Summer of My German Soldier

by Bette Greene | Teens |
ISBN: 0140372946 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Drusillamac of Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on 2/3/2005
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
6 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Drusillamac from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, February 3, 2005
Blurb on the back:
"I'm a Jew," said Patty's father, "and I'd rather help a mad dog escape from the pound than help a Nazi."

When Patty Bergen sells a red pencil-sharpener to the German prisoner in her father's store, a friendship is started which is to bring her much unhappiness, but also the greatest joy she's ever known.

An exciting and deeply moving story of a friendship which breaks down all barriers."


A bit of a bizarre book this one. It's set in American during the Second World War. Patty is the elder Bergen child and appears to be resented by both her parents. The father appears to have a serious anger management problem and the mother is more obsessed with her looks than her daughter.

The book is rather melodramatic and reminds me of the stories I used to write when I was a kid. The book is worth a read but the adult voice keeps whispering "This situation would never really happen."

Journal Entry 2 by Drusillamac from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, May 29, 2005
I've decided to send this book out on a ring and let it see a bit of the world. I'll be posting the list of participants at the end of this week. Depending on the number of participants this bookring shall remain open.

Updated: 02/06/2004

OK, it looks like this is going out on a mini bookring and shall remain open. Because of this the posting order may change according to preference but I'll try and keep it fair to those who signed up first.

zugenia - Providence, RI - posting anywhere
White Raven13 - Sunnyvale, CA - prefers USA/Canada postage
vcrain - USA - posting anywhere
Molyneux - UK - posting anywhere

and then home to me. Usual ring rules apply.

Journal Entry 3 by Drusillamac from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 8, 2005
And we're off! This book was sent in the post to zugenia a few days ago. I just forgot to journal it. Happy reading :-)

Journal Entry 4 by zugenia from Hamilton, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, June 14, 2005
This book has arrived safely in Rhode Island! I loved this book when I was a kid, and I look forward to seeing how it holds up all these years later...

Journal Entry 5 by zugenia from Hamilton, Ontario Canada on Thursday, June 30, 2005
Let me begin by saying that I remembered this book making me cry and cry as a child. I didn't have a very clear memory of the whole story, just certain scenes, but for years, whenever anyone asks "What's the saddest book you've ever—" I say "Summer of My German Soldier" before they can even finish the question. My point is that I am predisposed to be moved by this story, which is, as Drucillamac says, quite melodramatic in some respects.

That said:

I began this book yesterday afternoon, and teared up at the first mention of the German soldier's name. Then I took a break to see "War of the Worlds" and have some dinner, and I returned home and sat up in bed till 2am finishing it. And I cried and cried and cried. Let me state for the record that I don't cry easily at books. But this one is devastating. It wasn't like there was one climactic moment that let me get it all out in a cathartic rush; no, it is just quietly brutal from start to finish, in this gradually mounting way. I hadn't remembered it like that. But I guess that's an appropriate way to narrate life in a small town in 1940s Arkansas.

Well. It's on to WhiteRaven13 next.

Journal Entry 6 by wingwhiteraven13wing from Quartzsite, Arizona USA on Wednesday, August 3, 2005
I've received this book, and will read it soon. I wanted to read it because the film of it I saw yea years ago was so beautiful. Of course, I want to read it *now*, and I'm supposed to be working. ;-)

Journal Entry 7 by wingwhiteraven13wing from Quartzsite, Arizona USA on Friday, August 12, 2005
I enjoyed the book every bit as much as the film. Unlike the film, it didn't make me cry, but it did make me uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I can imagine the whole back-story, the prejudice and ignorance, happening all too well.

So, time to PM the next person and send it on its merry way...

Journal Entry 8 by vcrain from Alexandria, Virginia USA on Monday, September 12, 2005
rec'd today. I have one other bookring ahead of this one.

Journal Entry 9 by vcrain from Alexandria, Virginia USA on Saturday, September 24, 2005
I liked this book. I am going tp pm next person on the list

Journal Entry 10 by vcrain from Alexandria, Virginia USA on Monday, October 3, 2005
sent another pm to the next person to get their address

Journal Entry 11 by vcrain from Alexandria, Virginia USA on Wednesday, October 5, 2005
sent tonight by air

Journal Entry 12 by Drusillamac from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, January 15, 2006
As far as I am aware this book is currently with Molyneux due to an exchange of PMs.

Journal Entry 13 by Molyneux from Oxford, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Sunday, January 22, 2006
I do have the book and I'm really sorry I've only just got around to journalling it.

It is rather melodramatic isnt it - but I did enjoy reading it all the same.

Thank you for sharing the ring with us - I'll post it back to you as soon as I have your address.

Journal Entry 14 by Drusillamac from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, March 26, 2006
This book is safely home after a successful ring. Thanks to all who took part and thank you to Molyneux for the lovely postcard and bookmark :-)

Journal Entry 15 by Drusillamac from Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, May 25, 2006
This book is being sent to another Bookcrossing as a RABCK :-)

Journal Entry 16 by Megan-star from Millom, Cumbria United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Got the book in the post this morning. Will get onto it after i've read 3 others on my 'to-read' list.

Thanks Drusillamac x

Journal Entry 17 by Megan-star from Millom, Cumbria United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 6, 2006
I read this book a couple of months ago, sorry its taken me so long to write this review.

I couldn't get into the book atall, it just didn't grab me. After i'd read about 3/4s of the book i started to enjoy it but unfortunately, i wouldn't read it again.

I may release this book into the wild soon.

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.