Seedfolks

By: Paul Fleischman

I read this story in my undergrad kids literature class at CNU and remember liking the story. I loved how each chapter is from the perspective of someone different. This was very powerful. This book could easily have been written from the third-person point of view. Would this have been better? Would the story have been as meaningful? I really believe it wouldn't have been. Each chapter is a story within itself and then all the chapters are looped together into one big story.

I liked the end of the story when all the different neighbors and locals knew each other and had learned to respect one another. There were definitely many people in the garden from various backgrounds and cultures and it was touching how all of the hate dissipated. Some people may still not like others to a degree, but everyone was, what's the word, social, maybe. No, tolerant! And, this is okay. It seemed like the community really pulled together and put differences aside.

I think the garden is a great metaphor. If you really take the time and really show you care and nurture something, you'll get pretty flowers and delicious vegetables. On the other hand, if you're neglectful and uncaring, you'll get weeds. :-) You get what you put in and this garden could be a metaphor for many things in life.