Summer of My Summer of My German SoldierGerman Soldier

By:By:

Bette GreeneBette Greene

“It’s truly extraordinary,” he said, “Who would believe it? ‘Jewish girl risks all for German soldier.’ Tell me,

Patty Bergen…..why are you doing this for me?”

Meet the WriterMeet the Writer Bette Greene comes from a background Bette Greene comes from a background

similar to that of her heroine Patty similar to that of her heroine Patty Bergen. She grew up in a Jewish family Bergen. She grew up in a Jewish family in Arkansas and Memphis during WWII, in Arkansas and Memphis during WWII, later becoming a journalist and writing later becoming a journalist and writing for the for the Memphis Commercial AppealMemphis Commercial Appeal. . This novel is her first. Greene’s friends This novel is her first. Greene’s friends thought she was the most fortunate girl thought she was the most fortunate girl in town because her parents owned and in town because her parents owned and ran a country store. However, Greene ran a country store. However, Greene felt like an outsider because of her felt like an outsider because of her religion. religion.

The Novel at a GlanceThe Novel at a Glance It is a historical novel addressing the issues of love, It is a historical novel addressing the issues of love,

prejudice, and self-worth.prejudice, and self-worth. Setting: Early 1940’s, during WWII, in Jenkinsville, Setting: Early 1940’s, during WWII, in Jenkinsville,

Arkansas.Arkansas. Protagonist: Patty Bergen, a 12-year-old Jewish girl, Protagonist: Patty Bergen, a 12-year-old Jewish girl,

who defies the law to give shelter to a German POW.who defies the law to give shelter to a German POW. Conflicts: The main conflict is the international Conflicts: The main conflict is the international

conflict during WWII between the Germans and the conflict during WWII between the Germans and the Allied forces. Other conflicts include the one between Allied forces. Other conflicts include the one between Anton and the Americans of Jenkinsville; Patty’s Anton and the Americans of Jenkinsville; Patty’s conflict with her parents; the social conflict between conflict with her parents; the social conflict between “outcasts” like Anton, Patty, and Ruth; Patty’s internal “outcasts” like Anton, Patty, and Ruth; Patty’s internal conflict over her own self-worth.conflict over her own self-worth.

Themes: The need for love and the effects of its Themes: The need for love and the effects of its absence; individuals in conflict with their society; absence; individuals in conflict with their society; relations between parents and children; relations relations between parents and children; relations between people of different races and cultures; the between people of different races and cultures; the destructiveness of prejudice; the growing pains of destructiveness of prejudice; the growing pains of early adolescence.early adolescence.

BackgroundBackground WWII began in 1939, but the US didn’t WWII began in 1939, but the US didn’t

enter it until late 1941, after the enter it until late 1941, after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The first months of the war, until late 1942, first months of the war, until late 1942, were filled with bad news for America’s were filled with bad news for America’s allies, which to some extent accounted allies, which to some extent accounted for the violent anti-German sentiment for the violent anti-German sentiment that prevailed throughout the country. that prevailed throughout the country. Even before the war, the Nazis’ Even before the war, the Nazis’ treatment of Jews was widely treatment of Jews was widely acknowledged to be unjust, although acknowledged to be unjust, although until 1945 little was known in America of until 1945 little was known in America of the horrors of the concentration camps.the horrors of the concentration camps.

Background ContinuedBackground Continued The novel appears to be set during The novel appears to be set during

the second half of WWII, after the second half of WWII, after Americans had begun to fight on Americans had begun to fight on European soil and take many European soil and take many German prisoners. Many German German prisoners. Many German soldiers did end up in American soldiers did end up in American POW camps. POWs (Prisoners of POW camps. POWs (Prisoners of War).War).

There were two American There were two American presidents during WWII: Franklin presidents during WWII: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. TrumanD. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman

CharactersCharacters Patricia (Patty) Bergen: A headstrong, Patricia (Patty) Bergen: A headstrong,

impulsive, 12-year-old girl, the oldest impulsive, 12-year-old girl, the oldest daughter of the only Jewish family in a daughter of the only Jewish family in a small Arkansas town, desperately seeking small Arkansas town, desperately seeking the love of her coldhearted parents.the love of her coldhearted parents.

Ruth Hughes: A warmhearted, middle-Ruth Hughes: A warmhearted, middle-aged African American who works for aged African American who works for Patty’s parents and shows Patty more love Patty’s parents and shows Patty more love than her parents do.than her parents do.

Sharon Bergen: Patty’s well-behaved, Sharon Bergen: Patty’s well-behaved, pretty 5-year-old sister.pretty 5-year-old sister.

Characters ContinuedCharacters Continued Harry Bergen: Patty’s father, a store owner, a Harry Bergen: Patty’s father, a store owner, a

harsh man who often beats Patty.harsh man who often beats Patty. Pearl Bergen: Patty’s mother, a beautiful but Pearl Bergen: Patty’s mother, a beautiful but

cold woman who berates and belittles Patty.cold woman who berates and belittles Patty. Grandpa Fried: Patty’s grandfather, head of a Grandpa Fried: Patty’s grandfather, head of a

real-estate business in Memphis and a gentle, real-estate business in Memphis and a gentle, outspoken man.outspoken man.

Grandma Fried: Patty’s grandmother, a warm Grandma Fried: Patty’s grandmother, a warm woman who tries to compensate for Patty’s woman who tries to compensate for Patty’s mother’s coldness.mother’s coldness.

Anton Reiker: a private in the Geman army, Anton Reiker: a private in the Geman army, brought to Arkansas as a prisoner of war, who brought to Arkansas as a prisoner of war, who escapes from prison camp and is sheltered by escapes from prison camp and is sheltered by PattyPatty

Charlene Madlee: a journalist who writes for Charlene Madlee: a journalist who writes for the the Memphis Commercial Appeal Memphis Commercial Appeal and befriends and befriends PattyPatty