Summer of My German Soldier (original 1973; udgave 1993)

Much more emotional and physical child abuse than I was expecting. ( )

I need to reread this book, I remember reading in high school and how I liked it but I don't think I really appreciated it. ( )

One of my favorite required readings. ( )

12 year old Jewish girl Patty lives in a loveless home with a mother who neglects her and a physically abusive father. When she is in the family store in Arkansas one afternoon during the summer, a group of German POWs are brought in to buy hats. But the German prisoner, Anton Reiker, who acts as a translator, who has perfect English, wants pencils and paper. Patty helps him, and completely falls for his kindness and courtesy.

Soon afterwards, Reiker escapes from the prison. Patty chances to see him running, and hides him in a hidden attic space over her family's garage. They develop a bond over the course of a few days before, mainly for Patty's safety, Anton runs away again.

The final third of the book deals with the consequences Patty faces when her act of helping the prisoner is discovered. ( )

The summer that Patty Bergen turns 12 is a summer that will haunt her forever. When her small hometown in Arkansas becomes the site of a camp housing German prisoners during WWII, Patty learns what it means to open her heart.