Friends and Enemies Author:Louann Gaeddert 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? — 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. ... more »On his first day in Plaintown, Kansas, 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 once just interesting discussions about the war now become heated arguments. 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.
In this novel, set against the backdrop of World War II, author Gaeddert deftly handles these complex issues, while 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, as powerful today as they were 60 years ago.« less