Lucy Sanna

Set in Wisconsin during WWII, this book alternates between Charlotte and her daughter Kate’s points of view. With the men away at war, there are not enough hands to bring in the cherry harvest. Threatened with financial ruin, the family allowed German pow’s to be billeted on their farm. One of the prisoner’s, a math teacher named Karl, begins to tutor Kate. Husband Thomas turns a blind eye, unaware that his wife is falling in love. When their son returns wounded from the battlefield, tensions immediately rise, threatening the family’s peace and survival.

I’m not sure what to say about this book. It had a heavily nostalgic feel, which made it seem slow. There were plenty of unexpected moments throughout the book however something about the book just did not click for me. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.… (altro)

Set in Door County in 1944, "The Cherry Harvest" tells the story of the struggling Christiansen family. Charlotte and Thomas' son Ben is at war in Italy, and their daughter Kate is finishing high school. The family business is in Door County cherries, but with young men off at war, and others working in the shipyard sending off supplies to the war, the Christiansen's are short-handed for the harvest. Charlotte pushes the county to use German prisoners of war to help with the local harvest, much to the dismay of the townspeople. Charlotte convinces the county, however, and soon, the German prisoners are helping around the farm. How will these men change the lives of the Christiansen family? Will the cherry harvest be worth it? Recommended for readers of historical fiction, romance, and stories set in Wisconsin.

Taylor W. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.

… (altro)

I procrastinated starting this book as I wasn’t sure I could get into it. But I was wrong. This is a great book. Set during the summer of 1944, towards the end of WWII, it revolves around the Christiansen family and their cherry orchard in Wisconsin. All the farmers are hurting because the young able-bodied boys are all off to war. How will they harvest their crops? Reluctantly they decide to ask the Army to provide German prisoners of war to assist them. The Army arrives with the prisoners who will be housed on the Christiansen property under guard by US soldiers.

Thus begins the lies and deceptions that will ultimately destroy the family. One of the prisoners, a math teacher back in Germany, is asked to tutor the teenage daughter Kate. Kate is eager to escape the farm and go to college. She is quickly becoming a young woman and has romantic notions. And when the Christiansen son Ben returns from as an injured and very bitter war veteran their world explodes.

Beautifully written by Ms. Sanna the story moves quickly and smoothly taking you back in time to the Wisconsin farmlands. A couple of twists and turns left me scrambling to rethink my anticipated ending. This is a book definitely worth reading.

Thank you to LibraryThing and William Morrow publishers for the advance copy.… (altro)