John Bloom and the Victory Garden

The fun continues in Appleside, NJ, as John Bloom and his pals live, laugh, and watch the incredible events of late 1942 as they unfold across the world. The attack on Pearl Harbor has brought America into the global war, and everyone’s involved- even children! Join them as they do what they can to help with the war effort, even from a small, rural, American town.

Excerpt

John was lying quietly in the dim room, his eyes closed. The left side of his face was badly misshapen; the swelling and blotchy colored skin ran from the bridge of his nose all the way to his ear and down to the edge of his jaw.

Mr. Hutchins set the box down gently on the end of the bed and waited for John’s eyes to open.

And waited.

Mr. Hutchins rolled the newspaper into a tube. Grinning like a hyena, the old man began lightly tapping the rolled-up newspaper on the quilt over John’s right foot.

John’s good eye popped open. The left one remained tightly shut with the swelling.

“Heehee, boy, I got ya!”

“Hiya, Mr. Hutchins. What are you doing here so early?” John struggled to be polite, but the pain was only partly dulled by the pain medication, which was making him so drowsy he could hardly keep his one good eye open.

“Early? Half the day is gone already! Aren’t you ready to get up?”

“No sir, my mom said I had to stay in bed until the doc comes and gives the okay. Except to use the privy, that is – and I’ve got to have help to do that, I’m so shaky and dizzy.”

“Well you’ll be on the mend soon. Look here at what I got!” Samuel unfurled the newspaper with flourish.

“A newspaper? What’s so special about a newspaper?”

“Hah! It’s not the newspaper, it’s what’s in the newspaper!”

“What? Has something bad happened? John was alarmed. He had slept a lot since he had been hurt and he felt like he was behind on the news.

About the Author: Leigh Shearin

Leigh Shearin is a farmer, writer, photographer, baker, and lifetime dreamer.

Leigh earned a B.A. degree in Studio Art at Maryville College and worked as a graphic artist before earning an ASS degree in Culinary Art. She has worked as a chef, baker and culinary arts instructor. Most recently, she and her husband bought rural land and are developing Winter’Rest, a small farm in central New York. Through all this, Leigh wrote stories and poems…some published; some tucked away.

She is happiest living off the land and is an ardent supporter of local and sustainable farms, farmers and practices. Seasonal fresh produce from Winter’Rest Farm is even on the menus of some Farm-to-Fork restaurants in the Central New York. Leigh is also an accomplished photographer, working in Fine Art Photography from age 20, under the name M. Leigh Emery.

She writes fiction stories for middle-grade readers. Along with illustrator Kate Shearin, Leigh spins tales of self-sufficiency and independence, along with gentle agriculture education. Since historical fiction is also a lifetime interest, Leigh uses true stories of the past to bring inspiration and joy to modern-day children.

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