Books Like Our Enemy, My Friend
Families who loved Our Enemy, My Friend by Jenny Blackman often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved Our Enemy, My Friend by Jenny Blackman often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is grappling with social exclusion or trying to understand how to be a good friend when peer pressure demands otherwise. It provides a safe, historical lens to explore the difficult emotions tied to prejudice and loyalty. Set in Australia during World War I, the story is told through the diary of twelve year old Emma Shelldrake. Her world is upended when she befriends Karl, a boy from a German-Australian family, just as anti-German sentiment sweeps through her town. The book powerfully explores themes of empathy, the injustice of xenophobia, and the moral courage it takes to stand up for what is right, making it an excellent conversation starter for upper elementary and middle school readers.
