Summer of My German Soldier Study Guide

Summer of My German Soldier begins at a train station in Jenkinsville, Arkansas during World War II. A camp for German prisoners of war has just opened in the town. 12-year-old Patty Bergen stands in a crowd of people, watching guards unload German prisoners from a train. The prisoners are not handcuffed. They are wearing denim outfits and carrying Army duffel bags. Patty thinks that they look like an ordinary crew from the Public Works Department. An onlooker taunts them and Patty is surprised to see one prisoner respond with a smile and wave. Patty starts to wave back, but a local woman stops her. The prisoners are taken to the camp and the crowd disperses. Patty feels disappointed that there was not more excitement and drama surrounding the arrival of the Germans. (read more)