My Friend the Enemy by Dan Smith

Dan Smith takes us on a journey back in time to World War II in My Friend the Enemy (Lexile: 740; Interest Level: Grades 3-6).  Peter lives in a small town in England, and his father (like many kids' dads) has left home to fight the Nazis.  Occasionally, bombers found there way over Peter's village and everyone had to hide out in their Anderson shelters.  One day, Peter was out in the woods checking his rabbit snares when he heard the sirens warning of an air strike.  He was trying to run toward home when the bomber fell right over his head and crashed into a field.

While watching the excitement about the crash, Peter makes friends with Kim, who has just moved to his town to stay with her aunt.  The two of them decide to investigate the crash site on their own, and they discover that one of the German soldiers on the plane survived.  When they find him, he seems like a normal person, like their dad or brother, and they are faced with a choice of whether to help him or not.

This is a wonderful story about the moral problems with war and what happens when the "enemy" turns out to be someone you might like.  Readers who enjoy the World War II time period, historical fiction, or adventure would enjoy this story.  I am glad this book is a 2015-2016 Indian Paintbrush Nominee. (288 p.)

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