Seedfolks by Paul Fleishman Date of Publication: 1999 ISBN: 978-0-06-447207-4 Number of Pages: 102

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Intermediate: Low
GENRES: Realism
THEMES : Prejudice - Loyalty - Appearance versus Reality - Survival - Isolation

SUMMARY:
When a young girl decides to clear a small space and dig into the hard-packed soil of her derelict, overgrown neighbourhood in order to plant her precious bean seeds, she has no idea her gesture will reshape her entire community. Soon her little project becomes a beacon in the neighbourhood garden, and a source of hope and unity to the people nearby. The story, told in thirteen different voices, demonstrates how one small act can change a world...

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...
- likes to hear people's stories,
- is interested in the environment or gardening,
- is interested in issues of prejudice,
- likes an easy read with intriguing topics

This book is recommended for students in grades 7 and 8 only (Young Adult).

WHAT ELSE?
This book uses different voices to tell what is essentially the same story, but with different perspectives and issues being brought forward with each one (prejudice, poverty, environment, community). There is one character (or story-teller) who is sixteen, pregnant, and longing for an end to her situation, and a couple of references (a wish for an abortion and derision for “the scum who got me pregnant”) suggest it is better suited to older readers.