This book is so cute! The stories all weave together into a beautiful patchwork just like the garden. I love it!

As much as I love the book, there are some things that need to be addressed. I first read this book in the 8th grade where we discussed POV and nonlinear timelines. However the content itself was not really covered, and reading it now I doubt it is still being taught. The novella was written by a white man, but most all of the vignettes focus on BIPOC characters, and at times make racist (either inadvertently or blatant) remarks. There were some pretty marginalized stereotypes as well. I believe if this book continues to be taught, it needs addressed through a more critical lens.

When a young girl plants seeds in an abandoned lot in her neighborhood, she plants seeds that bring together her immigrant community. Each chapter tells the story of one neighbor and their experiences in the garden.

This is a great read aloud or engaging novella for a reluctant reader.

While I enjoyed the themes of community and of overcoming cultural barriers, I was bothered by a few things that were, at best, racially insensitive. The most glaring example in my mind is simply this: What does Paul Fleischman, a white man, know about being a person of color? Or an immigrant, or a woman? He seems like the wrong person to tell this story. I was also bothered by the white character who felt like it was his responsibility to help people of different cultures and backgrounds come together, and by the chapter about a Korean woman that was written entirely in broken English. The comment one character made about seeing people do more than live off welfare was pretty tone-deaf, too.

The writing was truly gorgeous at times, and for being no more than a compilation of interconnected vignettes with no real plot to speak of, this book was surprisingly compelling. I think in many ways, it hit its mark in illustrating the meaning of community and the power of coming together. But because of its racial and cultural sensitivity issues, I can’t in good conscience give this more than three stars.

If you have a little bit more than an hour, this is an absolutely wonderful audiobook to listen to. It just brought me joy to listen to while lying in my balcony garden under the stars. A great story of how a seed can grow a community.

A book for middle school kids about a vacant lot in Cleveland that is transformed into a garden. During the process, people from all walks of life and all different backgrounds form a tight knit community.

Each chapter is a different person's story and there is an illustration of each person and what they planted at the beginning of each chapter. I like the idea of everyone getting to know and accept everyone else instead of judging people at face value. It's a cute idea.

This lovely but overlooked book was written in 1997, but its stories are still as relevant as ever. Told in short chapters named for the thirteen different narrators, this book brings to life a diverse Cleveland neighborhood, just as its residents breathe new life into a garden plot. Formerly an empty lot, the garden plot provides nourishment, business opportunities, refuge, solace, and purpose. Read with a middle school class, this book is a delightful read for all ages.

Read this one with grandkids. This is the story of an urban garden that began spontaneously in a vacant lot when a young girl plants lima beans. The neighbors, most of whom do not know one another, come together despite language barriers and cultural differences to plant a variety of crops. They encounter real life challenges such as theft, arguments, and dumping of trash. Ultimately the eclectic groups of gardeners work collectively, overcoming social mistrust and advocating for themselves to get city officials to clean up the lot. Through the common ground of the garden, the neighbors find commonality until winter when snowfalls. The story ends at the first sign of spring when the young girl once again leads the way and plants lima beans.

Relevant info for teaching book: interesting topics on environmentalism and community building. Content on drugs, sex (not explicitly), and death.