Helpful Score: 3
A prize winning book for Teens which makes good reading for adults, too. Good study into what actually makes up bias, patriotism, and learning to understand.
Helpful Score: 1
I have enjoyed this book very much -- read it 4 or 5 times between the 5th grade and adulthood. It is a compelling -- and timely! -- narrative exploration of how we know our friends, and who are our enemies.
Helpful Score: 1
12 YEAR OLD JEWISH GIRL PATTY WAS NOT LOVED BY HER PARENTS, WHEN A GERMAN PRISONER OF WAR ESCAPED SHE HELPED HIM, IN ANTON SHE FOUND SOMEONE THAT APPRECIATED HER IN A WAY HER PARENTS NEVER DID. PATTY RISKS LOOSING HER FAMILY, FRIENDS AND EVEN HER FREEDOM FOR THIS FRIENDSHIP, IT IS A RISK SHE HAS TO TAKE AND ONE SHE WILL PAY A HIGH PRICE TO KEEP. (from the backcover). THIS IS ONE OF THESE BOOKS YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER.
The Summer that Patty Bergen turned 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.
A classic YA title, and a terrific read!
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.
A classic YA title, and a terrific read!
"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.
In Anton, Patty finds someone who softens the pain of her own father's rejection and who appreciates her in a way her mother never will.
While patriotic feelings run high, Patty risks losing family, friends - even her freedom - for this dangerous friendship.
It is a risk she has to take and one she will have to pay a price to keep."
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.
In Anton, Patty finds someone who softens the pain of her own father's rejection and who appreciates her in a way her mother never will.
While patriotic feelings run high, Patty risks losing family, friends - even her freedom - for this dangerous friendship.
It is a risk she has to take and one she will have to pay a price to keep."
Beautifully told story of a 12 year old girl's tenuous friendship with a 20 year old German POW in the American midwest. Patty Bergen is one of the best heroines in young adult literature. Despite all the anti-Nazi propaganda around her, Patty slowly realizes that not all Germans were Nazis and that her new friend, Anton, might not be the bogeyman everyone thinks he is. Highly recommended.
I must say that I didn't not like this book at all. It was slow and boring. I never even saw a point in it. Maybe it was the fact that they made us read it in seventh grade, and I didn't really understand it as well. I'd say if you're going to read this book, at least make sure you're an adult.
Summer of My German Soldier was an amazing story of seeing past a uniform or skin color and looking at the true person. It applies to our world today!
Patty Bergen is the protagonist of this story. I could relate to many parts of this story - I am from Arkansas, was the same age as her during WWII with many of the same dreams. And I too once met some German POWs as my father took me to a near-by Army Camp where he was asked to interview some of the prisoners because he spoke German. Like Patty, I was often lonely & felt misunderstood,but for much different reasons...Patty was from a wealthy Jewish family. Her father tried desperately to 'fit in' with their Protestant neighbors which explains why he is so ill tempered & beats Patty, since she often deviates from his standards of how they should act. Her parents neglect her & she is also perceived as a failure. The plot is simple & straight forward, but some understanding of the time period would help the reader. . .Jews were treated differently in America during WWII. Patty is extremely lonely & longs for love. She meets Anton, a German POW, & shelters him after he escapes the prison. The best parts of the book are how she hides him & steals food. I don't want to spoil the story. . . does she and/or the soldier get caught? You'll just have to read it to find out!
Patty Bergen was twelve the summer that the German prisoners arrived at the POW camp outside Jenkinsville, Arkansas.
Patty- awkward and lonely, always talking too much, unable to please her parents- longed for a friend. Then, when some of the prisoners were brought to her father's store. Patty met Anton. It was a dangerous friendship, between a Jewish girl and a German soldier during World War II, when patriotic feeling was running high.
Patty- awkward and lonely, always talking too much, unable to please her parents- longed for a friend. Then, when some of the prisoners were brought to her father's store. Patty met Anton. It was a dangerous friendship, between a Jewish girl and a German soldier during World War II, when patriotic feeling was running high.
Read this YA novel because one of my daughters had it as assigned reading years ago and it is one of the few popular WW II fiction books I hadn't read yet.
I can see the that the themes in the book would lead to a lot of discussion in a classroom of pre-teens-- child abuse, being a loner, being different from others in town (Jewish family), conflict with parents.......before you even get to the main act!
Going to avoid any spoilers but really need to say-- Disappointing ending.....it's like the author reached the expected page count and just stopped writing.
I can see the that the themes in the book would lead to a lot of discussion in a classroom of pre-teens-- child abuse, being a loner, being different from others in town (Jewish family), conflict with parents.......before you even get to the main act!
Going to avoid any spoilers but really need to say-- Disappointing ending.....it's like the author reached the expected page count and just stopped writing.
Good for a slow, quiet read....sad but good read!
EXCELLENT READING!
Good, but sad. Told from the perspective of a young girl who helps a German escape. Her home life stinks and he is the first person to show her love, even when it endangers his own life. Poignant!
An interesting time in history and how one young girl copes with a dysfunctional family. I didn't even know that German Prisoners of War were held in camps in the United States until I read this book
I enjoyed this novel but found the situation of a 12-year-old girl hiding a German soldier prisoner escapee a bit far fetched. Sometimes, too, I thought that the emotions of young Patty Bergen did not seem consistent with what I know about 12-year-olds. However, it's been awhile since I was that age so I could be wrong.
Basically, the story is this: Patty views a busload of young German soldiers disembarking on their way to a prisoner of war camp nearby. The residents view the prisoners as the dreaded and hated Nazis. However, Patty finds herself drawn to one boy in particular. When she waits on him in her father's store, she finds that he is kind, polite, and gentle.
Her home life is difficult with her mother always criticizing her appearance and her father beating her. The soft eyes of the kind stranger who treats her as someone of value makes him interesting. He becomes a most unlikely friend who she shelters in a forgotten room above the garage. Anton understands young Patty as her mother and father never could. Eventually, their friendship is discovered but only after Anton has been killed wearing clothes that Patty had given her father. Since the shirt had her father's initials on the pocket the FBI come calling to question her. What happens to Patty is sad and realistic as the people of the state believe that she is a Nazi sympathizer at best. The author explores the small mindedness of people unable to understand that even enemies harbor sensitive and kind individuals.
I enjoyed this little read enough to read the sequel titled Morning Is a Long Time coming. It's a good read for the YA age reader.
Basically, the story is this: Patty views a busload of young German soldiers disembarking on their way to a prisoner of war camp nearby. The residents view the prisoners as the dreaded and hated Nazis. However, Patty finds herself drawn to one boy in particular. When she waits on him in her father's store, she finds that he is kind, polite, and gentle.
Her home life is difficult with her mother always criticizing her appearance and her father beating her. The soft eyes of the kind stranger who treats her as someone of value makes him interesting. He becomes a most unlikely friend who she shelters in a forgotten room above the garage. Anton understands young Patty as her mother and father never could. Eventually, their friendship is discovered but only after Anton has been killed wearing clothes that Patty had given her father. Since the shirt had her father's initials on the pocket the FBI come calling to question her. What happens to Patty is sad and realistic as the people of the state believe that she is a Nazi sympathizer at best. The author explores the small mindedness of people unable to understand that even enemies harbor sensitive and kind individuals.
I enjoyed this little read enough to read the sequel titled Morning Is a Long Time coming. It's a good read for the YA age reader.
but the vile language makes the story tainted. I don't think it should be read by children because the abuse situations and the language. The reason I say this is that it is on every recommended book list for WWII for children! Anyway, the story is a good one but intense. A girl who is not wanted by anyone but the nanny, loved only by her grandparents discovers an escaped German pow. She has to make a choice of either helping him or turning him in. The fact that she is Jewish doesn't help the matter. If it was cleaned up a bit...this book would be a good one.
Bought used so not in perfect condition. Cover slightly bent and someone underlined some parts, but other than than the book is in fine condition.
