Friends and Enemies

Annotation
In 1941 in Kansas, as America enters World War II, fourteen-year-old William finds himself alienated from his friend Jim, a Mennonite who does not believe in fighting for any reason, as they argue about the war.

From the Critics
From Childrens Literature - Children's Literature  
World War II in the Heartland is explored through the friendship between Will, a Methodist minister's son, and Jim, a Mennonite. When Will's family is transferred to a small-town Kansas church, the fourteen-year-old has to adapt to fresh bullying under the stigma of being the "Preacher's Brat." Time and again Jim saves him, and a quiet friendship filled with fishing and camping is formed until Pearl Harbor brings America into the war in Europe. Suddenly sides must be taken between the town patriots and the large Mennonite farming community of pacifists. Torn between the two, Will succumbs to a hate campaign, and must learn to deal with the consequences of his actions. Gaeddert's quiet telling of the story is effective, and the book would make a fine companion to Carolyn Reeder's Foster's War in study units on this period. 2000, Jean Karl/Atheneum, Ages 10 to 14, $16.00. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
 
From School Library Journal  
Gr 6-8-Moving to a new town when he is about to start his freshman year in high school isn't easy for William, the son of a Methodist minister. On his first day in Plaintown, KS, he meets both Clive, a fellow Methodist and a bully, and Jim, a Mennonite who becomes a good friend. Just as William is beginning to feel at home, Japanese bombs fall on Pearl Harbor, and what were just interesting discussions about the war become heated. In a community with a significant population of Mennonites, the question of patriotism vs. pacifism is very real, causing anger, disruption, and hurt. William's friendship with Jim seems untenable, and the situation worsens until William is forced to see and feel the consequences of narrow-minded bigotry. Gaeddert deftly handles these complex issues, weaving the common worries of adolescence into the larger concerns affecting the whole community. What is notable here is the author's skill at creating believable characters whose religious beliefs are part of the fabric of their lives. They all grapple with serious questions. What does it mean to be a good Christian? What can be done when patriotism comes in conflict with religion? How can harmony exist in a community made up of people with conflicting beliefs? Is pacifism a viable option when one is confronted with evil? These questions are as powerful today as they were 60 years ago.-Barbara Scotto, Michael Driscoll School, Brookline, MA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|