- to replace all their working men (who are off fighting the war), potato farmers are “lent” German POWs for labor
- set in 1944 in rural Maine
- one farmer’s daughter becomes friends with one of the German soldiers
- the family bonds with the young Germans, both parties blessing each other in different ways
Type: picture book
Ages: 6-10
Author: Ethel Pochocki
Illustrator: Mary Beth Owens
This book actually begins in late summer, but the last half of the book surrounds the Christmas season. Just an FYI for those who found this post via my Christmas lists. 🙂
Clare (the farmer’s daughter) was apprehensive about enemy soldiers coming to her home, because the media had always painted them as “ugly, angry monsters.” She soon found out they were very similar to the young men who had left (including her brother) to fight in the same war.
The father is a wonderful role model, encouraging Clare to treat them like human beings. Later, he provided the men with something he didn’t have to, saying, “Just want you to know we’re human beings on this side of the ocean too.”
All the family works hard with diligence and good work ethic. Once Christmastime arrives, a few surprises await both sides. The ending actually gave me shivers! Good story.