The House of One Thousand Eyes

Starred review from October 1, 2018

Gr 10 Up-Lena Altmann's parents were killed in an explosion at the freight car factory where they worked. Her subsequent nervous breakdown led to a stay in a mental institution, and now she has been taken in by her Communist aunt. Auntie lives and breathes for the Party, and expects Lena to do the same, snagging her niece a cleaning lady's job at the headquarters of the Stasi, East Germany's brutal and mysterious secret police during the 1980s. Little does Auntie know that every night, Lena is sexually abused by a high-ranking Stasi official she can only bring herself to call Herr Dreck-Sir Filth. The only respite from this everyday nightmare are her Sunday visits to her Uncle Erich. Together, he and Lena make up fantastical and wonderful worlds that are wildly different from the regimented and cold world in which they live. So when Erich suddenly disappears, Lena will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. Set during a period of history that readers may know little about, Barker's novel is atmospheric, depressing, but powerful. Lena's transformation from a meek and shy girl to a strong, brave, and fierce heroine is sure to empower plenty of readers. Barker's prose, which is at once lyrical and sharp, will immerse teens in the authoritarian regime. This is an inspiring story about an ordinary person thrust into extraordinary circumstances who rises above them, complete with an ending that readers may not see coming. VERDICT A complex and emotional read recommended for all YA collections.-Tyler Hixson, Brooklyn Public Library

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Starred review from June 15, 2018
In 1980s East Germany, where everyone is always watching, all Lena Altmann wants to do is disappear. After her parents die in a factory accident, Lena has a nervous breakdown, drops out of high school, and is taken in by her Aunt Adelheid, the widow of a high-ranking member of the Communist Party. Auntie does her best to take care of Lena, securing her a coveted position as a night janitor at the headquarters of the Stasi, or secret police. Although she knows she should be grateful, Lena hates the job, not only because it makes people fear her, but also because an officer she nicknames Herr Dreck (Mr. Filth) sexually assaults her in his office every night. The only person who makes Lena happy is her Uncle Erich, a writer. When he disappears, a devastated Lena knows she must risk everything to find out what really happened to him. The narrative pulses with suspense due to a skillfully rendered cast of characters that are repeatedly forced to choose between preserving their humanity or their lives. The rich historical details plunge readers into a chillingly realistic world where it is impossible for citizens to trust each other and in which Lena struggles with mental illness, sexual assault, and grief.A stunning and compassionate portrait of a young woman fighting to retain her sense of self under a repressive regime. (Historical fiction. 16-adult)

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June 1, 2018
Grades 9-12 After a yearlong stay in a mental hospital following the death of her parents, 17-year-old Lena has been living with her strict auntie and working nights as a janitor at Stasi headquarters. It's 1983 in East Berlin, and the only bright spots in Lena's life are her Sunday visits to her Uncle Erich, a writer who has attracted the wrong kind of attention. When Uncle Erich goes missing, he disappears completely?his books are removed from libraries and her auntie won't admit he existed. Lena takes dangerous steps to try to find her uncle, though these are somewhat muted by the distance in her voice. She is a dreamy, troubled narrator, who suffers ongoing sexual abuse by one of the Stasi higher-ups. This leads her to develop keen disassociation skills in the form of a wall she builds in her head, mirroring the wall around her city. The plot and prose are dense, but a thoughtful reader will appreciate the time it takes to absorb Lena's compelling story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)