Summer of My German Soldier Style

Summer of My German Soldier Style

The Juvenile Novel

Summer of My German Summer is typical of the literary genre known as the juvenile, or young adult, novel. The juvenile novel is typically a first-person narrative, told from the point of view of a character trying to find his or her place in the world. This type of "coming of age" fiction is often concerned with a single large event and its repercussions on the life of the protagonist. The function of this kind of novel is to enable the audience to experience the maturing process vicariously. Targeted mainly at an adolescent audience, the juvenile novel often concerns a single issue relevant to the process of maturation. In the case of Summer of My German Soldier, the topic is loyalty.

The idea and responsibility of loyalty is explored through Patty's relationship with Anton, as well as Ruth's relationship with both Patty and Anton. At the same time, these...
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