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The Enemy's Daughter
In the spirit of Lauren Wolk and Ruta Sepetys comes the tale of a girl fighting her way back home after surviving the sinking of the Lusitania—and learning to think for herself rather than accept the prejudice of wartime.
The year is 1915 and the world is at war. Marta and her father are passengers on the Lusitania, desperately trying to get back home to Germany. While aboard, they must keep their identities hidden or risk being mistaken for enemy spies. Then the Lusitania is attacked by a German submarine. They just make it off the sinking ship, but her father is discovered and detained. Marta suddenly finds herself alone in enemy land.
To survive, Marta must draw upon a deep well of bravery she never knew she had. Fortunately, she meets Clare, a young Irish girl who can talk a mile a minute, and her kind family. Believing that Marta is a Dutch refugee, they welcome her into their home. She can't risk letting her new friends know she's actually from Germany—the very nation that the Irish and English are fighting against. But could these people who have shown her nothing but kindness truly be her enemy?
Sweeping from the Irish Sea to a cathedral city in England, this story shows us that friendship, especially in times of war, may be the greatest gift of all.
The year is 1915 and the world is at war. Marta and her father are passengers on the Lusitania, desperately trying to get back home to Germany. While aboard, they must keep their identities hidden or risk being mistaken for enemy spies. Then the Lusitania is attacked by a German submarine. They just make it off the sinking ship, but her father is discovered and detained. Marta suddenly finds herself alone in enemy land.
To survive, Marta must draw upon a deep well of bravery she never knew she had. Fortunately, she meets Clare, a young Irish girl who can talk a mile a minute, and her kind family. Believing that Marta is a Dutch refugee, they welcome her into their home. She can't risk letting her new friends know she's actually from Germany—the very nation that the Irish and English are fighting against. But could these people who have shown her nothing but kindness truly be her enemy?
Sweeping from the Irish Sea to a cathedral city in England, this story shows us that friendship, especially in times of war, may be the greatest gift of all.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published February 18, 2025
About the author
Anne Blankman
7 books704 followersAnne Blankman may have been meant to be a writer because her parents named her for Anne of Green Gables. She grew up in an old house with gables (gray, unfortunately) in upstate New York. When she wasn't writing or reading, she was rowing on the crew team, taking ballet lessons, fencing and swimming. She graduated from Union College with degrees in English and history, which comes in handy when she writes historical fiction.
After earning a master's degree in information science, Anne began working as a youth services librarian. Currently, she lives in southeastern Virginia with her family. When she's not writing young adult fiction, she's playing with her daughter, training for races with her husband, working at her amazing library branch, learning to knit (badly), and reading.
Anne Blankman is the author of PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG, the first in a three-book deal slated for publication in spring 2014 from Balzer + Bray | HarperCollins. She is represented by Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.
After earning a master's degree in information science, Anne began working as a youth services librarian. Currently, she lives in southeastern Virginia with her family. When she's not writing young adult fiction, she's playing with her daughter, training for races with her husband, working at her amazing library branch, learning to knit (badly), and reading.
Anne Blankman is the author of PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG, the first in a three-book deal slated for publication in spring 2014 from Balzer + Bray | HarperCollins. She is represented by Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
February 24, 2025
Unfortunately, this was a bit formulaic (like Jennifer A. Nielsen books) and at least a couple hours too long. A fair introduction to WW1 history though, which there are very few middle grade books about. The focus of the history leans toward the personal side of war, rather than political.
Girls with an interest in historical fiction are most likely to enjoy this, but due to the length I’m reluctant to broadly recommend. Adult readers will find it tedious and far-fetched.
I appreciate books that pack history into an exciting story for kids, but this one just doesn’t get the balance right.
Girls with an interest in historical fiction are most likely to enjoy this, but due to the length I’m reluctant to broadly recommend. Adult readers will find it tedious and far-fetched.
I appreciate books that pack history into an exciting story for kids, but this one just doesn’t get the balance right.
February 19, 2026
If this book had been around when I was 11 or 12 years old, I would have devoured it! Then I would have continued reading any other books about the Luisitania I found!
Such a wonderfully suspenseful, well-written book for middle-grade readers, but guaranteed to hook historical fiction lovers of all ages. The themes of love, true friendship and courage are present. Even more importantly, the author did a masterful job of showing what damage that hate and prejudice can cause if left unchecked. Though the setting was 1915, this novel covers issues that are very timely in today’s world.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
Such a wonderfully suspenseful, well-written book for middle-grade readers, but guaranteed to hook historical fiction lovers of all ages. The themes of love, true friendship and courage are present. Even more importantly, the author did a masterful job of showing what damage that hate and prejudice can cause if left unchecked. Though the setting was 1915, this novel covers issues that are very timely in today’s world.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
March 15, 2025
I was a little confused about why the author chose to format the story this way. The first 50 pages were riveting, but then it slows down and I think the story would be more exciting for kids if the page count was spent more on Marta surviving the Lusitania and then getting back to Germany rather than spending so much time in a holding pattern figuring things out in London.
So, it's a little hard to rate because parts of it were great, and others not so much. I'm still going to try to sell it to kids that liked the I Survived books, and we'll see how that goes!
So, it's a little hard to rate because parts of it were great, and others not so much. I'm still going to try to sell it to kids that liked the I Survived books, and we'll see how that goes!
March 14, 2025
Anne Blankman is a solid hit for me with her middlegrade Historical fiction! Loved her "Blackbird Girls" a few years back and "The Enemy's Daughter" was just as impactful.
We open on German-born Marta and her father, who are just seeking safe passage home to Germany as they have been displaced in the US visiting family in the early days of WWI. So, they board the Lusitania to journey home... and the unthinkable happens. A rogue German U Boat attacks this merchant ship carrying thousands of innocent lives, and in the chaos & aftermath of the attach, Marta and her father are separated, but thankfully, both survive this harrowing ordeal. But, in the days following the accident, Marta's father is identified as an enemy and taken into custody as part of the investigation. So, Marta finds herself alone in an enemy's land, that is until she somehow meets Clare, a young Irish refugee living in England. Clare and Marta immediately form a bond and Clare's family is nothing but kind, helpful, and merciful, taking Marta in, a young girl that they believe is a Dutch refugee that survived the Lusitania disaster... at least part of her story is true. They vow to shelter her and care for her and aid her in returning home to her Mother.
This story is a magical story about the power of friendship, especially in difficult times, and how that's the most incredible gift of all! It also begs the question of 'what makes an enemy?' and 'who is your enemy?'
This was an utter delight & close to perfection. 5 shining stars from this reader!
We open on German-born Marta and her father, who are just seeking safe passage home to Germany as they have been displaced in the US visiting family in the early days of WWI. So, they board the Lusitania to journey home... and the unthinkable happens. A rogue German U Boat attacks this merchant ship carrying thousands of innocent lives, and in the chaos & aftermath of the attach, Marta and her father are separated, but thankfully, both survive this harrowing ordeal. But, in the days following the accident, Marta's father is identified as an enemy and taken into custody as part of the investigation. So, Marta finds herself alone in an enemy's land, that is until she somehow meets Clare, a young Irish refugee living in England. Clare and Marta immediately form a bond and Clare's family is nothing but kind, helpful, and merciful, taking Marta in, a young girl that they believe is a Dutch refugee that survived the Lusitania disaster... at least part of her story is true. They vow to shelter her and care for her and aid her in returning home to her Mother.
This story is a magical story about the power of friendship, especially in difficult times, and how that's the most incredible gift of all! It also begs the question of 'what makes an enemy?' and 'who is your enemy?'
This was an utter delight & close to perfection. 5 shining stars from this reader!
February 3, 2026
I’m surprised I liked this book as much as I did. It began with an event that I didn’t know a lot of and touched on war from the perspective of a child. Marta was a great main character, and it was interesting to see her development regarding thinking of us vs them. It also felt like a very natural flow in her thought process. I liked her relationship with Claire and how that developed because it didn’t feel too quick or too shallow. It just felt like what should’ve happened. To read about this subject in such an earnest way felt very appropriate for right now and makes you think about the nature of others and how there will always be people who might be good or bad. The author’s note also lent to some more credibility and interesting detail. Overall, it was a great read.
June 4, 2026
I wish I enjoyed this book as much as I did "The Blackbird Girls"! While I loved the premise and historical exploration, it did not grab me at all and was a struggle to finish. It may have been my own headspace, but it did take me being stuck on a plane for 4 hours to finish this book :/
I will still recommend it to my historical readers, especially because I loved how the friendship ended and the added historical information that I didn't know about Britain during WWI.
I will still recommend it to my historical readers, especially because I loved how the friendship ended and the added historical information that I didn't know about Britain during WWI.
Read
October 13, 2024School Library Journal review title. See that publication for my review!
March 20, 2026
"I hope some day you can see the world isn't made up of one side against another. The world is far more complicated, and beautiful, and ugly, and difficult than that."
Honestly there is something so interesting about seeing war through a child's eyes. This book is heartbreaking and hopeful in many ways and if that isn't the vibe of a war book I don't know what is. War brings out the best and worst in people and I felt like the author captured that in this middle grade book which can be hard to accomplish.
Definitely recommend!
Honestly there is something so interesting about seeing war through a child's eyes. This book is heartbreaking and hopeful in many ways and if that isn't the vibe of a war book I don't know what is. War brings out the best and worst in people and I felt like the author captured that in this middle grade book which can be hard to accomplish.
Definitely recommend!
March 25, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ middle grade historical fiction WW1. I really like the first half of the book. The second half dragged on a bit for me.
April 13, 2025
3.5 stars. The Blackbird Girls was a more nuanced book, but that aside, this was a similarly enjoyable read.
April 29, 2025
Great juvenile fiction (though at times repetitive) and audiobook is well-done.
November 10, 2025
loved it but it is also sad 🥺 but sweet 🥹
April 12, 2025
This started out exciting but the plot slowed to a grinding halt, The girls on the cover look kind of like creepy dolls. Will not purchase, though I would like more books written about WWI.
June 15, 2026
If you enjoy historical fiction filled with adventure, friendship, and bravery, this book is an excellent choice. Set during World War I in 1915, the story follows Marta, a young German girl traveling aboard the Lusitania with her father as they attempt to return home to Germany. Because of the war, they must keep their identities secret to avoid being suspected of being enemy spies.
Everything changes when the Lusitania is attacked by a German submarine and begins to sink. Although Marta and her father survive the disaster, her father is detained, leaving Marta alone in a country where she is considered the enemy. Far from home and separated from her family, Marta must rely on her courage and determination to survive.
One of the best parts of the story is Marta's friendship with Clare, a cheerful Irish girl, and her welcoming family. Since they believe Marta is a Dutch refugee, they kindly take her in. As Marta struggles with whether to reveal her true identity, readers are reminded that people are often much more alike than different, even during times of war.
The author does a wonderful job of bringing history to life while telling an exciting and heartfelt story. Readers will learn about the sinking of the Lusitania, life during World War I, and the challenges faced by ordinary people caught in the middle of conflict. The themes of friendship, kindness, honesty, and courage make this book both educational and inspiring.
I highly recommend this book for students in 4th through 9th grade. It would be especially valuable for readers studying Germany, World War I, or the sinking of the Lusitania. The story is engaging, emotional, and filled with memorable characters that will stay with readers long after they finish the final chapter. A touching historical adventure that proves friendship can overcome even the divisions of war.
Everything changes when the Lusitania is attacked by a German submarine and begins to sink. Although Marta and her father survive the disaster, her father is detained, leaving Marta alone in a country where she is considered the enemy. Far from home and separated from her family, Marta must rely on her courage and determination to survive.
One of the best parts of the story is Marta's friendship with Clare, a cheerful Irish girl, and her welcoming family. Since they believe Marta is a Dutch refugee, they kindly take her in. As Marta struggles with whether to reveal her true identity, readers are reminded that people are often much more alike than different, even during times of war.
The author does a wonderful job of bringing history to life while telling an exciting and heartfelt story. Readers will learn about the sinking of the Lusitania, life during World War I, and the challenges faced by ordinary people caught in the middle of conflict. The themes of friendship, kindness, honesty, and courage make this book both educational and inspiring.
I highly recommend this book for students in 4th through 9th grade. It would be especially valuable for readers studying Germany, World War I, or the sinking of the Lusitania. The story is engaging, emotional, and filled with memorable characters that will stay with readers long after they finish the final chapter. A touching historical adventure that proves friendship can overcome even the divisions of war.
October 25, 2025
⭐️⭐⭐ ️️½ (3.5 stars)
The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman begins with an immediate sense of danger and urgency that pulls you right in. The story opens aboard the Lusitania, where Marta and her father, both Germans, find themselves in peril as the ship meets its tragic fate. From the very first pages, the tension is gripping, and you can’t help but wonder whether they will ever be reunited after the chaos that unfolds.
What stands out most is Marta’s emotional journey. Her friendship with Clare is heartfelt and genuine, showing how compassion can bridge divides even in the midst of wartime prejudice. Through Clare and her family, Marta begins to see people in a new light, challenging her own assumptions and grief. Blankman captures Marta’s inner turmoil beautifully, where you truly feel her longing for her parents and the confusion of being caught between two worlds.
The historical setting of World War I is well-portrayed, with enough realism and intensity to spark curiosity in young readers who might want to learn more about the era. There are also a few tense and dramatic moments, especially involving characters like Mr. Evans, that keep the plot moving.
However, the pacing slows considerably in the middle, with several chapters focused on reflection rather than action. While this deepens Marta’s character, it also causes the story to lose momentum. The ending, too, feels somewhat abrupt; while open endings can be powerful, this one leaves you wanting just a bit more closure. And though the cover is striking, it doesn’t quite match the warmth of Marta and Clare’s friendship.
Overall, The Enemy’s Daughter is a touching and thoughtful middle-grade historical novel that explores empathy and courage, even if it leaves a few loose ends untied.
The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman begins with an immediate sense of danger and urgency that pulls you right in. The story opens aboard the Lusitania, where Marta and her father, both Germans, find themselves in peril as the ship meets its tragic fate. From the very first pages, the tension is gripping, and you can’t help but wonder whether they will ever be reunited after the chaos that unfolds.
What stands out most is Marta’s emotional journey. Her friendship with Clare is heartfelt and genuine, showing how compassion can bridge divides even in the midst of wartime prejudice. Through Clare and her family, Marta begins to see people in a new light, challenging her own assumptions and grief. Blankman captures Marta’s inner turmoil beautifully, where you truly feel her longing for her parents and the confusion of being caught between two worlds.
The historical setting of World War I is well-portrayed, with enough realism and intensity to spark curiosity in young readers who might want to learn more about the era. There are also a few tense and dramatic moments, especially involving characters like Mr. Evans, that keep the plot moving.
However, the pacing slows considerably in the middle, with several chapters focused on reflection rather than action. While this deepens Marta’s character, it also causes the story to lose momentum. The ending, too, feels somewhat abrupt; while open endings can be powerful, this one leaves you wanting just a bit more closure. And though the cover is striking, it doesn’t quite match the warmth of Marta and Clare’s friendship.
Overall, The Enemy’s Daughter is a touching and thoughtful middle-grade historical novel that explores empathy and courage, even if it leaves a few loose ends untied.
April 4, 2025
First sentence: Marta leaned back against the ship's railing as far as she could go without falling over the side.
Premise/plot: Marta and her father are Germans aboard the Lusitania--secretly. Though not spies, they know that using their own papers to travel would be problematic--to say the least. They had been in America visiting family and now with the war--World War I--they are having difficulty traveling back safely. The sinking of the ship coincides with their discovery. Soon, Marta finds herself in England on her own. Her father is imprisoned and/or detained. Somewhere. She has no way of knowing where he is or what steps to take to find out where. Essentially on her own in a foreign country with whom she has some biases. Germany and England are at war after all. Germany is right all the time, isn't it? So what's a girl to do to survive without her identity becoming known?
My thoughts: I wanted to love this one. I did. I wanted to feel swept up, up, and away. I wanted to feel it to be an incredibly compelling stories where I cared deeply about the characters. And there is a chance--since reading is subjective--that it may be exactly that for another reader. I felt strangely detached from the characters and the story. I don't know if it was all me or if the book perhaps is more tell than show. (As opposed to more show than tell). One thing I can still appreciate is that Marta's friendship comes through a shared love of books. With that I can relate 100%. Books can build bridges across cultures, etc. And a shared love of specific stories can help encourage friendship to bloom.
Premise/plot: Marta and her father are Germans aboard the Lusitania--secretly. Though not spies, they know that using their own papers to travel would be problematic--to say the least. They had been in America visiting family and now with the war--World War I--they are having difficulty traveling back safely. The sinking of the ship coincides with their discovery. Soon, Marta finds herself in England on her own. Her father is imprisoned and/or detained. Somewhere. She has no way of knowing where he is or what steps to take to find out where. Essentially on her own in a foreign country with whom she has some biases. Germany and England are at war after all. Germany is right all the time, isn't it? So what's a girl to do to survive without her identity becoming known?
My thoughts: I wanted to love this one. I did. I wanted to feel swept up, up, and away. I wanted to feel it to be an incredibly compelling stories where I cared deeply about the characters. And there is a chance--since reading is subjective--that it may be exactly that for another reader. I felt strangely detached from the characters and the story. I don't know if it was all me or if the book perhaps is more tell than show. (As opposed to more show than tell). One thing I can still appreciate is that Marta's friendship comes through a shared love of books. With that I can relate 100%. Books can build bridges across cultures, etc. And a shared love of specific stories can help encourage friendship to bloom.
October 6, 2025
The Enemy's Daughter is an excellent historical fiction that takes place in 1915, during World War I. We follow the story of Marta, a young German girl traveling home with her father on the cruise ship Lusitania. War has broken out while she and her father were away in New York, and now they must get home to her mother and brother. They must hide their identities because the hatred of Germans is enormous, and it is unlawful for them to travel on an English ship. Marta's gift for foreign languages and accents comes in very handy ... she is able to fool most of the people she meets into thinking she is an American, or a girl from the Netherlands.
When the ship is blown up by German forces, Marta and her father must survive. In gripping scenes that evoke scenes from a movie, Marta and her father manage to survive, ending up in Ireland. Then they are separated, and Marta must figure out what to do next in order to survive, find her father, and get home to Berlin.
The writing is excellent, with breath-taking action scenes as well as very convincing internal conversations that Marta has with herself.
The writer paints a very clear picture of life for Marta, as she goes about her days pretending to be Dutch and taking refuge with a kind Irish family. She lives in constant fear of being discovered to be German, and this fear is very palpably described by Blankman. We are with Martha all the way, and at the end, we are shown that love and friendship must prevail over war and national strife. This is a must-have for middle schools and is an enjoyable read even for adults. Highly recommended.
When the ship is blown up by German forces, Marta and her father must survive. In gripping scenes that evoke scenes from a movie, Marta and her father manage to survive, ending up in Ireland. Then they are separated, and Marta must figure out what to do next in order to survive, find her father, and get home to Berlin.
The writing is excellent, with breath-taking action scenes as well as very convincing internal conversations that Marta has with herself.
The writer paints a very clear picture of life for Marta, as she goes about her days pretending to be Dutch and taking refuge with a kind Irish family. She lives in constant fear of being discovered to be German, and this fear is very palpably described by Blankman. We are with Martha all the way, and at the end, we are shown that love and friendship must prevail over war and national strife. This is a must-have for middle schools and is an enjoyable read even for adults. Highly recommended.
April 29, 2025
BOOK REVIEW: “The Enemy’s Daughter” by Anne Blankman
It’s 1915 and Marta and her father are passengers on the Lusitania, heading home to Germany from America. It’s the middle of World War 1 and people don’t take too kindly to Germans even if they’re innocent civilians. Marta and her father have to forge papers to get back home, and have to keep a low profile for the entire trip. While aboard, the Lusitania is attacked by a German submarine, causing the ship to sink. They make it off the ship, but unfortunately Marta’s father is arrested, and she’s left to fend for herself in a country where she knows no one. She meets Clare, a young Irish girl, and is invited to stay in her home. Marta can’t possibly tell her the truth about who she is. Even Clare’s family hates the Germans. They show her such love and care, so is it possible they are not really her enemies?
So much to unpack in this little book! I think my favorite part of the book is the childlike wonder through Marta’s eyes. She believes that the Germans are good people and they’d never actually hurt anyone. It must be the English who are bad, right?
I love how the author helps readers to realize that not everyone is all good or bad. Just because there are bad people in your country, doesn’t mean everyone is bad. In the midst of all of those horrible people, there are thousands of honest, loving people. We shouldn’t judge people based on their looks or their here they’re from.
I think this book was very well done and an excellent history book for middle schoolers. I rate this book as 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s 1915 and Marta and her father are passengers on the Lusitania, heading home to Germany from America. It’s the middle of World War 1 and people don’t take too kindly to Germans even if they’re innocent civilians. Marta and her father have to forge papers to get back home, and have to keep a low profile for the entire trip. While aboard, the Lusitania is attacked by a German submarine, causing the ship to sink. They make it off the ship, but unfortunately Marta’s father is arrested, and she’s left to fend for herself in a country where she knows no one. She meets Clare, a young Irish girl, and is invited to stay in her home. Marta can’t possibly tell her the truth about who she is. Even Clare’s family hates the Germans. They show her such love and care, so is it possible they are not really her enemies?
So much to unpack in this little book! I think my favorite part of the book is the childlike wonder through Marta’s eyes. She believes that the Germans are good people and they’d never actually hurt anyone. It must be the English who are bad, right?
I love how the author helps readers to realize that not everyone is all good or bad. Just because there are bad people in your country, doesn’t mean everyone is bad. In the midst of all of those horrible people, there are thousands of honest, loving people. We shouldn’t judge people based on their looks or their here they’re from.
I think this book was very well done and an excellent history book for middle schoolers. I rate this book as 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 4, 2026
Marta unmoored.
“Torpedo”--Jillette Johnson
“Come on, torpedo do your worst. Get me right in the heart, blow me up ‘till you see my ghost. I will not lie down in the road, I will not make it easy”
Marta is a German girl traveling home with her father on the Lusitania during WWI. After the ship is bombed and she is separated from her father, Marta must navigate enemy territory to reunite with him and find her way home.
I know about the sad sinking of the Lusitania, but this is the first book I have read about it. That chocolate pudding must have been famous for it appears in the movie as well. I was intrigued with how the writer described the ship being torpedoed. I do not believe I have ever read such a perspective before.
Marta’s fear is real. People in England do not like Germans, so finding her father will not be easy. Then she meets Clair, an Irish girl, who has left school to work. Both girls love to read and both are separated from their fathers. However, they are daughters of enemy nations.
I appreciated that Marta and Clair read like children. Even Marta’s lie is something that a child would conceive. Both must overcome prejudices and Marta is constantly worried someone will discover she is German. She also has survivor's guilt.
I would say that the book is most suited for its target age group. I think children will enjoy the historical details presented to them through the eyes of a peer. The details are not heavy, but the point gets across. This is the second book I read with this sort of ending. Don’t know to be sad or glad.
“Torpedo”--Jillette Johnson
“Come on, torpedo do your worst. Get me right in the heart, blow me up ‘till you see my ghost. I will not lie down in the road, I will not make it easy”
Marta is a German girl traveling home with her father on the Lusitania during WWI. After the ship is bombed and she is separated from her father, Marta must navigate enemy territory to reunite with him and find her way home.
I know about the sad sinking of the Lusitania, but this is the first book I have read about it. That chocolate pudding must have been famous for it appears in the movie as well. I was intrigued with how the writer described the ship being torpedoed. I do not believe I have ever read such a perspective before.
Marta’s fear is real. People in England do not like Germans, so finding her father will not be easy. Then she meets Clair, an Irish girl, who has left school to work. Both girls love to read and both are separated from their fathers. However, they are daughters of enemy nations.
I appreciated that Marta and Clair read like children. Even Marta’s lie is something that a child would conceive. Both must overcome prejudices and Marta is constantly worried someone will discover she is German. She also has survivor's guilt.
I would say that the book is most suited for its target age group. I think children will enjoy the historical details presented to them through the eyes of a peer. The details are not heavy, but the point gets across. This is the second book I read with this sort of ending. Don’t know to be sad or glad.
May 15, 2026
Two preteen girls become fast friends in York during World War I.
One is German and the other Irish.
What can we all learn from these two girls about our views of the ENEMY?
🚢The book begins with the sinking of the Lusitania. Marta is on board with her father and the attack. In the chaos of the ship sinking they get separated. How will Marta get home to Berlin now?
🍀Marta is taken in by an Irish family in York. She is deathly afraid of being imprisoned as an enemy to Britain so Marta pretends to be a Dutch girl named Martha. Fortunately she has acting talents and can change her accent. It was fun to have the girls working on a production of "A Midsummer's Night Dream" with other students.
🤔We have a front row seat to the turmoil Marta lives with. She is so appreciative of the family who feeds her and gives her a place to stay. They even connect her with a job at a candy factory. How long will it take her to save enough money for travel to Holland where she can connect with her mother?
👭As you might have guessed, Marta's secret will come out. Will her friend Clare understand? What will the York police do with Marta? Put her in the internment camp? I had hoped to learn more about Marta's story after her German nationality is discovered. The reactions of the townspeople are varied and help the reader to grow in empathy.
One is German and the other Irish.
What can we all learn from these two girls about our views of the ENEMY?
🚢The book begins with the sinking of the Lusitania. Marta is on board with her father and the attack. In the chaos of the ship sinking they get separated. How will Marta get home to Berlin now?
🍀Marta is taken in by an Irish family in York. She is deathly afraid of being imprisoned as an enemy to Britain so Marta pretends to be a Dutch girl named Martha. Fortunately she has acting talents and can change her accent. It was fun to have the girls working on a production of "A Midsummer's Night Dream" with other students.
🤔We have a front row seat to the turmoil Marta lives with. She is so appreciative of the family who feeds her and gives her a place to stay. They even connect her with a job at a candy factory. How long will it take her to save enough money for travel to Holland where she can connect with her mother?
👭As you might have guessed, Marta's secret will come out. Will her friend Clare understand? What will the York police do with Marta? Put her in the internment camp? I had hoped to learn more about Marta's story after her German nationality is discovered. The reactions of the townspeople are varied and help the reader to grow in empathy.
January 21, 2026
It's 1915, and Marta and her father are trying to get home from America--aboard the Lusitania. Just before the ship is hit by a German torpedo, Marta's father is arrested because of his German heritage. Separated by the shipwreck, Marta tries to find her father, and ends up being loosely adopted into an impoverished Irish family in London. They think she's Dutch, and Marta knows her life would be on the line if anyone knew she were German--the O'Sullivans despise Germans. It's a difficult position to be in, not just physically, but mentally, Marta is struggling with cognitive dissonance. The English and Irish are nothing like what she's learned, and their view of Germans is likewise skewed. And why did Marta's country's navy hit a civilian ship? It's a lot to cope with. Is there any possible way it could end well?
I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, but I thought this one did a great job with the worldbuilding, and with the juxtaposition of Marta's and Clare's learned views of people from other countries. Though sometimes, I thought there was too much telling in addition to showing; often, the showing would be enough. The characters all had layers and flaws, and there was a lot of suspense and heart-pounding situations as well as more domestic scenes.
I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, but I thought this one did a great job with the worldbuilding, and with the juxtaposition of Marta's and Clare's learned views of people from other countries. Though sometimes, I thought there was too much telling in addition to showing; often, the showing would be enough. The characters all had layers and flaws, and there was a lot of suspense and heart-pounding situations as well as more domestic scenes.
February 18, 2025
Set in 1915, Marta and her father are passengers aboard the Lusitania, trying to hide their German identities as the attempt to travel home. When the ship is attacked, they manage to escape the ship only for Marta's father to be arrested as aa spy.
Now alone in the unfamiliar country of Great Britain, Marta must find her father and a way home.
Posing as Dutch girl, she meets Irish girl Clare and her family forms a friendship. But they can never discover her true identity. As she begins to get know her new friends and their home, everything she thought about the war begins to shift. And she discovers maybe both sides are just people.
The Enemy's Daughter is everything I've come to expect from Anne Blankman. She is a talented writer who can take a piece of history and weave an unforgettable story.
As always, Blankman has created a historical masterpiece that packs and emotional punch. This incredible tribute to World War I is truly something special.
Thank you to Anne Blankman, VIking Books, and Netgalley!
(This book was provided to me via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.)
Now alone in the unfamiliar country of Great Britain, Marta must find her father and a way home.
Posing as Dutch girl, she meets Irish girl Clare and her family forms a friendship. But they can never discover her true identity. As she begins to get know her new friends and their home, everything she thought about the war begins to shift. And she discovers maybe both sides are just people.
The Enemy's Daughter is everything I've come to expect from Anne Blankman. She is a talented writer who can take a piece of history and weave an unforgettable story.
As always, Blankman has created a historical masterpiece that packs and emotional punch. This incredible tribute to World War I is truly something special.
Thank you to Anne Blankman, VIking Books, and Netgalley!
(This book was provided to me via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.)
May 20, 2025
In THE ENEMY’S DAUGHTER, on the Lusitania with her father returning home to Germany, Marta survives the bombing of the ship, but she finds herself alone in an unfamiliar country after her father is arrested. Forced to fend for herself, Marta befriends Clare, an Irish girl whose family takes her in. While she carefully hides her German identity, she begins to question her own beliefs about those she has considered to be her enemies.
Courtesy of the events on the Lusitania, the author has created an intense opening that draws readers into the story and sets the stage for Marta to grapple with her ideas about hate and prejudice. Marta’s unlikely friendship with Clare provides the character with opportunities to explore a different perspective and highlights the internal conflict and confusion she feels as she experiences great kindness from people who she believes she should dislike. With themes of bravery and friendship paired with a tension filled narrative, this will interest fans of wartime historical fiction stories.
Courtesy of the events on the Lusitania, the author has created an intense opening that draws readers into the story and sets the stage for Marta to grapple with her ideas about hate and prejudice. Marta’s unlikely friendship with Clare provides the character with opportunities to explore a different perspective and highlights the internal conflict and confusion she feels as she experiences great kindness from people who she believes she should dislike. With themes of bravery and friendship paired with a tension filled narrative, this will interest fans of wartime historical fiction stories.
June 2, 2026
Summary:
In The Enemy's Daughter, 12-year-old Marta Pfaffenbach and her father try to return to Germany during World War I, traveling on the British ocean liner Lusitania. When the ship is torpedoed and sinks, Marta survives but is separated from her father, who is taken by English authorities as a suspected spy. Alone in England, Marta assumes false identities-first American, then Dutch-to avoid anti-German hostility. She is eventually taken in by Clare O'Sullivan and her Irish family, who believe Marta is a Dutch refugee. As she hides her German identity, Marta learns about friendship, trust, and the human side of "enemies."
By the end, Marta's father is released, and Marta is reunited with him. She also comes to realize that individuals are not defined by the countries they come from and that kindness and compassion can exist even in wartime. Marta's journey transforms her from a scared, cautious girl into a braver, wiser, and more empathetic young person
In The Enemy's Daughter, 12-year-old Marta Pfaffenbach and her father try to return to Germany during World War I, traveling on the British ocean liner Lusitania. When the ship is torpedoed and sinks, Marta survives but is separated from her father, who is taken by English authorities as a suspected spy. Alone in England, Marta assumes false identities-first American, then Dutch-to avoid anti-German hostility. She is eventually taken in by Clare O'Sullivan and her Irish family, who believe Marta is a Dutch refugee. As she hides her German identity, Marta learns about friendship, trust, and the human side of "enemies."
By the end, Marta's father is released, and Marta is reunited with him. She also comes to realize that individuals are not defined by the countries they come from and that kindness and compassion can exist even in wartime. Marta's journey transforms her from a scared, cautious girl into a braver, wiser, and more empathetic young person
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2025
Although Marta and her father miraculously survive the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, their troubles are only just beginning. As German citizens, they're suspected of somehow sabotaging the ship, since their country is at war with Britain. With Marta's father in custody, she finds herself alone in England, trying to make her way to neutral Holland and then back to Germany. When a kind Irish family takes her in and helps her get a job, she wonders if it's possible to be friends with people when your countries are at war. Will she be able to save enough money to leave the country before her secret is discovered?
This is an interesting look at a significant event of WWI through a child's perspective. It's also a good introduction to nationalism and what it means to be prejudiced against whole groups of people based on the actions of their government.
This is an interesting look at a significant event of WWI through a child's perspective. It's also a good introduction to nationalism and what it means to be prejudiced against whole groups of people based on the actions of their government.
May 1, 2026
On their way home from American to Germany during WWI, Marta and her father are on the Lusitania when it is struck by German torpedoes and sinks. They both survive the sea, but are separated in England where they are seen as enemies due to their German heritage. Marta quickly takes on the persona of a Dutch survivor, makes an Irish friend, and secretly plots to get home so her mother can help rescue her father. This novel starts off with a bang, jumping right into the sinking of the ship. The next part shows what was happening in England during the war, and how deeply people's feelings about other fighting countries ran. Marta is a brave girl who learns a lot and has a lesson for us all: that while governments may not get along, all of us caught in their political fights can still be friends.
May 21, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it did an excellent job of exploring themes that were so real in the war but also the hidden themes such as fear and suspicion. I went to a war museum once and watched a short film where the veteran said he could sometimes look into the cockpit of an enemy plane and see the enemy pilot. Sometimes he would think I bet that is a good bloke, someone I could enjoy a drink with-while at the same time trying to gun him down. This book reminded me a lot of that comment. War creates lots of terrible situations but in the end we are all the same. These 2 girls were friends and enemies all at once and the ability to work around those opposites created a powerful story. It is heartfelt and explored war on a more personal level than just reading about the events.
June 4, 2026
A book about WW1 instead of WW2- huzzah! I really liked Blackbird Girls and was hoping I would like this one as much. I liked it but found parts to drag on, and some parts to feel a little repetitive. Marta and her dad are Germans, trying to get back to Germany from America. The first part is about the attack on the Lusitania. That would have been a story by itself. Then Marta gets separated from her dad and tries to find her way to where she thinks he is- York, England. An Irish family takes her in, thinking she is a Dutch girl. Long story short, she has to figure out that people of all nations can be good or bad and war is really dumb. Marta is maybe 11 or 12, but the cover makes the book seem a little more juvenile. No swears, no romance, and war deaths, deaths of women and children. 5th grade and up.
April 4, 2025
I've read a lot about World War I and World War II and I've always been fascinated by the Titanic, but I haven't read much about the Lusitania. I felt like I learned a lot about that period in history and how difficult it was to not categorize the other side as the enemy -- even when it came to children. I loved the friendship between Clare and Marta, and I think it serves as a great lesson to young readers that you can't hate someone for something they can't change. I think this lesson can be applied in the current climate we are living in because there is so much hate towards minorities and immigrants. At the end of the day, everyone is just trying their best. Hating someone for their race/nationality is never fair.
April 26, 2025
Hmmm....lots of interesting historical tidbits about the Lusitania, and the city of York during WWI. And I did love the references to Anne of Green Gables. Still, the plot line, and all the deception was too contrived. It all seemed far-fetched for the character's ages, but educational until the story trails off into an annoying non-ending. So did Marta get back to Germany?? What happened to her father and brother? What about Clare's family? Did the girls reunite after the war? Definitely needs a short afterward.
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