The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman
Release: February 18, 2025
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Source: Amazon
Find it at: Amazon , GoodReads
In the spirit of Lauren Wolk and Ruta Sepetys comes the tale of a girl fighting her way back home after surviving the sinking of the Lusitania. And she learns to think for herself rather than accept the prejudice of wartime.
The year is 1915 and the world is at war. Marta and her father are passengers on the Lusitania, desperately trying to get back home to Germany. While aboard, they must hide their identities or risk as enemy spies. Then a German submarine attacks the Lusitania . They just make it off the sinking ship. The Germans discover her father and detain him.. Marta suddenly finds herself alone in enemy land.
To survive, Marta must draw upon a deep well of bravery she never knew she had. Fortunately, she meets Clare, a young Irish girl who can talk a mile a minute, and her kind family. Believing that Marta is a Dutch refugee, they welcome her into their home. She can’t risk letting her new friends know she’s actually from Germany. And the very nation that the Irish and English are fighting against. But could these people who have shown her nothing but kindness truly be her enemy?
About the Author:
Anne Blankman parents named her for Anne of Green Gables in the hope of her becoming a writer. She grew up in an old house with gables (gray, unfortunately) in upstate New York. When she wasn’t writing or reading, she was rowing on the crew team, taking ballet lessons, fencing and swimming. She graduated from Union College with degrees in English and history, which comes in handy when she writes historical fiction.
After earning a master’s degree in information science, Anne began working as a youth services librarian. Currently, she lives in southeastern Virginia with her family. When she’s not writing young adult fiction, she’s playing with her daughter, training for races with her husband, working at her amazing library branch, learning to knit (badly), and reading.
Anne Blankman is the author of PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG, the first in a three-book deal slated for publication in spring 2014 from Balzer + Bray | HarperCollins. She is represented by Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.
The Enemy’s Daughter Review:
The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman begins with an immediate sense of danger and urgency that pulls you right in. The story opens aboard the Lusitania, where Marta and her father, both Germans, find themselves in peril as the ship meets its tragic fate. From the very first pages, the tension is gripping, and you can’t help but wonder whether they will ever be reunited after the chaos that unfolds.
What stands out most is Marta’s emotional journey. Her friendship with Clare is heartfelt and genuine, showing how compassion can bridge divides even in the midst of wartime prejudice. Through Clare and her family, Marta begins to see people in a new light, challenging her own assumptions and grief. Blankman captures Marta’s inner turmoil beautifully, where you truly feel her longing for her parents and the confusion of being caught between two worlds.
The historical setting of World War I is well-portrayed, with enough realism and intensity to spark curiosity in young readers who might want to learn more about the era. There are also a few tense and dramatic moments, especially involving characters like Mr. Evans, that keep the plot moving.
However, the pacing slows considerably in the middle, with several chapters focused on reflection rather than action. While this deepens Marta’s character, it also causes the story to lose momentum. The ending, too, feels somewhat abrupt; while open endings can be powerful, this one leaves you wanting just a bit more closure. And though the cover is striking, it doesn’t quite match the warmth of Marta and Clare’s friendship.
Overall, The Enemy’s Daughter is a touching and thoughtful middle-grade historical novel that explores empathy and courage, even if it leaves a few loose ends untied.
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