When World War II "borrows" the men in seven-year-old Gerda's family, the German government sends them three new men in return: Gabriel, Fermaine, and Albert, French prisoners of war who must sleep in an outbuilding and work the farm until the war is over. Gerda knows they are supposed to treat the men as enemies, but it doesn't seem fair. Can't they invite them into the warm house for one meal? What harm could it do to be friendly? World War II was a time of great suffering in Europe and beyond. Millions experienced the horrors of the Holocaust, the carnage of battlefields, the devastation of invasion, and many other atrocities. In A Year of Borrowed Men, author Michelle Barker shares one true story of the tenacity of humanity and friendship in a time of suspicion and fear. Renne Benoit's illustrations bring warmth to the era, showing the small ways in which a forbidden friendship bloomed: good food, a much-loved doll, a secret Christmas tree. Family photographs and an Author's Note give further insight into the life of Gerda, the little girl who proved that it isn't so far from Feinde (enemies) to Freunde (friends).

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised by the Best Books for Kids & Teens. It was recognised in the Golden Oak Award category by the Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading Awards. It also was recognised by the Chocolate Lily Award. It was recognised by the Td Canadian Children's Literature Award.

There are 40 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2015 by Pajama Press .

Michelle Barker wrote A Year of Borrowed Men from the early childhood memories of her mother, Gerda. A versatile writer, Michelle has published short fiction; nonfiction; a fantasy novel, The Beggar King; and a book of poetry. She has lived and traveled in many places with her husband and four children, settling most recently in Penticton, British Columbia. Renne Benoit is the award-winning illustrator of more than 15 books for children. She has won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award for Children's Literature for Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion; the OLA Silver Birch Express Award for The Secret of the Village Fool; and the Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize for Fraser Bear and Goodbye to Griffith Street. Big City Bees was nominated for the Governor General's Award. Renne lives in St. Thomas, Ontario. Maggie de Vries is a writer, editor, teacher, and the award-winning author of several children's books, including Tale of a Great White Fish. She lives in Vancouver with her husband and two cats in a house overlooking the Fraser River. Renne Benoit an award-winning artist who has illustrated many books for children, including Thanksgiving: A Harvest Celebration, She lives in Southern Ontario with her husband and her two dogs.