Summer of my German Soldier by Bette Greene

This is a book I found many years ago, and have read over and over.  It's a sad, while at the same time, sweet story of a young Jewish girl who was 12 years old during World War II.  Her hometown in Arkansas becomes the site of a camp housing German prisoners.

Patty is abused by her hot tempered father, and ignored by her pretty mother who prefers Patty's younger, prettier sister.  She is, however, loved by Ruth, the family's black maid.  Ruth's wisdom for Patty is found throughout the book.  Some of the profound things she says in this book I have remembered over the years during different times in my life.


Patty first meets the prisoner Anton when a truck full of prisoners of war come into her father's store to buy field hats.  She sells Anton a pencil sharpener and a cheap imitation diamond ring.  Surprised that he speaks such good English, Patty strikes up a conversation with him.  As Anton leaves with the other prisoners, Patty says a quick prayer for his safety, and also, if God could arrange it, that Anton could be her friend.


Patty is good hearted, but an accomplished liar to try and keep herself out of trouble.  She reads the dictionary and tries to learn a new word every day.  She spends much time in her hide-out, which is a forgotten over the garage servants quarters her father had boarded up years before.

One afternoon, after her father had beaten her for accidently breaking a car window and her mother had forced her to get a permanent wave that scorched her hair, Patty takes refuge in her hide out.  Gazing out the window, she sees a man running below the railroad track embankment.  Before long, she realizes that the man looks like Anton.  She flies from her hide out and runs to him, calling his name and making him miss the jump onto the approaching train.  But his face registers pleasure at seeing Patty.  He reaches out his hand, and she takes it, holding fast to Anton.  She soon has him hidden in the hide out, where she learns he has used the fake diamond ring to buy his escape. She brings him food and stays for long talks. Anton gives her a nickname:  P.B.  Their relationship is semi romantic, but never evolves past friendship.  Anton lets Patty know she is a person of great value.

One day soon after, Patty's father begins to beat her in their back yard.  Patty begs God to help her.  Looking up, she sees Anton behind her father's back, fists raised as he runs to Patty's rescue.  Knowing discovery means death for Anton, she screams for him to go away.  In horror, Anton clapps his hands over his eyes and backs away.
The next morning, Ruth, who has doctored Patty during the night with ice bags, aspirins and ointment, brings her into the kitchen to try and coax her to eat.  After a minute, Ruth, admonishing Patty to tell the truth, asks her who the man was, the "man that wanted to save you from your daddy?"
Their secret out, Anton comes in the house while no one is home   A talk with Ruth and Anton knows that he must leave Patty's hide out because he is putting their family in danger.

Tragedy follows and Patty is put to the test.  But she has been made stronger by the self esteem Anton has instilled in her and the love of Ruth, who stands by her when no one else will.