My Friend the Enemy

Gr 4–8—In the summer of 1941, 12-year-old Peter Dixon is checking his rabbit traps to see if he will be able to add anything to the family's meager food coffers when the air-raid siren goes off. A German plane crashes near his English village, and as Peter observes the villagers rummaging through the wreckage, he meets Kim, a girl about his age. She convinces Peter to join her later that night so they can explore the wreckage on their own. Peter and Kim are inside the plane when they hear English soldiers approaching the crash site. Afraid that they will be punished, they hide. The suspense builds as these two hide in the wreckage, and then run for safety in the dark, only to discover one of the German soldiers who has been thrown out of the plane. Young listeners will most assuredly be captivated as they decide the fate of the German soldier. Narrator Leon Williams is very convincing in his characterization of two young adults.