When I think of cherry orchards I think of northern Michigan, Traverse City, and a long day trip when we lived in Chicago to go cherry picking. I remember being alarmed when John noticed two trails of cherry juice running down Sebastian’s chin. I didn’t see them because he was in the baby backpack (thank you, Rachelle, so convenient). Apparently as I was picking cherries I swung Sebastian within range of some fruit and he wanted to try some for himself. Stones and all. He had the biggest smile on his face. He loved cherries! This was before cell phones were ubiquitous; however, John had one and we called mom to make sure a cherry stone (or two) wouldn’t pose a great danger to Sebastian’s intestines. No worries, Sebastian was (and is) fine. We gathered cherries, created stories to share, and made some great memories that day.
The cherry harvest isn’t a day trip adventure for orchard owners, though; especially during World War II when a country’s young able-bodied workers are being pulled into the armed forces or wartime production efforts. Desperate to get in the harvest the Christiansen’s decide to use German POWs, a troubling decision in Door County, Wisconsin. Lucy Sanna’s The Cherry Harvest examines the consequences of this seemingly pragmatic business decision on community and family. This July Midwest Connections pick combines suspense and romance when a rural Wisconsin community and German POWs confront each other during World War II.