The Hunt for David Berman

David Berman is a young Jewish refugee who came over to England in 1940 on the Kindertransport and is eventually sent to work on a farm in Scotland.  Meanwhile Robert and his sister Elsa have been evacuated from London to his grandparents’ farm not far away from David.   In a cave on the beach by the farm Robert meets David who has run away from the cruel farmer and has decided to hide.  Robert decides to help him by stealing food from the kitchen and the boys become friends.  Meanwhile back in Germany General Schmidt from the Gestapo is looking for a spy who has stolen an Enigma code book and when caught orders him tortured by the Dentist, which sets off a train of events, which leave David in danger as in his suitcase is hidden the code book.

What makes a historical novel different from other genres is the very fact that it is based in history, sometimes about actual events, others in a specific period.  This story uses the hiding of an Enigma code book in a Jewish refugee boy’s luggage as the vehicle for an adventure story, which is something it did not need and historically is not documented. The very fact that David is hiding in a cave and being helped by another boy makes for an adventure in itself.  There is no explanation of what the Enigma code book is or what it was used for, and there are no notes at the end of the book to help.  Both boys are of primary school age and the text itself is set in a wide text thus appealing to a younger audience.

The other point that does not sit well is that the bits of the story about General Schmidt have a tone of menace, as well they might, and David is threatened with a gun by Mr. Brown, the spy sent to find out what happened to the code book.  It does seem that the author did not decide what her target audience would be and tailor the story accordingly.  It is a pity as in all other respects this a good story with the warmth and love of grandparents caring for their grandson, showing the kindness of Grandad when he wets the bed, the keen understanding of Grandma about all the food – she thinks Robert is not being fed enough – and most importantly highlighting the plight of the Jewish children sent as refugees to England not knowing what has happened to their parents.  David is a plucky boy, badly treated not only by the Nazis, but also by the farmer who used him as slave labour, and that is enough for 8–10-year-olds to cope with in a story. All ends well with Robert’s father returning for Christmas along with his mother and David has a home and another family to stay with. Strong editing could have made a much better and more even story, painting a good picture of life in war time Britain.