Summer Of My German Soldier by Bette Greene ( Maggie Wilcox )
Walk with Patty through the events of World War 2
You will see what Patty went through when her small hometown in Arkansas becomes the site of a camp housing German Prisoners during World War 2.
POW trains arrive in Arkansas
Patty lives in a small town in Arkansas. This book takes place in 1940. Patty approaches outside when she suddenly sees a train of soldiers headed right into her town. She realizes that her small town is becoming a POW camp and starts getting interested as to what all of this commotion is going to bring into her life.
An important shop in Patty's life
Patty's father owned a shop in the very small town they lived in. Patty felt like she was not loved by her parents and she was often forced to work in this shop. One day while she was working, the POW soldiers come into the shop to buy something. She gets into conversation with one of the soldiers, Anton, and begins to catch feelings for him. He purchases a unique pin from the shop and Patty hopes that she will get to see him again.
Patty's home and family
Patty lives in an old house in Jenkinsville, Arkansas. She lives with her parents, Harry and Pearl Bergen, her sister, Sharon, and their housekeeper, Ruth. She is mistreated by her parents and believes that they favorite Sharon. Ruth cooks for the family every morning and twice during the day and treats Patty the most fairly. Patty feels most comfortable telling Ruth about her love for Anton because she feels that shes the only one who will care.
Anton Returns
One night as Patty is looking through her bedroom window, she sees a man running a long the train tracks and realizes that it is Anton. He was escaping the other prisoners and his keeper. She runs outside and explains to Anton that he can come hideout in her house for a while where he will be safer.
Anton's Hideaway
Patty continues to sneak Anton into her house where he will be safer for a while. She decides to make a hideout in her closet where she can sneak clothes and food for Anton because she knows her father would be very mad if he knew about Anton and would probably beat her. During the next day, Anton shows Patty the pin he purchased earlier at the shop and they begin sharing stories about them and getting closer. Patty tells him how she feels unloved by her father and she gives him a special shirt that was for her dad, but that her father had not appreciated.
Anton gets reported missing
One evening, Reporters swarm Patty about the missing POW. They ask Patty if she knew anything about where he went because she was last seen in conversation with him at the shop, while he was purchasing the pin. Patty explains that she has not seen or heard of Anton since then and she lies that he had purchased the same item as all the other prisoners because she does not want Anton to be found. She begins to cry in stress and fear.
Anton leaves Patty
After Patty thinks, she realizes that she could get in a lot of trouble for what she is doing. She tells Anton that everyone is searching for him and Anton chooses to run away. Shorty after Anton leaves a reporter finds Patty. She explains that the shirt Patty gave anton was found with blood on it and that Anton had been shot as he was trying to escape into the woods. She starts to cry and tells the reporter that she was housing him and keeping him safe. She is worried that she will be prosecuted under the treason act.
Summary video of Patty's life
This video summarizes how Patty's life fell apart and how she wished she could have a better life.
The Music Lesson
The Music Lesson or Lady at the Virginals with a Gentleman by Jan Vermeer, is a painting of young female pupil receiving the titular music lesson. [more]
