Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

John Bloom seems to be like any other young boy in John Bloom and the Victory Garden by Leigh Shearin. He chums around with other boys his age and he collects all kinds of treasures, things found around his home and in neighboring fields, like the Indian arrowhead that he's planning to trade with his friend, Chewie, for a rabbit skull. John's best friends are Chewie and Joe, and one of his favorite pastimes, other than finding treasures, is eating. Food seems to be a very important part of the boys' growing up years.

All that they hold dear is threatened when they learn that their country has been attacked. Pearl Harbor has been bombed by the Japanese. Chewie's father is already in Europe, fighting the Germans. John's father tries to enlist, but he's partly deaf and that disqualifies him. When John learns that his father is planning to carry more things in his store to help the community, like lots of seeds, John and his friends decide to do their part by helping neighbors who need it, like lonely and grumpy old Mr. Hutchins. John develops a bond with Mr. Hutchins, one that promises to establish a sense of victory in the growing of a Victory Garden to feed the community.

“But best of all, you’ll have what it takes to make it in this world. When you can grow things, adapt and overcome, you’ll never want for anything. It will be your victory!” The very words of the wise old Mr. Hutchins clearly demonstrated the truth about giving and sharing and working hard for oneself and for others. That was where the victory lay. Leigh Shearin's young people's novel, John Bloom and the Victory Garden is a delightful story for middle grade readers, combining lessons in history with lessons in caring, giving and sharing. The real lesson, however, is the lesson of working hard, not just for one's own good, but also for the good of the community, for the good of all those around you. In that, one will find victory. Well done!