Seedfolks
Product ID: 1234840
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ALA Best Book for Young Adults ∙ School Library Journal Best Book ∙ Publishers Weekly Best Book ∙ IRA/CBC Children's Choice ∙ NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts A Vietnamese girl plants six lima beans in a Cleveland vacant lot. Looking down on the immigrant-filled neighborhood, a Romanian woman watches suspiciously. A school janitor gets involved, then a Guatemalan family. Then muscle-bound Curtis, trying to win back Lateesha. Pregnant Maricela. Amir from India. A sense of community sprouts and spreads. Newbery-winning author Paul Fleischman uses thirteen speakers to bring to life a community garden's founding and first year. The book's short length, diverse cast, and suitability for adults as well as children have led it to be used in countless one-book reads in schools and in cities across the country. Seedfolks has been drawn upon to teach tolerance, read in ESL classes, promoted by urban gardeners, and performed in schools and on stages from South Africa to Broadway. The book's many tributaries—from the author's immigrant grandfather to his adoption of two brothers from Mexico—are detailed in his forthcoming memoir , No Map, Great Trip: A Young Writer's Road to Page One. "The size of this slim volume belies the profound message of hope it contains." — Christian Science Monitor And don’t miss Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices , the Newbery Medal-winning poetry collection! Review: excellent short story teaching how to see and value individuals - This is a terrific little book that pretty inobtrusively teaches about how people of different colors, races, religions, ethnicities, backgrounds, jobs, genders, languages, ages, motivations and physical characteristics and abilities can of their own volition connect as people and individuals around a common interest (in this case a self made community garden) and look beyond all those other more superficial characteristics that are more often used to divide people. No one gave any of these people anything. They each did it themselves – and in some cases for each other. This really isn’t about a common enterprise or team building. Its about finding some meaning and purpose in one’s life and about recognizing the similar interests of others that extend beyond the superficial or external differences. This little book is probably more effective than any DEI training manual, administrator or government mandate I can think of. As a matter of fact, most businesses and governments would be much more effective at their efforts in this regard and with greater positive results if they substituted this little book and maybe their own community garden for whatever DEI manuals and training sessions they now have. I am a 77 year old semi retired lawyer who happens to live in Cleveland and I read this book because it was assigned to my 11 year old granddaughter in her Chicago public school. (as an aside, no, you cannot see Canada across Lake Erie from Cleveland. and although the winters are not as severe as portrayed in my opinion, yes we often have snow in April. ) I am not a teacher but it seems to me this book would be appropriate for middle school children to read (could be a bit challenging for some but that’s ok). It could probably be read to younger children, but would certainly require some explanation. Some might also want to edit out perhaps the story about the assault victim. Thank you Mr. Fleischman. Well Done. Review: Growing Community Through Seedfolks - Seedfolks was an excellent first novel for my fifth graders. Its structure, with each chapter told from a different character’s perspective, helped us study text structure and point of view in a clear way. Students saw how diverse voices were connected through the community garden. The story led to thoughtful discussions about prejudice, kindness, and empathy. Students reflected on how small actions, like planting seeds or reaching out to a neighbor, can build stronger communities. This novel supported our reading standards while inspiring meaningful conversations about character and hope. I highly recommend it for upper elementary readers.
| Best Sellers Rank | #22,219 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #5 in Teen & Young Adult Multigenerational Family Fiction #20 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Prejudice & Racism #60 in Teen & Young Adult Friendship Fiction |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,383 Reviews |
S**O
excellent short story teaching how to see and value individuals
This is a terrific little book that pretty inobtrusively teaches about how people of different colors, races, religions, ethnicities, backgrounds, jobs, genders, languages, ages, motivations and physical characteristics and abilities can of their own volition connect as people and individuals around a common interest (in this case a self made community garden) and look beyond all those other more superficial characteristics that are more often used to divide people. No one gave any of these people anything. They each did it themselves – and in some cases for each other. This really isn’t about a common enterprise or team building. Its about finding some meaning and purpose in one’s life and about recognizing the similar interests of others that extend beyond the superficial or external differences. This little book is probably more effective than any DEI training manual, administrator or government mandate I can think of. As a matter of fact, most businesses and governments would be much more effective at their efforts in this regard and with greater positive results if they substituted this little book and maybe their own community garden for whatever DEI manuals and training sessions they now have. I am a 77 year old semi retired lawyer who happens to live in Cleveland and I read this book because it was assigned to my 11 year old granddaughter in her Chicago public school. (as an aside, no, you cannot see Canada across Lake Erie from Cleveland. and although the winters are not as severe as portrayed in my opinion, yes we often have snow in April. ) I am not a teacher but it seems to me this book would be appropriate for middle school children to read (could be a bit challenging for some but that’s ok). It could probably be read to younger children, but would certainly require some explanation. Some might also want to edit out perhaps the story about the assault victim. Thank you Mr. Fleischman. Well Done.
L**E
Growing Community Through Seedfolks
Seedfolks was an excellent first novel for my fifth graders. Its structure, with each chapter told from a different character’s perspective, helped us study text structure and point of view in a clear way. Students saw how diverse voices were connected through the community garden. The story led to thoughtful discussions about prejudice, kindness, and empathy. Students reflected on how small actions, like planting seeds or reaching out to a neighbor, can build stronger communities. This novel supported our reading standards while inspiring meaningful conversations about character and hope. I highly recommend it for upper elementary readers.
P**M
From something small, grows something great
A sweet read about the need for acceptance, building community, and breaking down barriers, Seedfolks shows what is possible in a world of differences when we work side by side.
N**N
Great for ESL and enjoyable as a story collection
I was asked to use this book as part of my ESL studies because it lets you analyze stories from people of different nationalities and backgrounds. It works really well for that. But if you put the class part aside and just read it as a collection of stories, it’s still really enjoyable. Each story is good in its own way, and it’s easy to find one that you can relate to. Overall, it’s a book that works both for learning and for personal reading. 📚😊
Y**S
Bueno
Esta literatura le sirvió de mucho a mi hija para sus clases
L**N
A Brilliant Book for Hard Times
Astonishing book. I am using this with my fourth and fifth-grade Drama/Language Arts/Social Studies classes and they love the book. We used it as a read-aloud book and then discussed each chapter afterward. They are begging us to read more and more of the book aloud to them. The students and teachers love the book. The 13 characters are richly drawn in short monologues that comprise each chapter. The author does not underestimate his young adult audience. He throws a lot at them and expects them to go with him on the journey that is Seedfolks. There is so much in this small and extraordinary book. I can't say enough about it. Themes of community, anti- bias, looking beyond first impressions, the power of nature to heal and nurture...the list goes on and on. I'm thinking about writing the author a note of appreciation I'm so smitten with this book. It's written for young adults but it is a book for everyone. I cannot recommend it highly enough. There is so much in it and if you trust your students, they will take you where the book leads them to go. I've taught for over 20 years and this book is one of the best books for use with work in Drama, Literacy, and Social Justice that I have had the pleasure of teaching in all of my years as a teaching artist.
C**L
The Rich Soil
I loved this book! The way it was written by each persons point of view. My granddaughter in 5th grade brought it home with an assignment. I just sat down & read. Fast read, great characters with great stories & lives.
N**R
Great book that connects unlikely people in a community
I am an adult literacy volunteer and this book was selected for our group to read together. It was the perfect choice with short chapters and a fantastic story line of a community coming together and connecting over a garden. Well written and created many lively discussions over the weeks that we met together. I purchased extra copies for friends because I love the story and message so much. Our group even had a chance to meet the author and he shared his journey about writing the book and answered questions for is. What a delightful person. This is a fabulous book.
C**S
Excelente libro formativo
Excelente libro formativo
C**N
Buena opción.
Estoy aprendiendo inglés y me ha resultado muy útil, de fácil lectura. Además la herramienta del asistente de traducción ayuda a su lectura sin perder el tiempo.
J**9
Perfect
Libro molto scolastico ma avvincente
K**A
Sooo schön!
Ich (15) habe dieses Buch im Englischunterricht gelesen. Erst fand ich es etwas seltsam, doch von Wort zu Wort, Von Seite zu Seite, von Kapitel zu Kapitel würde es immer herzlicher, schöner und wunderbarer! Es ist soooo schön! Ich kann es allen weiter empfehlen von 15-... Jahren! Man muss es lesen! Es zeigt wie Menschen sind und sein könnten, welche Probleme es gibt und wie man sie lösen kann! Es ist nicht zu lang und nicht zu schwer und daher als Englischer Roman leicht zu lesen! Ich liebe es!!!!❤️❤️❤️
J**E
What I needed for Xmas present
Couldn't find this anywhere else locally or online in Canada. Gifted it for a friend in the UK who is volunteering in a marginalized community to help start a community garden. He got it in time for Christmas! Perf!
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