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Enemy Brothers
British airman Dym Ingleford is convinced that the young German prisoner, Max Eckermann, is his brother Anthony who was kidnapped years before. Raised in the Nazi ideology, Tony has by chance tumbled into British hands. Dym has brought him back, at least temporarily, to the family he neither remembers nor will acknowledge as his own. As Tony keeps attempting to escape, his stubborn anger is whittled away by the patient kindness he finds at the White Priory. Then, just as he is resigning himself to stay with this English family, a new chance suddenly opens for him to return home—to Germany!
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1944
10 people are currently reading
778 people want to read
About the author
Constance Savery
66 books28 followersBorn in 1897, in All Saints' Vicarage in Froxfield, Wiltshire, Constance Winifred Savery was the daughter of the Rev. John Manly Savery, and his wife, Constance Eleanor Harbord Savery. The family moved to Birmingham when she was nine years old, and Savery was educated there, at King Edward VI High School for Girls. She went on to Somerville College, Oxford, where she studied English, and was in the first cohort of woman students to be granted degrees, in 1920. She earned a Post-Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education from Birmingham University, and M.A. from Oxford in 1927, and taught briefly (and unhappily), before her mother's death necessitated a return to her father's household in Middleton-cum-Fordley, Suffolk, where she helped him with the parish work.
Savery never returned to teaching, earning her living from then on by writing. She published close to fifty books, and numerous short stories and articles, all informed by her deep Christian (Anglican) faith. She died in 1999.
Savery never returned to teaching, earning her living from then on by writing. She published close to fifty books, and numerous short stories and articles, all informed by her deep Christian (Anglican) faith. She died in 1999.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
November 27, 2024
5+ stars (10/10 hearts). How do I even begin this review? I put it off for days fearing that I could not properly explain how beautiful it is. I can only do my best and hope that you too will be able to pick up this gem and love it.
First off, the setting. WWII England. It was amazing. It was 100% England and just a beautiful story of life—as normal as possible—during WWII. The characters were so English and they TALKED like Britishers (or Scots, if they happened to be Scottish). This book was published in 1943 and so is contemporary to the author’s time... which is just so cool.
Next, the characters. Ohh... what can I say? I loved them. Bumbling, kind-hearted Ginger & his friends; sarcastic, kindly Jim; blunt, tactless Porgy; calm, loving Euphemia; gentle, steady Thomas; quiet, hard-working Mortimer; eccentric, humorous Jakob... and best of all, Tony and Dym. I loved Tony. He was so independent and yet so dependant. I loved his relationship with Dym, with Euphemia, with Thomas, with Jim. And Dym. Oh, Dym. What can I say of Dym? He was perfect, and yet... he *was* perfect. He couldn’t be other than perfect—perfectly. He was so calm, so loving, so dependable, so sacrificing, so wise, so tender... I have never been so deeply touched by a character before—and I’ve been reading books all my life, and love countless characters.
The plot was perfect. Intriguing, but calm. Slow-paced enough to dwell on characters and personality and life and hearts changing. I loved the scene in the church, Dym’s speech on the war, the conversation between Jim and Tony at the end, the way Tony’s talk changed to show his heart’s change, the banter and humour between Euphemia and Tony (that time when he tells her he thought she was a bomb... xD). I loved all the reflection. The descriptions of the countryside. I cannot think of anything I disliked, except I half think Dym should have rowed Tony for the desk incident... I would have enjoyed seeing that!
This book is my #1 favourite novel. I have no higher praise. I love it as I loved no other book before. As soon as I finished it I wanted to reread it. And I did—at least, I reread my favourite parts over and over. Tony and Dym in the train. Ginger and the other midshipmen bantering. Dym chasing Tony into the wynd. Dym saving Tony from the bomb. Dym warning Tony of his nine lives. Tony realizing Dym’s flying is dangerous and all the reflections that provokes. Tony coming back the last time and Dym holding him tight. And that’s not all. I loved almost every scene in this book. I reread it about two months after the first reading, and I fell in love all over again. I cannot express how much I loved the beauty, the humour, the characters, the writing style... all of this book. I can only attempt to, and hope that you will love it too.
A Favourite Quote: “But why doesn’t He stop the war?[”]
“Perhaps it’s because He has made us men, Max, not dolls that can’t lift a finger of their own accord. But I don’t really know; I’m not in the Operations Room, you see. All I do know is that the world has a Chief who was victorious when the powers of darkness struck at Him with everything they had. He has the plans today. The darkness won’t last forever. There’s a splendor beyond.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Nein,” Tony answered, with a resolute shake of his head. “Sprechen Sie deutsch, bitte. Sie Arlen bier nicht englisch sprechen. That means,” he explained kindly, “speak German, please; you are not allowed to speak English here.”
Not allowed! Euphemia looked down at the little figure swallowed up in a pair of James’ pyjamas, which she had not yet had time to cut down for him. Her lips twitched into a smile.
“Ick kann nick doytch sprich,” she said brightly. “Hier ist medicine vrom Herr Doctor. Das ist the best ick kann do, Max. Ick hopen you understandt.”
First off, the setting. WWII England. It was amazing. It was 100% England and just a beautiful story of life—as normal as possible—during WWII. The characters were so English and they TALKED like Britishers (or Scots, if they happened to be Scottish). This book was published in 1943 and so is contemporary to the author’s time... which is just so cool.
Next, the characters. Ohh... what can I say? I loved them. Bumbling, kind-hearted Ginger & his friends; sarcastic, kindly Jim; blunt, tactless Porgy; calm, loving Euphemia; gentle, steady Thomas; quiet, hard-working Mortimer; eccentric, humorous Jakob... and best of all, Tony and Dym. I loved Tony. He was so independent and yet so dependant. I loved his relationship with Dym, with Euphemia, with Thomas, with Jim. And Dym. Oh, Dym. What can I say of Dym? He was perfect, and yet... he *was* perfect. He couldn’t be other than perfect—perfectly. He was so calm, so loving, so dependable, so sacrificing, so wise, so tender... I have never been so deeply touched by a character before—and I’ve been reading books all my life, and love countless characters.
The plot was perfect. Intriguing, but calm. Slow-paced enough to dwell on characters and personality and life and hearts changing. I loved the scene in the church, Dym’s speech on the war, the conversation between Jim and Tony at the end, the way Tony’s talk changed to show his heart’s change, the banter and humour between Euphemia and Tony (that time when he tells her he thought she was a bomb... xD). I loved all the reflection. The descriptions of the countryside. I cannot think of anything I disliked, except I half think Dym should have rowed Tony for the desk incident... I would have enjoyed seeing that!
This book is my #1 favourite novel. I have no higher praise. I love it as I loved no other book before. As soon as I finished it I wanted to reread it. And I did—at least, I reread my favourite parts over and over. Tony and Dym in the train. Ginger and the other midshipmen bantering. Dym chasing Tony into the wynd. Dym saving Tony from the bomb. Dym warning Tony of his nine lives. Tony realizing Dym’s flying is dangerous and all the reflections that provokes. Tony coming back the last time and Dym holding him tight. And that’s not all. I loved almost every scene in this book. I reread it about two months after the first reading, and I fell in love all over again. I cannot express how much I loved the beauty, the humour, the characters, the writing style... all of this book. I can only attempt to, and hope that you will love it too.
A Favourite Quote: “But why doesn’t He stop the war?[”]
“Perhaps it’s because He has made us men, Max, not dolls that can’t lift a finger of their own accord. But I don’t really know; I’m not in the Operations Room, you see. All I do know is that the world has a Chief who was victorious when the powers of darkness struck at Him with everything they had. He has the plans today. The darkness won’t last forever. There’s a splendor beyond.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Nein,” Tony answered, with a resolute shake of his head. “Sprechen Sie deutsch, bitte. Sie Arlen bier nicht englisch sprechen. That means,” he explained kindly, “speak German, please; you are not allowed to speak English here.”
Not allowed! Euphemia looked down at the little figure swallowed up in a pair of James’ pyjamas, which she had not yet had time to cut down for him. Her lips twitched into a smile.
“Ick kann nick doytch sprich,” she said brightly. “Hier ist medicine vrom Herr Doctor. Das ist the best ick kann do, Max. Ick hopen you understandt.”
January 22, 2020
Out of the countless historical fiction books and World War II novels I have read and loved, there is one that crowns them all as the best among all my beloved favorites - Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery. But it is more than just a fabulous tale of World War II. At its heart, Enemy Brothers is a story of two brothers and the love and loyalty between them that transcends the evil and hate of war. It is a story of the fight to preserve all that is light and good when destruction, darkness, and evil threaten to destroy it. It is a story of a choice - a choice of which side to serve - the light or the dark - a choice that each individual or nation must make for themselves. Each level of this conflict and battle between good and evil - between nations at war and between individuals in a personal conflict - is played out against the backdrop of World War II in this novel that is by turns heartwarming, humorous, and rivetingly intense.
When Max Eckermann, a young German boy raised in the Nazi ideology, is caught up in a whirlwind and deposited against his will in the home of a large and boisterous English family, he stubbornly fights to serve his German homeland and to escape at all costs. Dym Ingleford, a young Royal Air Force officer, believes that Max is his lost brother Tony - stolen as a baby and found again by chance or fate. But Max - or Tony - defies Dym's resolve and hates his English captors - and hates Dym most of all the Ingleford siblings.
Tony is faced with a choice, and everything depends on what he will choose. If Tony is to be won back to the light - if his Nazi training is to be defeated - then Dym must tread carefully. One false move, one harsh word, could destroy all hope of Tony's being saved.
The tumultuous story that follows is one of loyalty and betrayal; home and family; truth and lies; redemption against all odds; and sacrificial love that will go to the ends of the earth to find the lost soul and bring it back to the light.
Written in the midst of World War II, before America joined the Allies, when Britain still stood alone against the forces of darkness, this book is a bright and powerful picture of what it was like on the home front during the war, of the people and ideologies of Germany and England, and of the courageous, strong, determined people who held on to hope and fought against all odds for the side of the light.
Then he made another survey of his captor. His eyes rested first on Dym's hands, slender but with a look of strength in repose about them. A feeling of respect crept into his heart as he remembered the iron grasp in which he had found himself for the second time imprisoned. "He held me as if he would never let me go," said Tony to himself. . . . But his eyes, drawn unwillingly again and again . . . could not help seeing that there were other marks on the airman's hands--jagged scars of shrapnel wounds.
As with most books, especially favorites, the characters are the best part of the book for me. But every other part of the book is shining and wonderful as well. However, I have loved these characters for almost exactly a decade, and my love for them only grows with each read-through.
Dym, first of all - he is grave and steady, wise and intelligent, self-disciplined and patient, kind and compassionate and caring. He is incredibly humble, incredibly selfless. He is a loving and devoted brother who helps and cares for his family, his friends, and people in need. When he is not grave and serious, he is cheerful and bright, full of merriment and laughter, twinkling blue-gray eyes and a ready smile. He is smart and sharp and observant, missing nothing, and he loves books and learning and knowledge. He loves children and knows exactly how to handle them - and he always notices them and cares for them instead of discounting them like many adults. He understands so well - understands Tony, people, and the world, with incredible perception and insight. It is Dym's quiet influence that brings hope for change in Tony's life, his steady presence in the storm that makes a difference - his unconditional, sacrificial, fierce, redeeming love that chases and finds Tony in the darkest, most fearful, most destructive places - and sacrifices to bring him back. Even when Dym has been deeply hurt himself, he never becomes bitter or fails to love Tony and to choose to forgive those who have wronged him so grievously. In addition to all this, he is a Flying Officer in the English RAF who fought in the Battle of Britain, which makes him about as cool and courageous as it is possible to be. He continues to fight for what is right, to fight for his country against the forces of evil, and to fight for Tony - and to hold on to hope, truth, and faith in God and in the coming victory, even when the odds are grim. At times in my life, I have wished for a big brother, and if I had one, I would want him to be a lot like Dym. For all these reasons, Dym might possibly be the number one contender for the high honor of being my favorite male character of all time .
It was only Dym who was resolved to keep him at any cost . . . Dym whose steely hands would never let go.
And I love Tony just as much as Dym. He is a wonderful protagonist. I can't say as much about him without major spoilers, but his struggle between good and evil is so powerful. He is an intelligent, inquisitive, mischievous, clever young boy with a biting wit - and an incredible sweetness. He is a fighter, incredibly stubborn and determined, and he refuses to be defeated without a cataclysmic struggle. I love him dearly, and I love his journey over the course of the book.
The relationship between Tony and Dym is so powerful. It is the heart of the book. I love each of them, and I love their relationship - and the way it gradually grows and changes over the course of the book, and Tony's beliefs along with it. I love the way Dym loves Tony unconditionally and fiercely when every sign and person tells him he shouldn't. And I love the way Tony's regard for Dym evolves over the course of the book.
Tony flung himself into his brother's arms and felt them close round him tight. "Hold me tight so I can't get away!" he said, and found himself queerly rejoicing in the steely strength of those scarred wrists.
I first read this book almost exactly decade ago when I was a little younger than Tony. Many re-reads later, I'm very close to the age of his older brother, Dym, minus a mere few months. And I have a younger sister who is about a decade younger than me, give or take a year, the same as these two brothers. During this re-read, I've been contemplating what Dym must be feeling after losing a baby sibling in the way that Dym lost his - and possibly finding them again in such a way. It is fascinating to contemplate what emotions and thoughts Dym must have over the course of the story, behind the steady control that is hardly ever broken - except to give glimpses that reveal what he's going through, deep down. And now that I am his age and an older sister, I notice and understand his struggle better, when I didn't focus on it as a preteen or teen. I felt his emotion while reading the book.
And I also felt everything Tony goes through, as I always have - more intensely than ever, if anything. I often came close to crying as I read due to the depths of my feeling about what Dym and Tony go through separately and together, and at the beautiful themes and truths expressed in their relationship.
There are so many other things I love about this book besides Dym and Tony, but the two of them are the most wonderful part. This review only scratches the surface of the treasure that this book contains, but here are a few other favorite aspects:
-I adore the Ingleford family. They are wonderful. A gigantic, boisterous, uproarious family of siblings, with a loving and happy home, full of laughter and humor and kindness and cheer. I love how loyal they are to their country's fight and the war effort, from big, kind Thomas to the youngest and smallest. I would love to be a part of their family, or be a guest in their house - I would love to experience it just for a short while, cause it's wonderful!!! They fight and bicker and lose their tempers - they all have a spark - but above all, they love each other dearly and are devoted to each other, and I love that.
-I love all the other characters. Even the random strangers the characters meet, and the supporting characters from sweet to annoying, are so vivid and well-developed and unique and full of life - not to mention the large cast of main characters. And I realized to my great amazement and admiration that even though there are more than a dozen main characters of varying prominence - closer to two dozen - every single one is incredibly vivid and well-developed, with unique personality, mannerisms, way of speaking, motivations, disposition, and humanity. I see each one so clearly in my mind, vivid in detail of appearance and movement, which only happens with characters that are well-rounded and developed. The fact that each of a family of eleven or twelve siblings is deeply developed and unique, with not a single one falling by the wayside, speaks of the masterful greatness of this author's craft and writing.
-The prose and descriptions of this book are delightful and glorious. The beautiful and deep descriptions are used sparingly, but they are tantalizing, and I can't get enough. I love seeing Tony's world through his eyes and perspective - observant, perceptive eyes and a deep, thoughtful mind that appreciate rich or delicate beauty; fairy-like landscapes and objects; pulsing color and soft grayness; the delight of nature and life; and little, fascinating aspects of people.
-In other parts of my review, I have already touched on many of the themes of this book. They are utterly gorgeous and incredibly profound. Yet they are subtle and natural, unobtrusive, never forced or preachy. The book is full the deepest truth - the only kind that is truly life-giving.
-The plot and pacing are just as fabulous. Although it is a book that primarily focuses on characters and relationships, it also contains an intricate, complex plot and plenty of moments of excitement. Intense moments and sections of action are interspersed with calm, quietness, and peace. The book moves forward, building steadily, like the rhythm of the train the characters travel on. Fascinating questions are raised and threads of plot are perfectly woven together from beginning to end. The book culminates in a climax that more than does justice to such a wonderful story - and is more intense than all the rest.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys wonderful and quality fiction. It can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of whether someone typically reads historical fiction, the World War II era, or stories about powerful family relationships. However, it is a must-read for those who enjoy those types of stories. This fabulous book should not be missed.
When Max Eckermann, a young German boy raised in the Nazi ideology, is caught up in a whirlwind and deposited against his will in the home of a large and boisterous English family, he stubbornly fights to serve his German homeland and to escape at all costs. Dym Ingleford, a young Royal Air Force officer, believes that Max is his lost brother Tony - stolen as a baby and found again by chance or fate. But Max - or Tony - defies Dym's resolve and hates his English captors - and hates Dym most of all the Ingleford siblings.
Tony is faced with a choice, and everything depends on what he will choose. If Tony is to be won back to the light - if his Nazi training is to be defeated - then Dym must tread carefully. One false move, one harsh word, could destroy all hope of Tony's being saved.
The tumultuous story that follows is one of loyalty and betrayal; home and family; truth and lies; redemption against all odds; and sacrificial love that will go to the ends of the earth to find the lost soul and bring it back to the light.
Written in the midst of World War II, before America joined the Allies, when Britain still stood alone against the forces of darkness, this book is a bright and powerful picture of what it was like on the home front during the war, of the people and ideologies of Germany and England, and of the courageous, strong, determined people who held on to hope and fought against all odds for the side of the light.
Then he made another survey of his captor. His eyes rested first on Dym's hands, slender but with a look of strength in repose about them. A feeling of respect crept into his heart as he remembered the iron grasp in which he had found himself for the second time imprisoned. "He held me as if he would never let me go," said Tony to himself. . . . But his eyes, drawn unwillingly again and again . . . could not help seeing that there were other marks on the airman's hands--jagged scars of shrapnel wounds.
As with most books, especially favorites, the characters are the best part of the book for me. But every other part of the book is shining and wonderful as well. However, I have loved these characters for almost exactly a decade, and my love for them only grows with each read-through.
Dym, first of all - he is grave and steady, wise and intelligent, self-disciplined and patient, kind and compassionate and caring. He is incredibly humble, incredibly selfless. He is a loving and devoted brother who helps and cares for his family, his friends, and people in need. When he is not grave and serious, he is cheerful and bright, full of merriment and laughter, twinkling blue-gray eyes and a ready smile. He is smart and sharp and observant, missing nothing, and he loves books and learning and knowledge. He loves children and knows exactly how to handle them - and he always notices them and cares for them instead of discounting them like many adults. He understands so well - understands Tony, people, and the world, with incredible perception and insight. It is Dym's quiet influence that brings hope for change in Tony's life, his steady presence in the storm that makes a difference - his unconditional, sacrificial, fierce, redeeming love that chases and finds Tony in the darkest, most fearful, most destructive places - and sacrifices to bring him back. Even when Dym has been deeply hurt himself, he never becomes bitter or fails to love Tony and to choose to forgive those who have wronged him so grievously. In addition to all this, he is a Flying Officer in the English RAF who fought in the Battle of Britain, which makes him about as cool and courageous as it is possible to be. He continues to fight for what is right, to fight for his country against the forces of evil, and to fight for Tony - and to hold on to hope, truth, and faith in God and in the coming victory, even when the odds are grim. At times in my life, I have wished for a big brother, and if I had one, I would want him to be a lot like Dym. For all these reasons, Dym might possibly be the number one contender for the high honor of being my favorite male character of all time .
It was only Dym who was resolved to keep him at any cost . . . Dym whose steely hands would never let go.
And I love Tony just as much as Dym. He is a wonderful protagonist. I can't say as much about him without major spoilers, but his struggle between good and evil is so powerful. He is an intelligent, inquisitive, mischievous, clever young boy with a biting wit - and an incredible sweetness. He is a fighter, incredibly stubborn and determined, and he refuses to be defeated without a cataclysmic struggle. I love him dearly, and I love his journey over the course of the book.
The relationship between Tony and Dym is so powerful. It is the heart of the book. I love each of them, and I love their relationship - and the way it gradually grows and changes over the course of the book, and Tony's beliefs along with it. I love the way Dym loves Tony unconditionally and fiercely when every sign and person tells him he shouldn't. And I love the way Tony's regard for Dym evolves over the course of the book.
Tony flung himself into his brother's arms and felt them close round him tight. "Hold me tight so I can't get away!" he said, and found himself queerly rejoicing in the steely strength of those scarred wrists.
I first read this book almost exactly decade ago when I was a little younger than Tony. Many re-reads later, I'm very close to the age of his older brother, Dym, minus a mere few months. And I have a younger sister who is about a decade younger than me, give or take a year, the same as these two brothers. During this re-read, I've been contemplating what Dym must be feeling after losing a baby sibling in the way that Dym lost his - and possibly finding them again in such a way. It is fascinating to contemplate what emotions and thoughts Dym must have over the course of the story, behind the steady control that is hardly ever broken - except to give glimpses that reveal what he's going through, deep down. And now that I am his age and an older sister, I notice and understand his struggle better, when I didn't focus on it as a preteen or teen. I felt his emotion while reading the book.
And I also felt everything Tony goes through, as I always have - more intensely than ever, if anything. I often came close to crying as I read due to the depths of my feeling about what Dym and Tony go through separately and together, and at the beautiful themes and truths expressed in their relationship.
There are so many other things I love about this book besides Dym and Tony, but the two of them are the most wonderful part. This review only scratches the surface of the treasure that this book contains, but here are a few other favorite aspects:
-I adore the Ingleford family. They are wonderful. A gigantic, boisterous, uproarious family of siblings, with a loving and happy home, full of laughter and humor and kindness and cheer. I love how loyal they are to their country's fight and the war effort, from big, kind Thomas to the youngest and smallest. I would love to be a part of their family, or be a guest in their house - I would love to experience it just for a short while, cause it's wonderful!!! They fight and bicker and lose their tempers - they all have a spark - but above all, they love each other dearly and are devoted to each other, and I love that.
-I love all the other characters. Even the random strangers the characters meet, and the supporting characters from sweet to annoying, are so vivid and well-developed and unique and full of life - not to mention the large cast of main characters. And I realized to my great amazement and admiration that even though there are more than a dozen main characters of varying prominence - closer to two dozen - every single one is incredibly vivid and well-developed, with unique personality, mannerisms, way of speaking, motivations, disposition, and humanity. I see each one so clearly in my mind, vivid in detail of appearance and movement, which only happens with characters that are well-rounded and developed. The fact that each of a family of eleven or twelve siblings is deeply developed and unique, with not a single one falling by the wayside, speaks of the masterful greatness of this author's craft and writing.
-The prose and descriptions of this book are delightful and glorious. The beautiful and deep descriptions are used sparingly, but they are tantalizing, and I can't get enough. I love seeing Tony's world through his eyes and perspective - observant, perceptive eyes and a deep, thoughtful mind that appreciate rich or delicate beauty; fairy-like landscapes and objects; pulsing color and soft grayness; the delight of nature and life; and little, fascinating aspects of people.
-In other parts of my review, I have already touched on many of the themes of this book. They are utterly gorgeous and incredibly profound. Yet they are subtle and natural, unobtrusive, never forced or preachy. The book is full the deepest truth - the only kind that is truly life-giving.
-The plot and pacing are just as fabulous. Although it is a book that primarily focuses on characters and relationships, it also contains an intricate, complex plot and plenty of moments of excitement. Intense moments and sections of action are interspersed with calm, quietness, and peace. The book moves forward, building steadily, like the rhythm of the train the characters travel on. Fascinating questions are raised and threads of plot are perfectly woven together from beginning to end. The book culminates in a climax that more than does justice to such a wonderful story - and is more intense than all the rest.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys wonderful and quality fiction. It can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of whether someone typically reads historical fiction, the World War II era, or stories about powerful family relationships. However, it is a must-read for those who enjoy those types of stories. This fabulous book should not be missed.
May 2, 2017
5 stars!
Listened to this on audiobook from Audible.
I had never heard of “Enemy Brothers” or its author, Constance Savery, until one of my Goodreads friends recommended it to me. It looked interesting and I like historical fiction, but with it being labeled as a children’s book, it sat on my tbr list for several months before I tried to find it. Once again, I feel the need to kick myself for being all judgy because this is yet another children’s book that is great for all ages!
I don’t want to say so much about it that I give away spoilers because this is a great story to go into blind and feel all the feels as they come. How about I use a synopsis as a jumping off point: This is a story about a young German prisoner named Max Eckermann, who gets captured by British airmen. One of those airmen, Dym Ingleford, believes “Max” may actually be Tony, Dym’s baby brother who was kidnapped years ago, never to be seen again except in the occasional photo mailed to their family by the guilt-ridden kidnapper (hence the reason they know what he looks like). We see the majority of the events in the book from Max/Tony’s perspective as he and the reader discover the truth about his identity.
It was interesting to see this story from the perspective of a young boy who was raised in the Nazi ideology as he dealt with being made to live in an English home with people who claimed to be his real family. I thought the way his reactions to things were portrayed was very realistic and even understandable, in a way. I mean, how would YOU feel if you were a young child taken away from the place you thought was your home and told everything you ever knew, from your heritage to your ideology, was a lie? I think you’d behave much the way Max/Tony did, with anger, confusion, and rebellion! Even with Max/Tony acting out the way he did, I never disliked him. Again, this was because his behavior was realistic and understandable. By the end of the book, I actually did find him likable.
Speaking of likable characters, Dym was wonderful too. He was so patient and kind, no matter Max/Tony did, but he wasn’t a pushover. He set limits for the boy and as such, was someone Max/Tony could respect whether they turned out to truly be brothers or not. (See how vague I’m trying to be in how I word things? :P)
The rest of the family, while not quite so patient as Dym, were interesting characters too, and I think Constance Savery did an excellent job making them distinct individuals and also showing creating realistic relationship dynamics.
Another thing I liked that I wasn’t expecting were the subtle themes of discerning and choosing between truth and lies, and good overcoming evil. It seems so many children’s books these days have a big fat MORAL that the entire story revolves around, and if you miss that MORAL you must be blind. Now, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to have morals in stories. Quite the opposite, I think most stories have a moral of some kind hidden within them no matter what. But there’s something to be said for the art of subtlety and a story that can convey an important truth without making it so blatantly obvious that you feel like the author is standing over your shoulder explaining something to you that he or she thought was important. Kids aren’t stupid, they can pick up on themes in a story without needing things to be dumbed down and made obvious for them, and I think Constance Savery did well by allowing these themes to occur naturally instead of forcing them on the story. This kind of writing creates a timeless book that can be read and enjoyed by people of all ages.
In conclusion, this was one of those books that I enjoyed so much that I will be seeking out a physical copy of my own so I can read and enjoy it again and again. I recommend it to everyone reading this review!
Content Advisory for those who want to know: There is no swearing or sexual content in this book. It is set in England during World War II, however, and so there are naturally mentions of war violence from time to time, but none of it is intense or graphically described. At least once we hear that someone the Ingleford family knew was killed in the war, but the means of their death is not described. However, this person was someone Max/Tony had met and come to (begrudgingly) like, so he is a little sad at the news. While our main characters are occasionally in peril, this peril is never particularly intense and sometimes we only hear about it after the fact.
A certain character repeatedly runs away and sometimes needs to be physically caught, restrained, and brought back. One time, this character panics and, without thinking, bites the individual who caught him, but this wound is not graphically described and the individual simply gets it bandaged and is fine. A certain character gets shot in the shoulder during a machine gun attack, but we only hear about it after the fact and the wound is not described.
Listened to this on audiobook from Audible.
I had never heard of “Enemy Brothers” or its author, Constance Savery, until one of my Goodreads friends recommended it to me. It looked interesting and I like historical fiction, but with it being labeled as a children’s book, it sat on my tbr list for several months before I tried to find it. Once again, I feel the need to kick myself for being all judgy because this is yet another children’s book that is great for all ages!
I don’t want to say so much about it that I give away spoilers because this is a great story to go into blind and feel all the feels as they come. How about I use a synopsis as a jumping off point: This is a story about a young German prisoner named Max Eckermann, who gets captured by British airmen. One of those airmen, Dym Ingleford, believes “Max” may actually be Tony, Dym’s baby brother who was kidnapped years ago, never to be seen again except in the occasional photo mailed to their family by the guilt-ridden kidnapper (hence the reason they know what he looks like). We see the majority of the events in the book from Max/Tony’s perspective as he and the reader discover the truth about his identity.
It was interesting to see this story from the perspective of a young boy who was raised in the Nazi ideology as he dealt with being made to live in an English home with people who claimed to be his real family. I thought the way his reactions to things were portrayed was very realistic and even understandable, in a way. I mean, how would YOU feel if you were a young child taken away from the place you thought was your home and told everything you ever knew, from your heritage to your ideology, was a lie? I think you’d behave much the way Max/Tony did, with anger, confusion, and rebellion! Even with Max/Tony acting out the way he did, I never disliked him. Again, this was because his behavior was realistic and understandable. By the end of the book, I actually did find him likable.
Speaking of likable characters, Dym was wonderful too. He was so patient and kind, no matter Max/Tony did, but he wasn’t a pushover. He set limits for the boy and as such, was someone Max/Tony could respect whether they turned out to truly be brothers or not. (See how vague I’m trying to be in how I word things? :P)
The rest of the family, while not quite so patient as Dym, were interesting characters too, and I think Constance Savery did an excellent job making them distinct individuals and also showing creating realistic relationship dynamics.
Another thing I liked that I wasn’t expecting were the subtle themes of discerning and choosing between truth and lies, and good overcoming evil. It seems so many children’s books these days have a big fat MORAL that the entire story revolves around, and if you miss that MORAL you must be blind. Now, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to have morals in stories. Quite the opposite, I think most stories have a moral of some kind hidden within them no matter what. But there’s something to be said for the art of subtlety and a story that can convey an important truth without making it so blatantly obvious that you feel like the author is standing over your shoulder explaining something to you that he or she thought was important. Kids aren’t stupid, they can pick up on themes in a story without needing things to be dumbed down and made obvious for them, and I think Constance Savery did well by allowing these themes to occur naturally instead of forcing them on the story. This kind of writing creates a timeless book that can be read and enjoyed by people of all ages.
In conclusion, this was one of those books that I enjoyed so much that I will be seeking out a physical copy of my own so I can read and enjoy it again and again. I recommend it to everyone reading this review!
Content Advisory for those who want to know: There is no swearing or sexual content in this book. It is set in England during World War II, however, and so there are naturally mentions of war violence from time to time, but none of it is intense or graphically described. At least once we hear that someone the Ingleford family knew was killed in the war, but the means of their death is not described. However, this person was someone Max/Tony had met and come to (begrudgingly) like, so he is a little sad at the news. While our main characters are occasionally in peril, this peril is never particularly intense and sometimes we only hear about it after the fact.
A certain character repeatedly runs away and sometimes needs to be physically caught, restrained, and brought back. One time, this character panics and, without thinking, bites the individual who caught him, but this wound is not graphically described and the individual simply gets it bandaged and is fine. A certain character gets shot in the shoulder during a machine gun attack, but we only hear about it after the fact and the wound is not described.
January 9, 2020
Ahhhh, how lovely this story was! A sibling story set in WW2 England (and published before the end of the war, which is an interesting perspective on how much the English back then knew of the persecution of the Jews in Germany) but with a twist: a sibling stolen at birth is brought back as a dedicated Hitler Youth and plopped down in his ancestral home to cope as best he might. The stage is well set and Tony is trapped, though not for trying to escape.
I loved how Dym in particular never gives up on Tony. Toby acts out more and more, testing his brother’s patience in hurtful and heartbreaking ways, and Dym....but that would be a spoiler.
No romance, no swearing.
Highly recommended!
I loved how Dym in particular never gives up on Tony. Toby acts out more and more, testing his brother’s patience in hurtful and heartbreaking ways, and Dym....but that would be a spoiler.
No romance, no swearing.
Highly recommended!
September 5, 2023
What an original tale!
If you're looking for a very unique story set in World War II, this is the book you'll want to grab! And it was written during the War too!
Dym's family history is a tragic one. When his youngest brother was very little, he was kidnapped by a lady who couldn't have any children of her own. The police began an investigation, but before anything could be discovered, Dym's parents were both killed in an accident. With so many siblings to suddenly look after, Dym's oldest brother could not keep up with the investigation for the kidnapped brother. He was never seen again.
Years later, coming back from a mission in the middle of World War II, Dym happens upon more than just a few clues.
A great family read-aloud that encompasses both wonderful story-telling and fervent depths of character. A good book to launch into discussions about endurance, patience, forgiveness and stubbornness.
As a side note (and note to myself) this is the second book I've read that mentions the book "Emil and the Detectives" so I'm adding it to my to-read-list.
Content Considerations: A boy has anger/honesty issues at the beginning of the story but everything is resolved.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
If you're looking for a very unique story set in World War II, this is the book you'll want to grab! And it was written during the War too!
Dym's family history is a tragic one. When his youngest brother was very little, he was kidnapped by a lady who couldn't have any children of her own. The police began an investigation, but before anything could be discovered, Dym's parents were both killed in an accident. With so many siblings to suddenly look after, Dym's oldest brother could not keep up with the investigation for the kidnapped brother. He was never seen again.
Years later, coming back from a mission in the middle of World War II, Dym happens upon more than just a few clues.
A great family read-aloud that encompasses both wonderful story-telling and fervent depths of character. A good book to launch into discussions about endurance, patience, forgiveness and stubbornness.
As a side note (and note to myself) this is the second book I've read that mentions the book "Emil and the Detectives" so I'm adding it to my to-read-list.
Content Considerations: A boy has anger/honesty issues at the beginning of the story but everything is resolved.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
August 3, 2017
*happy sigh* Well, that was lovely! Everything from the beautiful English dialogue, to the heartwarming story, to the adorable characters. This is a book that makes me wish Goodreads had a 10 star button . . . or 10 trillion stars.
I love this book! I wish I had known of this amazing author when I was younger. (Although they're just as amazing reading them now.)
Highly recommended for all ages, and all peoples!
I love this book! I wish I had known of this amazing author when I was younger. (Although they're just as amazing reading them now.)
Highly recommended for all ages, and all peoples!
September 13, 2017
Ah, that was sweet!
June 14, 2024
*dissolves into gloriously happy puddle*
Read
October 22, 2018DNF.
I still am fond of Dym; but this story is exhausting me and I don't like feeling exhausted. It just goes on and on and on with too many characters I don't recognize, and no resolution in sight. I remember having something of the same problem when I read The Reb and the Redcoats, too, only it's even more magnified this time. I guess that Constance Savery and I just have very different ideas about how to structure a story. Ah, well.
(ALSO, may I just point out: Savery's claim that the British RAF is morally superior to the Nazi Luftwaffe specifically because they "don't deliberately target civilians in their bombing campaigns" is completely unfounded. They did exactly that. For three years. Killing hundreds of thousands of people. If you want to see something truly sickening, look up footage of the firebombing of Dresden. Look, I get that she's probably just repeating British government propaganda when she says "oh we don't do that" . . . but she's constantly chiding Tony for accepting Nazi propaganda, so I'm not inclined to be very sympathetic there.)
I still am fond of Dym; but this story is exhausting me and I don't like feeling exhausted. It just goes on and on and on with too many characters I don't recognize, and no resolution in sight. I remember having something of the same problem when I read The Reb and the Redcoats, too, only it's even more magnified this time. I guess that Constance Savery and I just have very different ideas about how to structure a story. Ah, well.
(ALSO, may I just point out: Savery's claim that the British RAF is morally superior to the Nazi Luftwaffe specifically because they "don't deliberately target civilians in their bombing campaigns" is completely unfounded. They did exactly that. For three years. Killing hundreds of thousands of people. If you want to see something truly sickening, look up footage of the firebombing of Dresden. Look, I get that she's probably just repeating British government propaganda when she says "oh we don't do that" . . . but she's constantly chiding Tony for accepting Nazi propaganda, so I'm not inclined to be very sympathetic there.)
November 8, 2014
This is one of those books that you never want to end!
It's a war story.
It's a love story.
It's about two countries, two brothers, and a brotherly love that will never let go.
Flying Officer George Dymory Ingleford is a man with a mission. Since his baby brother Anthony was kidnapped at 18 months old, young 'Dym' has never given up his hope or his search. Now an officer in the RAF, he can no longer take his search into war-torn Germany where he believes Tony, who would now be 12 years old, to have been taken.
But unexpected circumstances bring Max Eckermann into England, instead, where Dym identifies him as his lost little brother and takes him home.
Max is a 'thorough-going little Nazi', in the words of Dym's brother, Ginger Ingleford. Max is by no means convinced that he is the lost Ingleford boy, and demands to be returned to his beloved Germany - impossible in the tangle of war. So he undertakes to disturb the Ingleford household, attempt regular escapes, and hate Dym with all of his heart...or so he thinks. The Inglefords all love and accept him without question - but it is Dym who he knows he can never escape...Dym, with the steely hands that will never let him go. But he will never, never, never believe that he is Anthony Ingleford.
This story is unmatched for unforgettable characters, beautiful imagery, and heart. Written during World War II, and before it's conclusion, it gives you a picture of wartime Britain that makes you feel like you have visited time and place. You feel the courage and acceptance of the people in the most difficult circumstances, the steadfastness of weary men and women carrying on. You meet the young men of the RAF, 'The cream of the youth of England', who - outgunned, undermanned and exhausted - continue the fight.
From the lively, fun-loving Ingleford family to Dym's RAF friends to the very passengers in the trains, the characters in this book are believable, life-like, and worthy of emulation. It is written in a style that draws you in and makes you wish you could meet them all in person. And the ending is complete satisfaction, leaving you with no doubts, no fears, and the strongest desire for just one more chapter.
We read this book, laughed, cried...
And went back to page one.
So will you.
It's a war story.
It's a love story.
It's about two countries, two brothers, and a brotherly love that will never let go.
Flying Officer George Dymory Ingleford is a man with a mission. Since his baby brother Anthony was kidnapped at 18 months old, young 'Dym' has never given up his hope or his search. Now an officer in the RAF, he can no longer take his search into war-torn Germany where he believes Tony, who would now be 12 years old, to have been taken.
But unexpected circumstances bring Max Eckermann into England, instead, where Dym identifies him as his lost little brother and takes him home.
Max is a 'thorough-going little Nazi', in the words of Dym's brother, Ginger Ingleford. Max is by no means convinced that he is the lost Ingleford boy, and demands to be returned to his beloved Germany - impossible in the tangle of war. So he undertakes to disturb the Ingleford household, attempt regular escapes, and hate Dym with all of his heart...or so he thinks. The Inglefords all love and accept him without question - but it is Dym who he knows he can never escape...Dym, with the steely hands that will never let him go. But he will never, never, never believe that he is Anthony Ingleford.
This story is unmatched for unforgettable characters, beautiful imagery, and heart. Written during World War II, and before it's conclusion, it gives you a picture of wartime Britain that makes you feel like you have visited time and place. You feel the courage and acceptance of the people in the most difficult circumstances, the steadfastness of weary men and women carrying on. You meet the young men of the RAF, 'The cream of the youth of England', who - outgunned, undermanned and exhausted - continue the fight.
From the lively, fun-loving Ingleford family to Dym's RAF friends to the very passengers in the trains, the characters in this book are believable, life-like, and worthy of emulation. It is written in a style that draws you in and makes you wish you could meet them all in person. And the ending is complete satisfaction, leaving you with no doubts, no fears, and the strongest desire for just one more chapter.
We read this book, laughed, cried...
And went back to page one.
So will you.
August 15, 2013
This book touched my heart. Firstly, the chemistry and unconditional brotherly love portrayed between Dym and Tony is one of the best things I've read about in fiction. I love stories about family. Family love. Daughters and fathers, sons and mothers, brothers and sisters. We need more stories about those kinds of love - more stories like this one.
Interesting that although the story is told from Tony's perspective, his observations of Dym, and situations they'd find themselves in, revealed a lot about Dym's deeply passionate and protective nature and his private emotions toward finally finding his lost little brother. Ok, let's stop right here and make it known how much I adore Dym. Everything about him. Everything. I appreciated the fact that he's a war hero yet isn't afraid to romp with his family or help in the garden. I appreciated his great loyalty, nobility, wisdom and humility. He's manly and brave yet sweet and caring; young, good natured and boyish yet mature, resolute and unflinching. He's steady, never gets angry but never backs down. Oh, and we can't forget his musical abilities, a huge bonus in my opinion. There's not a doubt in my mind he'd not hesitate to lay his life down for something or someone he loved if need be. Honestly, there should be more "Dym's" in this world.
It was interesting reading about Tony being thrust from the lifestyle and nationality he grew up in and into his English family and his birth country of England. The Ingleford's, by the way, proved wonderfully that the English are not stiff, unfeeling and arrogant. Each place, emotion and character is real and raw. The mentioning here of there of fairies, flowers, poetry and tea added charm and English culture to the everyday lives and interests of the family, especially as they struggled to make ends meet in the midst of apathy and war.
Tony's fierce childlike adoration for his big brother was precious. I got choked up in the part when Tony slept with Dym's flying cross. You ached and fought and lost your nine lives with him, and in the end, you'd also go "over the edge of the world" with the beloved Dym.
Interesting that although the story is told from Tony's perspective, his observations of Dym, and situations they'd find themselves in, revealed a lot about Dym's deeply passionate and protective nature and his private emotions toward finally finding his lost little brother. Ok, let's stop right here and make it known how much I adore Dym. Everything about him. Everything. I appreciated the fact that he's a war hero yet isn't afraid to romp with his family or help in the garden. I appreciated his great loyalty, nobility, wisdom and humility. He's manly and brave yet sweet and caring; young, good natured and boyish yet mature, resolute and unflinching. He's steady, never gets angry but never backs down. Oh, and we can't forget his musical abilities, a huge bonus in my opinion. There's not a doubt in my mind he'd not hesitate to lay his life down for something or someone he loved if need be. Honestly, there should be more "Dym's" in this world.
It was interesting reading about Tony being thrust from the lifestyle and nationality he grew up in and into his English family and his birth country of England. The Ingleford's, by the way, proved wonderfully that the English are not stiff, unfeeling and arrogant. Each place, emotion and character is real and raw. The mentioning here of there of fairies, flowers, poetry and tea added charm and English culture to the everyday lives and interests of the family, especially as they struggled to make ends meet in the midst of apathy and war.
Tony's fierce childlike adoration for his big brother was precious. I got choked up in the part when Tony slept with Dym's flying cross. You ached and fought and lost your nine lives with him, and in the end, you'd also go "over the edge of the world" with the beloved Dym.
April 1, 2015
To be honest, this is one of Constance Savery's best. I've read this more than once, and it was only topped by her book, "The Reb and The Redcoats"! I love her work, and for anyone who wants good, English stories with lovable characters, and moral-building situations, I recommend her highly!
November 14, 2018
Oh my, this book... Somehow, as much as I want to, I can't pepper my review with exclamation points. Because it just wasn't that kind of a book. It was so sweet and simple and everyday-life, but so deep and meaningful and full of love at the same time. I never broke into squealing over it, but I put my hand to my heart over and over again. And smiled. And sighed. And felt...just so right.
I just absolutely loved the way the Ingleford family was portrayed. Although I often wanted to see more (of just about everyone), I felt like I understood so much about them just from the little bits of information and interaction that we had. It was the kind of thing where I could imagine other scenes and have a good idea what anyone would do or say. Amazingly thorough knowledge from the little interaction that we had! (Oh, boy, there go the exclamation points...prepare for the flood.)
Speaking of the Ingleford family, can I just say that I love, love, love so many of them?!? Not just Dym. (Utterly indescribable. No words. Above and beyond heart-eyes. Just can't, so for the moment, I'm not going to try.) But I'm talking about the rest of the family here. Maybe not all of them equally, but there wasn't one among the siblings that I totally disliked. Thomas, Phemie, James, and Sally were my personal favorites. But in totally different ways and totally different personalities. I loved the way that Tony just belonged, even when he fought against it. And also the subtle way that his siblings (even the ones he wasn't particularly close to) still somehow felt closer than the cousins, who were still closer than the random evacuees in the house. And I loved the tiny glimpses into "when we were younger" moments that rounded out the family picture so well.
And Tony himself--once he started to let his guard down and care about people--some of his thoughts and actions were just so sweet. And yet sweet in a perfectly young-boyish way. Particularly in his relationship with James--their blunt, generally amiable, but never sentimental interactions were just so spot-on and wonderful! And the way that his heart clung to Dym even when his mind was furious with him... <3<3<3 (Again, I'm not even going to try to describe Dym. Can I say perfect older brother and leave it at that? Because this will go on for pages if I try to say more.)
The only tiny thing that threw me a little was the way that the narration referred to Max/Tony as Tony long before he thought of himself that way. It felt a little strange, but I got used to it pretty fast. No other complaints. Just beautiful.
Content--a few references to fairytales, superstitions, etc.; "the devil" once in song lyrics; mentions of war deaths; descriptions of bombings; a young boy runs away on multiple occasions
I just absolutely loved the way the Ingleford family was portrayed. Although I often wanted to see more (of just about everyone), I felt like I understood so much about them just from the little bits of information and interaction that we had. It was the kind of thing where I could imagine other scenes and have a good idea what anyone would do or say. Amazingly thorough knowledge from the little interaction that we had! (Oh, boy, there go the exclamation points...prepare for the flood.)
Speaking of the Ingleford family, can I just say that I love, love, love so many of them?!? Not just Dym. (Utterly indescribable. No words. Above and beyond heart-eyes. Just can't, so for the moment, I'm not going to try.) But I'm talking about the rest of the family here. Maybe not all of them equally, but there wasn't one among the siblings that I totally disliked. Thomas, Phemie, James, and Sally were my personal favorites. But in totally different ways and totally different personalities. I loved the way that Tony just belonged, even when he fought against it. And also the subtle way that his siblings (even the ones he wasn't particularly close to) still somehow felt closer than the cousins, who were still closer than the random evacuees in the house. And I loved the tiny glimpses into "when we were younger" moments that rounded out the family picture so well.
And Tony himself--once he started to let his guard down and care about people--some of his thoughts and actions were just so sweet. And yet sweet in a perfectly young-boyish way. Particularly in his relationship with James--their blunt, generally amiable, but never sentimental interactions were just so spot-on and wonderful! And the way that his heart clung to Dym even when his mind was furious with him... <3<3<3 (Again, I'm not even going to try to describe Dym. Can I say perfect older brother and leave it at that? Because this will go on for pages if I try to say more.)
The only tiny thing that threw me a little was the way that the narration referred to Max/Tony as Tony long before he thought of himself that way. It felt a little strange, but I got used to it pretty fast. No other complaints. Just beautiful.
Content--a few references to fairytales, superstitions, etc.; "the devil" once in song lyrics; mentions of war deaths; descriptions of bombings; a young boy runs away on multiple occasions
December 28, 2017
HOW SWEET. Dym and Tony, guys... *sniffles and grins and happy sighs* <33 Suffice it to say, I enjoyed Enemy Brothers, my first novel by Constance Savery. I read one hundred and eighty-seven pages in almost one sitting. I laughed and smiled and teared-up. Interesting. Entertaining. Heart-warming. Well-written. Lots of fabulous detailing and realism about the war. YESS!! I must admit it wasn't as fast-paced as I was expecting/like, but STILL - a lovely story! AND I *cough* liked Tony...almost the whole time... *cough* BUT DYM. *nods knowingly along with every other human who has read this* AND THE ENDING. I made this ridiculous face when Tony went along with "Uncle Fred's" plan... LIKE NO. DON'T. DON'T DO IT. And then... *happy sighs again*
RECOMMENDED.
*hugs it and prepares to send it back to my friend who lent it to me* *hints very un-sneakily that said-friend is the wonderful Sarah Grace* *grins at her* THANKS, GIRL.
RECOMMENDED.
*hugs it and prepares to send it back to my friend who lent it to me* *hints very un-sneakily that said-friend is the wonderful Sarah Grace* *grins at her* THANKS, GIRL.
August 13, 2015
This is one of the best books ever! If you are any sort of a reader of WWII era fiction, then I highly advise you add it to your collection. Enemy Brothers is the story of a German boy trapped in England during WWII, who discovers that everything that he believed about himself, Germany, and life is about to be turned upside down. It is the story of a brother's unconditional love and continual sacrifice during the Battle over Britain. And the most amazing thing - in my opinion, at least - is that it was written and published in England before the war was over by an author who didn't know if the Allied forces were going to be victorious or not.
I've read this book countless times over the past few years. It's one that I would definitely recommend to any reader in search of an excellent story.
I've read this book countless times over the past few years. It's one that I would definitely recommend to any reader in search of an excellent story.
August 20, 2019
This story was delightful. It held mystery, excitement, and everyday life. I was pulled in from the start and my sympathies were roused by Dym and Tony/Max. The one dealing with the loss of a younger brother, and the other dealing with the sudden change from being a Nazi youth to a boy in England, from being an only child, to living in a house full of people. The Ingleford family had such a mixture of characters just like any large family. Some people you really liked, others you tolerated, and a few that you weren’t too fond of. The relationship between the two main characters, and the gradual change of Max to Tony felt natural and not contrived or forced.
There is a lot in this book about patience, forgiveness, and loving others.
The setting was well done. I could almost see the countryside, and the small villages and hear the air raid sirens going off. The blackouts and the ration books helped bring the time to life again.
This is a book I would recommend and will want to read again some time.
There is a lot in this book about patience, forgiveness, and loving others.
The setting was well done. I could almost see the countryside, and the small villages and hear the air raid sirens going off. The blackouts and the ration books helped bring the time to life again.
This is a book I would recommend and will want to read again some time.
April 10, 2023
There are some books it is impossible to really review. Some books call for 100% fangirling instead. Enemy Brothers is one of them.
Dym. Really, what more is there to say? Dym is...the perfect older brother, the perfect person to deal with Tony, the perfect... everything. Even though most of the book is told from Tony's perspective, somehow by making the first couple chapters from Dym's perspective, you know exactly what he is thinking and feeling throughout the rest of the book. And even though he sort of comes in and out the story, the whole book centres around him and Tony's feelings for him.
The way he handles Tony is amazing. At first, I was slightly skeptical of the whole idea of giving him nine lives, but in a very short time I realised how clever, fair, and sensible it was. I love how Tony respected Dym so much even though Dym never punished or even really reproached him for all the things he did. And I love how even though he tried so hard to hate him, the whole time you could see that in his heart he just couldn't hate Dym.
(Am I allowed to write the whole review about Dym? Probably not.)
Tony was an amazing character. By reading the book from his POV, you sympathise with him and even when he does the worst things, you can't ever really feel angry with him. I was amazed at how much I loved Tony, how sorry I felt for him, and how no matter how he behaved, you can always understand him. I loved how usually he felt genuinely sorry, but felt that it was his duty to behave like that. And it just made me root for Dym all the more.
I also loved his relationship with the rest of the family. I loved how he came quite quickly to like most of them, in a different way to Dym. And when his escapades affected them, he really felt sorry. It was soo realistic and understandable.
The rest of the family...wow. I was really surprised by how well I could keep them straight even though there were so many. Thomas... absent minded, gentle Thomas who Tony hated to hurt while getting at Dym. Euphemia... I loved her so much. AI sweet, sensible, loving, and all round a wonderful young woman and big sister to Tony. I loved how he loved her almost at once. James... honestly James was one of my absolute favourites. He was so down to earth, not afraid to put Tony in his place...really, he took almost an opposite approach to Tony of the one Dym took, and though sometimes the others restrained him, I think Tony needed a dash of both and I think Jim did him a lot of good. I loved how they ended up almost more friends than brothers... while James was still very much an older (though not much older) brother to Tony and one who kept him in line when the older ones couldn't really handle him. Yes, James is definitely one of my favorites. That final conversation between them...
I can't go into the whole family, but those were my favourites. I think they had the most influence over Tony, and I think that all of them together were exactly what he needed.
Briefly, I'll mention Margaret... I wasn't sure what I thought of her, but I ended up quite liking her? Tony probably needed her too... And I did wish we had seen more of Ginger. I really liked him despite his rather clumsy way of dealing with Tony.
Even the side characters...the captain, Dym's friends...they were all unique and I loved them.
The characters absolutely made this story, but they weren't the only thing. The plot was beautiful. The story was beautiful. The brotherly love between Dym and Tony was beautiful. The character growth...the family relationships...the light humour... the heartwrenching moments and the beautiful ones...the writing style, the ENDINGGG... everything about this book was beautiful. Perfect. The climax was so suspenseful. The rest was slower paced, but in the most beautiful, sweet way. The setting was of course perfect. I found it really interesting that the book was written before WWII was even over. It really gives perspective on the story... and of course, ensures the accuracy. (And can I just mention, seeing England through the eyes. someone raised in Germany was soo unique and I really enjoyed the different perspective on it.) The hope and British determination and courage shines throughout... And the attitudes towards Tony and his family were brilliantly depicted and impressively fair. I'll say it again...this book was close to perfect. I am so, so glad I found it and I want to read it all over again.
I can't decide what age this is best for... It's usually labelled a children's book but I can't see how a middle grader would enjoy it any more than an adult. It had nothing is the usual things teenagers and adults find boring in a middle grade book... In fact, really nothing to label it that other than the protagonist's age (12). I don't know if I would have even enjoyed/appreciated it as much if I had been younger. Or maybe I would have loved it even more. It's so perfect for any age, I honestly can't tell what would be best. I really think anyone could read it and love it.
An absolute must read for anyone who loves WWII, sweet family stories, no romance, superb character development, beautiful themes, heartwarming sibling relationships (particularly brothers) and Dym. And if you don't know if you love Dym yet, you need to read the book.
Dym. Really, what more is there to say? Dym is...the perfect older brother, the perfect person to deal with Tony, the perfect... everything. Even though most of the book is told from Tony's perspective, somehow by making the first couple chapters from Dym's perspective, you know exactly what he is thinking and feeling throughout the rest of the book. And even though he sort of comes in and out the story, the whole book centres around him and Tony's feelings for him.
The way he handles Tony is amazing. At first, I was slightly skeptical of the whole idea of giving him nine lives, but in a very short time I realised how clever, fair, and sensible it was. I love how Tony respected Dym so much even though Dym never punished or even really reproached him for all the things he did. And I love how even though he tried so hard to hate him, the whole time you could see that in his heart he just couldn't hate Dym.
(Am I allowed to write the whole review about Dym? Probably not.)
Tony was an amazing character. By reading the book from his POV, you sympathise with him and even when he does the worst things, you can't ever really feel angry with him. I was amazed at how much I loved Tony, how sorry I felt for him, and how no matter how he behaved, you can always understand him. I loved how usually he felt genuinely sorry, but felt that it was his duty to behave like that. And it just made me root for Dym all the more.
I also loved his relationship with the rest of the family. I loved how he came quite quickly to like most of them, in a different way to Dym. And when his escapades affected them, he really felt sorry. It was soo realistic and understandable.
The rest of the family...wow. I was really surprised by how well I could keep them straight even though there were so many. Thomas... absent minded, gentle Thomas who Tony hated to hurt while getting at Dym. Euphemia... I loved her so much. AI sweet, sensible, loving, and all round a wonderful young woman and big sister to Tony. I loved how he loved her almost at once. James... honestly James was one of my absolute favourites. He was so down to earth, not afraid to put Tony in his place...really, he took almost an opposite approach to Tony of the one Dym took, and though sometimes the others restrained him, I think Tony needed a dash of both and I think Jim did him a lot of good. I loved how they ended up almost more friends than brothers... while James was still very much an older (though not much older) brother to Tony and one who kept him in line when the older ones couldn't really handle him. Yes, James is definitely one of my favorites. That final conversation between them...
I can't go into the whole family, but those were my favourites. I think they had the most influence over Tony, and I think that all of them together were exactly what he needed.
Briefly, I'll mention Margaret... I wasn't sure what I thought of her, but I ended up quite liking her? Tony probably needed her too... And I did wish we had seen more of Ginger. I really liked him despite his rather clumsy way of dealing with Tony.
Even the side characters...the captain, Dym's friends...they were all unique and I loved them.
The characters absolutely made this story, but they weren't the only thing. The plot was beautiful. The story was beautiful. The brotherly love between Dym and Tony was beautiful. The character growth...the family relationships...the light humour... the heartwrenching moments and the beautiful ones...the writing style, the ENDINGGG... everything about this book was beautiful. Perfect. The climax was so suspenseful. The rest was slower paced, but in the most beautiful, sweet way. The setting was of course perfect. I found it really interesting that the book was written before WWII was even over. It really gives perspective on the story... and of course, ensures the accuracy. (And can I just mention, seeing England through the eyes. someone raised in Germany was soo unique and I really enjoyed the different perspective on it.) The hope and British determination and courage shines throughout... And the attitudes towards Tony and his family were brilliantly depicted and impressively fair. I'll say it again...this book was close to perfect. I am so, so glad I found it and I want to read it all over again.
I can't decide what age this is best for... It's usually labelled a children's book but I can't see how a middle grader would enjoy it any more than an adult. It had nothing is the usual things teenagers and adults find boring in a middle grade book... In fact, really nothing to label it that other than the protagonist's age (12). I don't know if I would have even enjoyed/appreciated it as much if I had been younger. Or maybe I would have loved it even more. It's so perfect for any age, I honestly can't tell what would be best. I really think anyone could read it and love it.
An absolute must read for anyone who loves WWII, sweet family stories, no romance, superb character development, beautiful themes, heartwarming sibling relationships (particularly brothers) and Dym. And if you don't know if you love Dym yet, you need to read the book.
February 1, 2025
This book tells the story of 12-year-old Max Eckermann, a German boy who is unwillingly taken to Britain in the middle of WWII, having been on a ship that a group of Norgewian resistance fighters take by force and use to escape. Max is a member of the Jungvolk and believes firmly in his country's propaganda, to the extent that his captors have mockingly nicknamed him Little Hitler.
The novel begins when he arrives in England, while the authorities are trying to figure out what to do with the young prisoner (sending him back in the middle of the war is not practical because the UK maintains no diplomatic ties with Germany and any ship runs the risk of being torpedoed). Before he can be placed with a German family until the end of the war, a young British airman, Dym Ingleford, sees him and is convinced that Max is actually his brother Anthony, who was kidnapped years before by his German nanny. He presents enough evidence to convince the British authorities to place Max with his family. This is a family, however, that Max neither remembers nor acknowledges as his own. Despite his hostility, the Inglefords, starting with Dym, hope that with patience and understanding they will be able to recover the boy that they consider their lost relative.
The book was published in 1943, when the outcome of the war was still unknown. It gives an interesting depiction of what life in Britain was like during the Blitz. It's well-written, with a lot of sensitivity and empathy for Max's emotional turmoil, caught between two very different families and two countries at war. It is a book that I read in one sitting because I needed to find out what would happen, and a book that caused an emotional response in me with its depiction of brotherly love, initially one-sided.
I would recommend it both to children and to adult readers. Frankly, I'm surprised it's not better-known. It deserves to be a classic.
The novel begins when he arrives in England, while the authorities are trying to figure out what to do with the young prisoner (sending him back in the middle of the war is not practical because the UK maintains no diplomatic ties with Germany and any ship runs the risk of being torpedoed). Before he can be placed with a German family until the end of the war, a young British airman, Dym Ingleford, sees him and is convinced that Max is actually his brother Anthony, who was kidnapped years before by his German nanny. He presents enough evidence to convince the British authorities to place Max with his family. This is a family, however, that Max neither remembers nor acknowledges as his own. Despite his hostility, the Inglefords, starting with Dym, hope that with patience and understanding they will be able to recover the boy that they consider their lost relative.
The book was published in 1943, when the outcome of the war was still unknown. It gives an interesting depiction of what life in Britain was like during the Blitz. It's well-written, with a lot of sensitivity and empathy for Max's emotional turmoil, caught between two very different families and two countries at war. It is a book that I read in one sitting because I needed to find out what would happen, and a book that caused an emotional response in me with its depiction of brotherly love, initially one-sided.
I would recommend it both to children and to adult readers. Frankly, I'm surprised it's not better-known. It deserves to be a classic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2019
Re-read this the other day and forgot just how wonderful it is! I love it so so much! And I fell in love with Dym all over again. tbh, he's one of my first fictional crushes, and will be forever. <3
*
Semi-professional review. ;)
Terrific historical fiction set in WWII. It's the story of a young English RAF pilot who finds his youngest brother that had been taken from the family years before and brought up in Germany.I love everything about this book. The author captures life in England during the height of the war and spins a wonderful story of family and brothers. Highly recommend to anyone who likes historical fiction and adventure stories.
*
Semi-professional review. ;)
Terrific historical fiction set in WWII. It's the story of a young English RAF pilot who finds his youngest brother that had been taken from the family years before and brought up in Germany.I love everything about this book. The author captures life in England during the height of the war and spins a wonderful story of family and brothers. Highly recommend to anyone who likes historical fiction and adventure stories.
December 23, 2014
Good and pleasant--it has a lot of warmth to it. Nice book.
June 19, 2015
I have put off writing a review of this book for years as I have doubted my ability to do it justice. But I'm finally giving it a go:
Put simply, this book is amazing. There should be a ten-star option... it really is that good. While it's obviously geared toward youth readers, I'm above that age now and still find it just as captivating as ever (and I've read it... ohhhh five times or more??) Definitely one of my favorite books of all time.
I won't go over all the main points of the story as others have already covered, but I'll just say that when I read it for the first time, I expected it to be more of a mystery as to Max/Tony's identity. It's not, but that doesn't make it any less of a page-turner! I couldn't put it down the first time through, and the ending takes an unexpected, heart-pounding twist. I also love the setting of mid-WW2 Britain, and this book is a wonderful look at what life was like back then.
Overall though, what really stands out about this book is the characters and relationships. The author, Constance Savery, has an amazing ability to create characters that are immensely intriguing and believable. In the Ingleford's house, and you'll find everything from humorous exchanges between characters to very deep conversations, confrontations, and mostly - a brotherly love that is relentless and defies an enmity even as great as the Axis vs. Allied powers. Dymory, the older brother, is one of the most amazing literary characters in any book I have read. He is self-sacrificially good, playful and joking, with an incredible strength of character. He manages to be practically flawless yet absolutely believable and the most intriguing character in the story. And then the relationship between Dym and Tony is just wonderful as well! Through Tony's eyes, you see enmity softened and changed, and I don't want to give things away...but this author has beautiful ability to *show* these characters, their interactions, and thoughts in such a vivid way that you are immersed in the story. You just HAVE to meet these characters and experience the story for yourself. You'll wish they were real once you do.
Sooo.... what are you waiting for?? Go read this book!!!! (Then, once you're done see if you can get your hands on a copy of some of Savery's other books: Reb and the Redcoats, Emeralds for the King, Dark House on the Moss... they're all pretty amazing!)
Put simply, this book is amazing. There should be a ten-star option... it really is that good. While it's obviously geared toward youth readers, I'm above that age now and still find it just as captivating as ever (and I've read it... ohhhh five times or more??) Definitely one of my favorite books of all time.
I won't go over all the main points of the story as others have already covered, but I'll just say that when I read it for the first time, I expected it to be more of a mystery as to Max/Tony's identity. It's not, but that doesn't make it any less of a page-turner! I couldn't put it down the first time through, and the ending takes an unexpected, heart-pounding twist. I also love the setting of mid-WW2 Britain, and this book is a wonderful look at what life was like back then.
Overall though, what really stands out about this book is the characters and relationships. The author, Constance Savery, has an amazing ability to create characters that are immensely intriguing and believable. In the Ingleford's house, and you'll find everything from humorous exchanges between characters to very deep conversations, confrontations, and mostly - a brotherly love that is relentless and defies an enmity even as great as the Axis vs. Allied powers. Dymory, the older brother, is one of the most amazing literary characters in any book I have read. He is self-sacrificially good, playful and joking, with an incredible strength of character. He manages to be practically flawless yet absolutely believable and the most intriguing character in the story. And then the relationship between Dym and Tony is just wonderful as well! Through Tony's eyes, you see enmity softened and changed, and I don't want to give things away...but this author has beautiful ability to *show* these characters, their interactions, and thoughts in such a vivid way that you are immersed in the story. You just HAVE to meet these characters and experience the story for yourself. You'll wish they were real once you do.
Sooo.... what are you waiting for?? Go read this book!!!! (Then, once you're done see if you can get your hands on a copy of some of Savery's other books: Reb and the Redcoats, Emeralds for the King, Dark House on the Moss... they're all pretty amazing!)
June 12, 2010
I have absolutely LOVED all the Constance Savery books I have read. She has a knack for creating turnaround plots and her characters are works of art. I have not found another author who writes like her, which is disappointing, because she's SO good!
This is an EXCELLENT book for anyone.
This is an EXCELLENT book for anyone.
August 10, 2016
What a very peculiar plot! But the chapter with Blake's "Jerusalem" and "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken" and "the glory of God covering the earth as the waters cover the sea" was quite worth the whole book.
April 16, 2019
I loved this book an insane amount the first time, and now... well, I didn't think it possible to love it anymore than I DID, but, as Jo in Little Women says, hearts are rather elastic things, and I think I just might. :)
March 30, 2020
This is a decidedly Christian book, but it was only explicitly so enough to interfere with the story in one scene. My main problem with the book is the way it jerks forward passing over major events and then sometimes goes back and summarizes them and sometimes does not. There are even multiple times when the the main POV character is said to not remember the next few minutes, or not remember how he got somewhere, or everything goes black even though he didn't pass out. It was annoying. Also the whole nine lives idea was okay, but then so much of the book is just tediously getting through all nine of the lives because we know nothing significant is going to happen until that's done. Even the author seems to have realized the problem cramming three or four lives into a few paragraphs at one point. The beginning part when Max/Tony is living with his English family but still thinking of himself as German was interesting though.
September 8, 2020
Re-reading childhood favorites is a risky business. Sometimes adulthood brings more life experience and a more critical eye that makes you realize the story you remember fondly doesn't sparkle as much as it did in your memory. Happily, that was not the case with Enemy Brothers. I'm sure I enjoyed it differently now than I did in my early teens, but I still enjoyed it immensely.
Without moralizing, Constance Savery presents in Dym an example of one slow to anger and slow to speak, a man of humility and patience, and someone able to recognize fault without abandoning loyalty.
I also found it intriguing that the book is copyrighted 1943, which means the author wrote this story about WWII while WWII was still going. But the writing style is still easily readable and the story both entertaining and relevant.
Without moralizing, Constance Savery presents in Dym an example of one slow to anger and slow to speak, a man of humility and patience, and someone able to recognize fault without abandoning loyalty.
I also found it intriguing that the book is copyrighted 1943, which means the author wrote this story about WWII while WWII was still going. But the writing style is still easily readable and the story both entertaining and relevant.
July 19, 2019
A very complex and moral book. Deeply interesting.
June 26, 2021
4 1/2 stars My review:
http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/202...
http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/202...
April 12, 2024
This wonderful book for young people is NOT a historical novel, like most WWII fiction - it was actually written and published during the war, when the outcome was still uncertain, though the author seems to expect an Allied victory. I have read several adult novels written as well as set during the war, by Angela Thirkell and D E Stevenson, (recommended), but this is the only one I can think of for kids.
The story paints a vivid picture of the crowding, privations, dangers, and "war work" of men, women, and children during the war, as well as the anxiety about whether airmen and sailors will come back from their missions. (The book was written before D-Day.)
But the main story is the reclamation of a long -lost little brother who was kidnapped and adopted by a childless German family before the war and has been thoroughly indoctrinated in Nazi ideology. He is reclaimed almost exclusively through love, an extraordinary love which demands no return and forgives again and again. It's actually a beautiful picture of God's love, though this is never spelled out and there's not much talk about God. I don't think you need to be a Christian to like this book.
It has been said of the author Constance Savery that she had the knack of making good characters interesting, and it's true! By the end, young Tony admits to someone that he would follow his big brother Dym "over the edge of the world," and one can see why.
This book is clean in every way. A 10-year-old could read it and younger children would probably like it as a read-aloud, but it's also quite enjoyable for teens and adults. I had a good time rereading it after almost twenty years.
I just wish it were easier to obtain more of this author's works!
The story paints a vivid picture of the crowding, privations, dangers, and "war work" of men, women, and children during the war, as well as the anxiety about whether airmen and sailors will come back from their missions. (The book was written before D-Day.)
But the main story is the reclamation of a long -lost little brother who was kidnapped and adopted by a childless German family before the war and has been thoroughly indoctrinated in Nazi ideology. He is reclaimed almost exclusively through love, an extraordinary love which demands no return and forgives again and again. It's actually a beautiful picture of God's love, though this is never spelled out and there's not much talk about God. I don't think you need to be a Christian to like this book.
It has been said of the author Constance Savery that she had the knack of making good characters interesting, and it's true! By the end, young Tony admits to someone that he would follow his big brother Dym "over the edge of the world," and one can see why.
This book is clean in every way. A 10-year-old could read it and younger children would probably like it as a read-aloud, but it's also quite enjoyable for teens and adults. I had a good time rereading it after almost twenty years.
I just wish it were easier to obtain more of this author's works!
December 24, 2019
One of the best, most beautiful books I've ever read! Dym alone would make the story worth reading over and over again; he is SUCH a good man, and everything he does for (and puts up with from) his little Nazi brother Tony just makes me want to cry. The slow-blooming relationship between these two is just the most beautiful, satisfying thing to watch.
Dym and Tony are the heart of the book, but there are SO many other things that make it the best. Such as Savery's knack for making every detail matter--even and especially the ones you thought didn't. She thinks up the best names for her characters (George Dymory Ingleford is my favorite, but "Ginger" as a nick-name for "Reginald" is pretty cool too). As she was an Englishwoman writing during WWII, you can be pretty confident her portrayal of England at war is accurate, and ow does it pack a punch. The author is realistic about the hard stuff in the world, but she is above all full of hope and joy and wonder. She treats the German people and culture with remarkable compassion. Her prose is full of light and color and outdoor beauty and music and good things to eat, and her plot is full of night raids and spies and runaways and measles and secret passages. And her conclusion leaves nothing lacking.
Basically: if you haven't had the pleasure of reading this book, you need to treat yourself. It's a little hard to find, but it's worth every penny.
(Oh, if you're picky about such things, I will warn you that Chapter Two consists almost entirely of contrived dialogue as infodump. But don't let that stop you. Please, please don't let that stop you.)
Dym and Tony are the heart of the book, but there are SO many other things that make it the best. Such as Savery's knack for making every detail matter--even and especially the ones you thought didn't. She thinks up the best names for her characters (George Dymory Ingleford is my favorite, but "Ginger" as a nick-name for "Reginald" is pretty cool too). As she was an Englishwoman writing during WWII, you can be pretty confident her portrayal of England at war is accurate, and ow does it pack a punch. The author is realistic about the hard stuff in the world, but she is above all full of hope and joy and wonder. She treats the German people and culture with remarkable compassion. Her prose is full of light and color and outdoor beauty and music and good things to eat, and her plot is full of night raids and spies and runaways and measles and secret passages. And her conclusion leaves nothing lacking.
Basically: if you haven't had the pleasure of reading this book, you need to treat yourself. It's a little hard to find, but it's worth every penny.
(Oh, if you're picky about such things, I will warn you that Chapter Two consists almost entirely of contrived dialogue as infodump. But don't let that stop you. Please, please don't let that stop you.)
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