Summary Of Seedfolks By Paul Fleischman

Sae Young does not even have time to scream before she is knocked unconscious. Moments later, Sae Young wakes up. What just happened? Then she remembers: robber! All my money, gone. What should I do? she thinks as she passes out again, drifting away through each ominous day. Imagine being robbed, and not being able to come out of your house, scared to have any relationships because you can no longer trust anyone. This happens in Seedfolks, by Paul Fleischman, which is a novel written in a series of vignettes. The story takes place in urban Cleveland, Ohio. The challenges faced by the multicultural people of Gibb Street impact the story in multiple ways. In the novel, Seedfolks, many characters have difficulty communicating with others. This

Ana moved to Cleveland in 1919 when she was four years old. She resides on Gibb St in an apartment that has 48 windows to view the scenery of Cleveland. The best part is that she can see a sliver of Lake Eerie out her windows. Ana coneys, “These new people leave when they can, like the others” (Fleischman 7). Time after time people leave Gibb St. whenever they want, so it is hard for Ana to build friendships with people who continuously move away. Ana announces again, “And it’s up to us [her and Wendell] to save them” (Fleischman 13). Ana feels that she can now build trust in people and build a friendship with many if she can prove that she can be helpful and kind to all. People sometimes have to do something wrong to prove that they 10.can grow and be part of a family-like

Tío Juan is from Guatemala and lives with his sister, brother-in-law, and nephews including Gonzalo. Tío Juan speaks only one language, a native Indian language. Due to this, he is very dependent on his bilingual nephew, Gonzalo. Gonzalo explains, “He didn’t speak a Spanish, just an Indian language” (Fleischman 19). Tío Juan can not speak a language that is known to many, like English and Spanish, and it is hard to talk to other people and build friendships. Gonzalo continues, “He’d changed from a baby back into a man” (Fleischman 22). People who move to new countries are like babies because they do not speak the same language as others, but the garden helped Tío Juan to grow back up into a man. People sometimes have trouble reconnecting with their heritage but reintroducing a familiar sense or activity can bring it right on