About the Book
Author: Leigh Shearin
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 195
Synopsis: John Bloom and the Victory Garden is the rollicking tale of 3 boys at the dawn of America's involvement in WWII. John Bloom, and his best friends Joe and Chewie live, play, and get into adventures in 1940's era Appleside, NJ. Because children are generally joyful and tend to put more importance on the goings-on of their own worlds than those of grown-ups, the events of the war are woven into the boy's daily lives. Along the way, a bitter and cynical old man is drawn into their hijinks, and contributes his own joy to the lives of these 3.
Chapter One invites the reader to join John and his friends in Appleside, NJ on the afternoon of December 6th, 1941. Through newspaper headlines and radio bulletins, the boys learn about the incredible events of the war- beginning with the attack on Hawaii by the Empire of Japan. As the story moves along, John and his friends learn that everyone- not just soldiers- can make a difference. They learn that commitment leads to ultimate success and that taking a seemingly insurmountable task one step at a time will make that task simple. John, Joe and Chewie learn about where their food comes from, and how important good food is to the Allies overseas.
John Bloom and the Victory Garden is not just a story of Homefront USA during WWII. Its about faith, endurance and sturdy values that transcend time and cultural differences. It's about accepting tough times, struggle and adversity and overcoming them anyway. It's about seeing the humor in life, and helping others to see the humor too.
But mostly, they just have a gut-busting great time!
John is an average 10 year old boy living in a small town in New Jersey. It's the 1940's and the only thing on John's mind is whether or not the Indian arrowhead he has will be worthy of a trade with his friend Chewie. John, Chewie, and Joe are best friends. They do everything together from searching for treasures like animal bones and feathers to causing a little bit of ruckus with their joking around. But, the day they learn of the bombing of Pearl Harbor the boys decide to heed President Roosevelt's advice and do their part to help the war on America. Thus, the American Boy's Club is formed and on their quest to do good, the boys make mistakes, learn valuable lessons, but most of all give something back to their community.
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres to read and John Bloom and the Victory Garden is an absolute gem. Set during World War II and filled with a myriad of genuine and unique characters the author effectively draws readers into the world she creates. I like how the boys sometimes make bad decisions, but try to right their wrongs. I also enjoy how the story stresses the importance of having strong values and helping others. This is an all around pleasurable read.
I highly recommend picking up a copy. Available on Amazon.