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The Enemy's Daughter
CCBC Review:
Initially stuck in New York when World War I broke out, Marta (white) and her father are returning to Germany on the Lusitania; their false documents allow them to board as Americans rather than exiled Germans. When Marta’s father’s identity is discovered moments before the ship is torpedoed, he’s suspected of facilitating the attack. Now recognized as a German, Marta fails to clear her father’s name fail. Stranded alone in York, England, the 11-year-old feigns a Dutch background and is befriended by Clare, a poor Irish girl whose family takes her in. Marta begins to feel tormented by her secret-keeping and growing attachment to the “political enemies” who show her nothing but kindness. Her childlike rationale is believable and nuanced as she slowly accepts that the actions of a country’s government (including her beloved homeland) do not equate with an individual’s humanity. Unsure how to find a way to back to her mother in Germany, Marta works at a chocolate factory with Clare and saves her money in the meantime. When someone at the factory exposes Marta’s lies, the heartbreak and drama are swift and intense. A daring escape is aided by characters who see Marta for the person she really is: a true friend and loving daughter. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: 8-12
Age Range:
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
20th Century
Friendship
Germans and German Americans
Historical Fiction
Identity
Politics and Political Systems
Problem-Solving
World War II
Publishers:
Penguin Random House, Viking
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 281
ISBN: 9780593623046
CCBC Location: Fiction, Blankman