Summer of My German Soldier

by Bette Greene Narrated by Dale Dickey

Overview

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. As their gentle friendship blossoms, Patty experiences a kind of love she never felt from her abusive father or her distant mother. Soon Patty must weigh the cost of harboring a Nazi prisoner-the possibility of losing family, friends, and even her freedom-against the beauty of this dangerous but unforgettable friendship. Based on the author's own painful experiences growing up in Arkansas during World War II, this poignant novel is an ALA Notable Book, a National Book Award finalist, one of the New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year, and the winner of the Golden Kite Award.

Editorial Reviews

Library Journal

From the newest book on the list to the oldest. As a teen, I reread this 1973 tearjerker every summer, longing for the romantic adventure of its heroine, Patty Bergen. That it is still in print and still taught in classrooms today is a testament to its emotional resonance. Patty is a Jewish girl living in Arkansas, where the U.S. military has established a POW camp for German prisoners of World War II. Anton is an escaped soldier whom Patty hides above the family garage. Patty's feelings for Anton are part romance, part friendship, and part father worship. Although it ends tragically (and how could it not?), their relationship gives Patty the strength to endure her emotionally distant and abusive family.—Angelina Benedetti, "35 Going on 13," BookSmack! 8/19/10

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170965076
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	04/20/2012
Edition description:	Unabridged

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