Seed

by Caryl Lewis

Overview

A heartwarming tale of a boy, his grandad, and a magical seed that takes them on an unforgettable journey.

Marty doesn't have much—unlike his mom, who seems to hold on to everything. Life at home is tough, but Marty finds sanctuary down at the community garden with his eccentric grandad.

On Marty's birthday, Grandad gifts him a seed. "There's magic in seeds, you know. You can never tell what wonders are in them." As it turns out, Grandad has a rather wonderful plan up his sleeve. It involves wishes, a pumpkin, and a trip all the way from England to Paris.

Funny, inspiring, and larger-than-life, Seed is a story about believing in dreams—your own, and those of the people you love. This heartwarming tale of family, friendship, and adventure is perfect for readers ages 8-12 who enjoy a touch of magical realism mixed with relatable themes of bullying, mental health, and unconventional families.

Godwin Books

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250832016
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	05/03/2022
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Caryl Lewis is an award-winning author from Wales. She has won Wales Book of The Year twice for her literary novels, and is also a successful children's writer and screenwriter. With more than two dozen books published in Welsh, Seed is her English language debut.

Editorial Reviews

2022-02-09
Coping with his unwell mother, English boy Marty starts believing in dreams when he receives a special seed.

Before leaving when Marty was 4, his dad gave him a pocket-sized model of the Eiffel Tower. Since then, Marty has longed to visit Paris, but life with his mother, a compulsive, reclusive hoarder, causes him to repress his dreams. To escape the mountains of stuff at home, Marty visits his eccentric, optimistic grandfather at his garden plot. One day, Grandad gifts Marty a mysterious striped seed, promising him that seeds contain magic. While planting it, Marty feels an electric shock run through his hand and arm. The seed sprouts quickly and, thanks to Grandad’s special seaweed fertilizer, grows into what Grandad excitedly claims will be the world’s largest pumpkin—which he plans to scoop out, equip with an outboard motor, and use to travel to France. Marty begins to believe in Grandad’s enthusiastic, improbable plans as the magically massive pumpkin swells. Marty’s credibly realistic and daunting issues at home, school, and with his new friend, Gracie, contrast vividly with Grandad’s hilarious efforts to nurture the pumpkin and enable his grandson’s dreams. Their attention-getting, over-the-top adventures as they try to cross the English Channel in a pumpkin prove nail-biting and heartwarming. Gracie is deaf and aspires to be a dancer; she lip-reads and has a cochlear implant. Main characters default to White.

An amusing, delightful celebration of the transformative power of positive thinking and following your bliss. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews