing with the residual effects of warfare. Kieran FanningAuthor 7 books37

As a physical object, this book is a thing of beauty - it's size, layout and cover. And the story within is equally pleasing. It tells the tale of Malik and his grandfather who are trying to leave their war-torn country on the only ship leaving the port, but they don't have the price of the fare. Neither Malik's country nor his destination are specified, giving the story a universal appeal.

I was very impressed by the author's treatment of the young protagonist. The story is told, almost entirely from the young Malik's perspective, and both the point-of-view and voice are authentic, consistent and innocently naïve throughout, reminding me of John Boyne's Bruno in "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas". As in Boyne's book, we see Malik's world through the innocent eyes of a child and thus are spared the horrors, that as an adult, we know are all around him. Due to the nature of the medium, this innocence was lost in the (otherwise good) film adaptation of Boyne's book. The written word is capable of conveying innocence so much better than film. And Jon Walter does it excellently. The language is also beautifully simple and flows effortlessly.

This is a book about war, refugees, family, friendship, but most importantly, hope. It will make you smile as well as cry. Highly recommended! Patty763 1 follower

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