Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene Genres: Children's Books, Children's Fiction (Tween), Young Adult
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It was a summer of love. A summer of hate. A summer that would last a lifetime.
The summer that Patty Bergen turns twelve is a summer that will haunt her forever. When her small hometown in Arkansas becomes the site of a camp housing German prisoners during World War II, Patty learns what it means to open her heart. Even though she's Jewish, she begins to see a prison escapee, Anton, not as a Nazi -- but as a lonely, frightened young man with feelings not unlike her own, who understands and appreciates her in a way her parents never will. And Patty is willing to risk losing family, friends -- even her freedom -- for what has quickly become the most important part of her life.
Summer of my German Soldier is one of my favorite books of all time. This book transcends so many aspects of the human soul and what it means to love unconditionally. It has been a favorite for decades and is more profound every time I read it.
