Describe the relationship between the Riverton community and the German POWs. What effect does Terrell Stucky have on the reputation of the POWs? How do the Germans come to be an accepted part of the town?

Describe the relationship between the Riverton community and the German POWs. What effect does Terrell Stucky have on the reputation of the POWs? How do the Germans come to be an accepted part of the town?

One of my favorite parts of the book is how the relationship between the Browns, as well as the community at large, and the German POWs evolves. While the German POWs are initially perceived to be the enemy as they work among the community, they are slowly seen as individuals —— as someone’s son, father, brother, fiancée, a musician, a teacher, an engineer, and importantly, as humans. Music, marbles, and breaking bread together were just a few of the ties that bind.

Similarly, there was a change from the German POWS perspective as well. While there was initial “Hate trouble’’ as described by Byron at the camp, specifically, the painting of the ugly words in German by two prisoners, the Christmas gift - the wooden cutouts, tree and music, shared with the townspeople by the German soldiers reflects their shift in attitude as well.

It was heart-warming to see the relationship between the POWs and the townspeople change from thinking the Nazis were evil monsters to being ordinary, frightened young men much like the American young men who went to war. And the POWs saw that the townspeople were - for the most part- kind, hard-working people who accepted them once they saw that the POWs were normal human beings.

I appreciated the way the relationship between the townspeople and the Germans evolved. The Germans hard work opened the door to the townspeople learning about them as people with families just like their own. It makes you wonder about the necessity of war; who determines that this is what we must do, and why do we continue with that. It is tragic, but apparently necessary at times.

This was a special part of the story for me. It was something I wasn't aware of before and I felt it celebrated finding humanity in others.