Thank you Zonderkidz for allowing me to audibly read and review Enemies in the Orchard: A World War 2 Novel in Verse on NetGalley.

Published: 09/12/23

Narrators: Andy Ingalls, Elizabeth Klett, Rachel Leblang

Stars: 3

At some point in my life I had to be told that POWs from World War II were brought into the United States, imprisoned, and worked on American farms. While reading this middle grade historical fiction story I was taken aback. I seriously don't remember that part of American history. It happened.

Enemies in the Orchard centers around a group of German and Italian prisoners of war that work on an American apple farm. The family needs help, the apples will not hold. Their own son and farm workers are fighting overseas, the Germans.

I have a few issues with the story. First: The family has a 13-year-old daughter who is around the prisoners -- alone. I'm flabbergasted. Real life is hard enough, and if historical fiction is the base the choices made need to make sense. Additionally, the author embarks on a love story. She is 13, the German POW is minimum 18 (if his age was given, I missed it. I was listening for it.). There are so many ways the story could have gone.

There is an Author's Note. VanderLugt had a lot of plans and wanted to pack the story with complex emotions. Upon listening I was further frustrated.

There was a lot of potential and missed opportunities.

I would recommend reading ahead of a child and be ready with facts both historically and morally. Historical fiction is a beautiful genre (my favorite) however writers are held to a higher standard.

Children have no business in this situation in an apple farm with German POWs or American prisoners.

At heart this is a pretty standard war narrative, especially for the middle grade set. While we are far removed from the war itself we still have characters from opposite sides of the conflict meeting and coming to understand each other, to recognize each other's humanity. This one takes some sharp and dramatic turns. The final scene may be too intense for some readers but overall it's a fairly gentle read.

I am a true sucker for books in verse and this one absolutely did not disappoint! Based on true events, the book is filled with historical facts and references and told in such a beautiful way that you just don't want to put it down. The writing is lyrical and full of emotion, told in a way that you really connect with the characters. You find yourself rooting for Claire and Karl as they work through their new realities. I especially liked all the german that was put into the book highlighting Karl's struggle to be understood. I think this is a phenomenal addition to any library and will be a highly recommended read!

Absolutely loved this book, told in verse and in the point of view not normally found in WW2 books, a POW. Claire is a teenager living in West Michigan on her family's apple orchard. With the ongoing war, there are not enough workers to help bring in the apple crop, so her father enlists in the help of German POWs being held in the area. Karl is one of the POWs and this story tells the story of their apple picking season in alternating point of views.
I listened to this on audio via NetGalley and highly recommend it.

Audiobook Review - Enemies in the Orchard is a fantastic historical novel of an often not taught part of WWII. This would be a great conversation started for lessons on the home front and POWs during WWII. Add this title to middle grade collections where historical fiction is popular.

A powerful, forgotten time in history. I literally had no idea this even happened! German POW’s were shipped to America and basically worked as prisoners. My mind was blown! This story, while based on true events that happened in history, is based on fictional people. It is told from two perspectives. An American girl who lives on an apple orchard and a German POW soldier. A child really, They were so young to be sent to war. This quote is at the beginning and so moving!

“Every war is a war against children.” Eglantyne Jebb, founder of Save the Children Humanitarian Aid Organization, 1919

This story reminds me a lot of Alan Gratz. Devastating events. Two perspectives. The lives entwine with each other and each changes the others life. This book is devastating, refreshing and restores your faith in the human spirit!

I really enjoyed the audiobook for Enemies in the Orchard by Dana VanderLugt on NetGalley.

Enemies in the Orchard tells the story of Claire, the daughter of an Apple Orchard owner, and Karl, a German POW. Claire's brother is overseas fighting in the war.
Karl was a German soldier captured by American soldiers. He was part of a German group of POWs that were brought to camps in American to provide labor on farms. Karl speaks German and English for the family uses him in the store on the orchard. From the times he works in the store, he spends a good bit of time with Claire. They build a friendship. On Halloween night, a train hits the truck carrying Claire and the POWs to festivities. The POWs don't survive and Claire barely survives.

This book was an interesting read/listen. I didn't know that POWs were brought back to the US and some were put to work on farms and in some factories. This is a good read for young readers.

This this book was very interesting. It is a quick read and provides a perspective of the war that I was not familiar with. I enjoyed the storyline and had me researching more about the prisoners of war.

A heartbreaking story set at the close of World War II. Claire is a 13 year old American girl, whose dream is to someday become a nurse. Her brother is serving in the war against Germany and her sister is married, leaving Claire the only child left at home. As such, Claire is responsible to help her parents tend to their family's apple orchard. Meanwhile, a choice number of German soldiers are laying down their arms in surrender to the Americans, hoping to make a better way for themselves. Almost a dozen of these soldiers are sent to Claire's family farm, and many more are sent to farms surrounding that area. The German POW are put to work in the orchard, helping Claire and her parents with the harvest. Eventually, Claire befriends Karl, a German POW working at her father's farm. Karl teaches Claire many things, including the power of forgiveness. The ending is so sad, yet challenges you to love others, despite their background or their history. Teaches you to forgive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zondervan for the chance to preview this book!