ALABestBookforYoungAdults∙SchoolLibraryJournalBestBook∙PublishersWeeklyBestBook∙IRA/CBCChildren’sChoice∙NCTENotableChildren’sBookintheLanguageArtsAVietnamesegirlplantssixlimabeansinaClevelandvacantlot.Lookingdownontheimmigrant-filledneighborhood,aRomanianwomanwatchessuspiciously.Aschooljanitorgetsinvolved,thenaGuatemalanfamily.Thenmuscle-boundCurtis,tryingtowinbackLateesha.PregnantMaricela.AmirfromIndia.Asenseofcommunitysproutsandspreads.Newbery-winningauthorPaulFleischmanusesthirteenspeakerstobringtolifeacommunitygarden’sfoundingandfirstyear.Thebook’sshortlength,diversecast,andsuitabilityforadultsaswellaschildrenhaveledittobeusedincountlessone-bookreadsinschoolsandincitiesacrossthecountry.Seedfolkshasbeendrawnupontoteachtolerance,readinESLclasses,promotedbyurbangardeners,andperformedinschoolsandonstagesfromSouthAfricatoBroadway.Thebook’smanytributaries--fromtheauthor’simmigrantgrandfathertohisadoptionoftwobrothersfromMexico--aredetailedinhisforthcomingmemoir,NoMap,GreatTrip:AYoungWriter’sRoadtoPageOne.“Thesizeofthisslimvolumebeliestheprofoundmessageofhopeitcontains.“--ChristianScienceMonitorAnddon’tmissJoyfulNoise:PoemsforTwoVoices,theNewberyMedal-winningpoetrycollection!
