Bette Greene
Her unflinching young adult novels gave voice to outsiders, confronting anti-Semitism, homophobia, and the painful search for identity in the American South.
1934–2020 (age 86)·American writer·Birthday: June 28·The Silent Generation
Biography
Bette Greene drew the material for her powerful stories from the deep well of her own childhood as a Jewish girl in 1940s Arkansas. Her debut, 'Summer of My German Soldier,' exploded onto the scene in 1973, telling the risky story of a Jewish girl who befriends an escaped German POW. It was a raw exploration of prejudice, loneliness, and moral courage that resonated widely, despite facing censorship challenges. Greene continued to tackle difficult themes with 'The Drowning of Stephan Jones,' an early YA novel about gay-bashing, and the lighter but poignant 'Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe,' which drew from her experiences of being one of the few Jewish children in her community. Her writing, often autobiographical, refused to patronize young readers, offering them complex emotional landscapes and a steadfast belief in the individual conscience.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Bette was born in 1934, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bette Was Born
The biggest hits of 1934
#1 Movie
It Happened One Night
Best Picture
It Happened One Night
Bette's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1934Born
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Started school
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1947Became a teenager
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Could drive
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1952Could vote
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Turned 21
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1964Turned 30
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 40
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 50
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 60
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 70
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 80
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2020Died at 86
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
Key Achievements
- Wrote 'Summer of My German Soldier' (1973), a groundbreaking and frequently challenged young adult novel that was a National Book Award finalist.
- Received a Newbery Honor for 'Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe' (1974), a novel inspired by her Arkansas childhood.
- Authored 'The Drowning of Stephan Jones' (1991), one of the first young adult novels to directly address homophobic violence.
- Her work has been translated into multiple languages and adapted for television, with 'Summer of My German Soldier' becoming a celebrated TV film.
Did You Know?
'Summer of My German Soldier' was rejected by 13 publishers before being accepted.
She based the town in 'Summer of My German Soldier' on her hometown of Memphis, Arkansas.
She worked as a journalist for the Memphis Commercial Appeal and the Boston Globe.
She attended the University of Alabama and Harvard University.
“I write for the child who is still inside of me, and for all the children who have ever felt different or alone.”
