by Bette Greene
First published 1988
Patty Bergen watches the train arrive in Jenkinsville, Arkansas, carrying German prisoners of war to the local camp. The twelve-year-old Jewish girl lives with parents who show her little warmth or understanding. While her neighbors see only enemy soldiers, Patty connects with Anton, a young German prisoner who treats her with kindness her own family denies her. Anton listens to Patty's troubles and offers the friendship she craves. Their secret meetings give Patty hope during a difficult summer. But when the townspeople discover their relationship, Patty faces an impossible choice. She must decide whether to protect herself and appease her family and community, or stand by the boy who showed her compassion when no one else would.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, jewish
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Jenkinsville, Arkansas
Period: World War II
Hardcover · John Murray