Book One: Summer of my German Soldier

In 1973, Summer of my German Soldier was published for the first time ever. 

It is 230 pages of pure love and hate. 

It's main reasons for being banned were the facts that the ending was terribly sad for it's age group (young adult) and the constant physical and verbal abuse our heroine receives from her Father. Well, and the fact that she's totally in love with this 22-year-old guy and she's barely a teenager. 

The book is utterly fantastic and beautiful until Chapter 14. The book takes a sharp turn from the road of happiness and down the path of utter chaos. 

The main character is a 12-year-old girl named Patty. In my opinion, she is very mature for her age. She doesn't put off a whiny, needy, or desperate persona at all. It doesn't feel like she's a young girl who is desperately in love with a man twice her age. 

The basic story line is a young Jewish girl living in Arkansas. It is just before the end of World War 2. There is prison in this part of Arkansas and Nazi prisoners are taken there as captives. She meets one of the prisoners, whose name is Anton. He is polite and speaks English very well. After escaping from the prison, Patty helps him by hiding him in her father's garage and providing food and clothing. After her friend (and family cook), Ruth, finds out about Anton and helps cook for him, they plan to help Anton leave the state. Soon before his departure, Patty tells Anton that he cannot leave without her because she loves him, and the feelings are returned. He gives her his gold ring (is most prized possession), kisses her, and flees. Eventually the authorities find out that Ruth and Patty assisted his escape. The FBI shows Patty a report of Anton's death and she eventually admits to helping him. The cook is fired and Patty sent to a Reformatory for Girls.


RATING

(On a scale of 1 to 10, the higher the score, the better.)

Plot:  8

Characters: 6 (I didn't like her parents.)

Author's Writing Style: 5.5

Overall Experience:  6


All in all this was an exceptional book. I might read it again, but the ending is just too sad. I honestly cried.

Keep Reading,

Emma Bradford

Reasons for Starting This Blog

This year, I have recently been curious about banned books. A couple of questions immediately come to mind. 

1. Why have these books been banned? 

2. Are they banned because the government/school system/etc. doesn't agree with the subjects presented in this book, or do they not understand them? 

My curiosity for such literary works have since increased since reading books like Beautiful Creatures and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. 

I'm sure it is pretty normal for such desires, questions, or curiosities to arise in your adolescence (or life span, actually) and then push you read the books for yourselves. 

So here I go.

I am on a journey to discover why such books have been banned. 

Or maybe just curious about them, I suppose. 

Either way, this will be an interesting summer. But it may last longer than a Summer. Who knows? As long as I continue to read controversial novels, the more I'll have to post. 

Enjoy the ride. 

Keep Reading,

Emma Bradford