Seed Savers – a series to be treasured
I haven’t been this in love with a young adult series since Harry Potter
Author S. Smith has written the latest and greatest of young adult dystopian society novels. In the spirit of the previously mentioned Lowry novel and and Monica Hughes’ Invitation to the Game
The detailed history of how this society came to be is part of its unique twist. Most dystopian society stories don’t spend a lot time telling you how it got this way, just that it did and people didn’t notice, the path somewhat alluded to but not specific. Smith helps point out the steps leading up to this future with factoids that suspciously resemble things that are happening in both the farmlands and corporate America. From living organism patents made legal in the 1980’s to genetically engineered seedlings, Smith spells out just exactly how this future (though a little outlandish in a society newly obsessed with being eco-friendly in its marketing) could quite possibly go from where it is now to the kind of United States described in the book (corporations and the government in bed with each other making trouble for the little people – Banks, anyone?… in combination with the idea that a government can make a plant illegal – marijuana comes to mind). Yet, she does this effortlessly, without killing the flow of the story.
I personally love social commentary presented through the art of fiction. (You like this too? Check out this site: http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/371512?uid=3739920&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=56242603693). I find it compelling and quite frankly the best way to address particular situations that when written about in a nonfiction format becomes an irate rant. I love the way it personalizes events and characters in a book so quickly, in a way that the average story cannot do. Get under the skin of an art fanatic… make it impossible for art to be appreciated, collected, loved (if you’re not a reader, check out the movie Equilibrium, then again, if you’re not a reader what’s up with you reading my blog? What brought you here? Leave me a comment.)
Needless to say, I loved it. S. Smith, you are brilliant, my dear, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. This one is going on loan to my nieces and nephews, is getting short listed on my very long list of required reading for my daughter who will one day be homeschooled. It will be the fun fiction to parallel our botany classes that week, the friendly reminder of why she will be taught to tend her own garden, and perhaps raise a chicken.
Buy Your Copy of Seed Savers Today!
Visit the author’s website here: http://authorssmith.com/
Want to start your own garden (before its too late!), check out Mel Bartholomew’s Square Foot Gardening tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Lu-7FIj_g
Also for fun, check out this blog: http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/
Anakalian Whims 
In Honor of Gardens « Author S. Smith said,
June 11, 2012 at 11:25 pm
[…] Maybe later I’ll add a photo of those whispering herbs. In other news, three things: (1) Local bookstore, Escape Fiction, is now carrying Seed Savers:Treasure, (2) I will have a table at the Salem Public Library author fair on June 23, (3) read this great review for Seed Savers here. […]
gardenwrites said,
June 13, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Reblogged this on Author S. Smith and commented:
As a birthday present to myself (it’s my birthday, uh huh), I’m reblogging this book review of Seed Savers from anakaliam whims. After that, I’ll go get an hour massage, eat a lot of cake, and spend the evening with dear friends. Happy birthday, me! 🙂
Anakalian Whims said,
June 13, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Aw gee, thanks! Glad I could help make your birthday better 🙂
isopleth said,
July 7, 2012 at 6:52 pm
I just added a link on my blog to your review. I was doing my weekly National Geographic reading and found an interesting article about a seed bank they have created in Norway. You can read more about it at my blog here http://isopleth.wordpress.com/2012/07/07/food-insurance/ Its funny how we were just talking about this the other day.
Food Insurance « Isopleth's Blog said,
August 5, 2012 at 3:50 pm
[…] fed solely from the State. Maybe Norway has taken steps to save us from this dystopian future. Read my friend’s review here! Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeOne blogger likes […]
Anakalian Whims said,
November 14, 2012 at 6:39 pm
[…] can't wait for Lily! My review of Seed Savers: Treasure can also be found here with the original cover […]
The Long-Awaited Lily « Anakalian Whims said,
November 25, 2012 at 9:49 pm
[…] it. I was so excited to find a new “undiscovered” young adult author and immediately blogged about it. Illegal gardening, fresh produce, dystopian society, kids on the run… how much […]
A Homeschool Mom Meets Seed Savers | Anakalian Whims said,
November 14, 2013 at 4:03 am
[…] to say to my kiddo when telling stories)… somehow I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Seed Savers: Treasure from S. Smith by mail. I remember reading some of it out loud, but then giving up and devouring it […]
A Series the Whole Family Can Enjoy | Author S. Smith said,
October 13, 2015 at 2:49 pm
[…] https://anakalianwhims.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/seed-savers-a-series-to-be-treasured/ […]
A Series the Whole Family Can Enjoy | Sandra Smith, author said,
December 4, 2018 at 7:39 pm
[…] https://anakalianwhims.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/seed-savers-a-series-to-be-treasured/ […]