Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot

When early events of the Cold War caused a time of dire need for the people of West Berlin in 1948-49, it was the "sky bridge" that brought a lifeline of supplies to the city. From her backyard, young Mercedes watches as American aircraft approach the airfield. Pilots could not know that the noise prevents her chickens from laying or that joyful children delight in the sweet treats wrapped in miniature parachutes that one particular pilot is dropping. All changes on the day that Mercedes writes a letter. Barbara McCulloh is respectful of the history presented in this book. She narrates Mercedes as a child wise beyond her years and yet one who is childlike in her excitement about the candy drops. The tension between Mercedes and her mother is palpable in each voice. The final meeting is a quiet time for appreciation and reflection. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine