During the second World War, Betty Greene was a twelve year old Jewish girl living in a rural Arkansas town. Many years later, in 1973, she had published a novel about another twelve year old Jewish girl, also living in a rural Arkansas town; Summer of My German Soldier. Greene's novel, about one summer in a lonely girl's life, conveyed every emotion, from happiness and excitement, to dread and sadness. .
In the same summer that Patty Bergen, the narrator of the story, turns twelve, her small Arkansas town becomes the sight of the newest POW Camp, for German soldiers. Patty, lonely for positive attention from her hurtful mother, and loving approval from her physically abusive father, houses an escaped POW in her families garage. Although Patty seems to realize what she is doing is wrong, she is willing to risk everything in her life to protect her new friend, Anton. She feels there is a bond between her and Anton that no one in the world could possibly understand or respect. Although her family is Jewish, she does not see Anton as a Nazi, but as a misdirected soul simply swept into the commotion of the war.
In Summer of My German Soldier, Greene takes the enemy and turns him into a friend. All of the typical stereotypes and war viewpoints of hatred and distrust are turned around. Greene is able to show her readers that underneath the united front of Victory Gardens and War Bonds, there were often smaller wars being fought inside everyone of us. World War II came disagreeably close to home, not with bombs or bullets, but by attacking the minds of American Patriots.
The novel is a journey into a time of accepted abuse and neglect as well as cultural clashes and misunderstandings. Bette Greene explores the simple facts of right and wrong, good and bad. Greene's scenario of paranoia and government promoted prejudice leaves no room for human compassion, international understanding or the development of a romance.
