Readers are pulled into the tension of Patty hiding Anton in her family's rooms, creating a constant sense of danger that makes the pages turn quickly.
Children relate to Patty's intense desire to be seen and valued, rooting for her as she finds her own voice against her family's cruelty.
The bond between a Jewish girl and a German soldier challenges a young reader's sense of black and white morality through a deeply personal connection.
The book does not sugarcoat Patty's loneliness, validated by a narrative that acknowledges how difficult it can be to feel like an outsider in your own home.
Reach for this book when your child feels like an outsider within their own home or is beginning to challenge the 'us versus them' mentalities of their community. Set in rural Arkansas during World War II, it follows 12-year-old Patty Bergen, a Jewish girl who feels unloved by her abusive father and cold mother. When she strikes up a secret, profound friendship with an escaped German prisoner of war named Anton, she discovers a sense of worth that her family has denied her. This story is a powerful exploration of empathy, the complexity of moral choices, and the pain of standing up for what is right when everyone else says you are wrong. It is best suited for mature middle schoolers, as it deals directly with themes of emotional and physical abuse, prejudice, and the heavy consequences of personal integrity.