Ulla and Peter are cousins living far apart: Peter on a Mennonite farm in Saskatchewan and Ulla in the Free City of Danzig. On their twelfth birthday in September 1939, Danzig is annexed by Nazi Germany which precipitates the beginning of World War Two. The cousins’ correspondence over the years has been a precious thing to both children, but now their letters take on more dramatic and urgent overtones, each wrestling with their own stance on the inhumanity of war. For Ulla, principles dictate that she assist Erwina, her Polish-Jewish friend, at the risk of her own and her parents’ safety. Peter must come to terms with the dichotomy of being of German origin but living in an Allied country. He must also negate the vengeful actions of Bruno, another local Mennonite boy and a bully, who uses war to create divisiveness between Mennonites and English lads. Though written as fiction, Dear Peter, Dear Ulla is based on actual occurrences involving characters known to the author.
Dear Peter, Dear Ulla
Written by Barbara Nickel. Illustrated by Ian Hampton.
Published in 2021 by Thistledown Press.
I loved this book. Although I enjoy reading about war and history, so it might be different for different people. But for me it was awesome