These Our Noble Sons, a novel about childhood friendships and selfless sacrifice, features two of Oliver's most memorable characters: delicate and reserved Robert Debruijn, who dreams of one day becoming a physician like his father; and Patrick Bennett, a popular and outspoken all-American teenage athlete. Within the historic confines of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Robert and Patrick form an unbreakable bond during their quest to graduate from high school together and eventually get Robert into medical school. But when Robert fails to grow out of his shyness and begins to struggle with his studies, Patrick learns a family secret that brings the boys' paths to a startling crossroads. Compulsively readable and often fearless in its honesty, These Our Noble Sons is another remarkable example of Oliver's truly masterful and compassionate storytelling.