Lily’s Victory Garden by Helen L. Wilbur is a beautiful tribute to the healing power of gardening and neighborliness during WWII in America. Every night Lily’s family listens to the news from their second floor apartment. When it is all done, Lily and her dad snuggle together in his Morris chair to read the paper aloud to each other. When Lily reads an article about a lottery for plots in the community Victory Garden, she decides to enter. Lily and her brother wait in a very long line to try to apply for the lottery. The garden club president turns them away telling them that they have to be 18 to enter. Regardless, young Lily is determined to find a place for her own victory garden.
Lily often accompanies her brother Jack on his paper route. She has always loved the Bishop place–a big white house with a big yard. But the Bishops were the first in the neighborhood to put up a flag with a gold star when their son was killed early in the war. Mrs. Bishop has never been well since. Aware of how difficult a question this will be to ask, Lily resolves to ask Mr. Bishop if she can have a little garden plot in their big yard.
The story is both tender and poignant, with themes of hope, healing, and the significance of small contributions in challenging times.
Wilbur captures the era with warmth and sensitivity, making it engaging and lovely for young readers.
Robert Gantt Steele’s illustrations capture the lush, hopeful spirit of the garden and the emotion of the story. From the rich colors of the garden to the lively faces of the characters, the illustrations are nothing short of gorgeous. Special mention goes to the endpapers, which are a visual treat and set the tone for a journey into the past.
As part of the “Tales of Young Americans” series, Lily’s Victory Garden showcases the lives and contributions of children during WWII. I discovered this series because Gloria Whelan wrote several books that I am eager to read. After reading this one, and knowing the excellence of Whelan, this is a series I plan to explore further.
For anyone seeking a thoughtful introduction to WWII history for young readers or simply a heartwarming story about growth—both in gardens and in hearts—Lily’s Victory Garden is a truly lovely read.