Book Description
This digital document is an article from U.S. Department of Defense Speeches, published by Thomson Gale on November 27, 2007. The length of the article is 5555 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Landon lecture (Kansas State University).
Author: Robert M. Gates
Publication: U.S. Department of Defense Speeches (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 27, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: NA

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Book Description
It’s 1943, and everyone says the war will be over soon–World War II, that is–but Teresa Marks wonders exactly when that day will come. Her older brother, Jeff, is fighting overseas, and Teresa worries about him, hoping he’ll get home to Kansas safely. As a way of speeding Jeff’s return, Teresa and her dad help the war effort by planting a victory garden. For two years, they’ve planted tomatoes (Jeff’s favorite!) and won taste-testing duels with a curmudgeonly neighbor. But this spring, when the neighbor is hospitalized, Teresa rallies her friends to tend to his garden. She even considers using her secret for growing better tomatoes on her rival’s plants. But her faith in secret weapons, in victory gardens, in people, and in life itself is shattered as the war rages on abroad and death strikes close to home. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Wonderful Book
This is a great read for kids and for anyone who remembers World War II on the homefront, no matter what their age. I find it interesting that PW criticizes the book for being too sunny and "Pollyan-ish." It is a sad social commentary that we cannot allow our kids to be happy, to think nice thoughts, to know that there are good, humanitarian people in the world and that not everyone is out to skin you alive. Not every good work of children's lit has to deal with death or betrayal or abuse.

Great War Read
I am a 5th grade girl.I did not think books about war could be this interesting.When I started the book I thought it was moving slowly, but it really picked up and gave a bang at the end.In some ways I could really relate to Teresa.I have older brothers and they give me nicknames too.I would miss them if they went to war.I went back to the map many times while I was reading.I thought the map was a cool idea.I would recomend this book to anyone who likes suspense and emotional stories.

This is a MUST for any library!
I am a retired teacher.I retired early (age 25) to stay home with my first baby when she was born in 1989.We now have three children who love to read.I love children's literature and this book interested me.It interested me because entangled in the pages are history, family, friendship, devotion, loyalty and patriotism.The author had me glued to the pages and I, literally, did not put the book down until I finished it!She made the main character so real and I was cheering her on, feeling her pain, and could remember being a little sister to a big brother whom I loved and adored.My daughter is reading the book now - it is beside her bed.These are the kinds of books that I loved as a child and love passing down to my children.It's a wonderful book.I hope the author is inspired to continue to write more children's books.She has a gift and we are fortunate that she shared her gift with us, the gift of writing.

Victory is a specialpart of this garden.....
I purchased this book for my 10 year old grandchild and decided I should read it before presenting it to her.I am so glad I did.It is a splendid combination of the spirit of World War II and the details of that period of history that should not be forgotten or changed.It was written for the kids we hope will never experience that kind of time, but who must learn about it.

It is not just a story of a victory garden but a child's view of the spirit of the people then and to some extent now.It is so timely because once again our children are called to the details of another world wide battle in which we (and they are involved).

Bravo to the author for bringing this charming, enlightening chronicle of a child uniting people by leading in a way that unified them while helping them.Isn't that what won that war? ... Read more