About the Book:
Set against the backdrop of WWII, this
achingly beautiful middle grade novel in verse based on American history
presents the dual perspectives of Claire, a Midwestern girl who longs
for college even as she worries for her soldier brother, and Karl, a
German POW who’s processing the war as he works on Claire’s family farm.
This poignant and moving story of an unlikely connection will stay with
readers long after the final page.
It’s October 1944,
and while Claire’s older brother, Danny, is off fighting in World War
II, her dad hires a group of German POWs to help with the apple harvest
on their farm. Claire wants nothing to do with the enemies in the
orchard, until she begins to notice soft-spoken, hardworking Karl. Could
she really have something in common with a German soldier?
Karl,
meanwhile, grapples with his role in the war as he realizes how many
lies Hitler’s regime has spread. But his encounters with Claire—the
serious girl with gentle eyes—give him hope that he can change and
become the person he wants to be.
Inspired by the little-known
history of POW labor camps in the United States, this lyrical verse
novel is told in alternating first-person poems by two young people on
opposite sides of the war. Against a vivid backdrop of home front
tensions and daily life, intimate entries reveal Claire’s and Karl's
hopes and struggles, and their growing attraction to each other even as
the war rages on. What are their chances of connection, of redemption,
of peace?
My Review:
Wow! What a great way to learn more about this time period. Even though it based on the true events at the time but fictitiously around the lives of Claire and Karl--it is an eye opener. I'm sure children that read it these days will most definitely have a batter understanding of WWII.
Beautifully written and it really helps to get a better grasp on everything families were going through then. A great read for middle grade children and older and even adults could benefit.
**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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