By S. Smith
Publisher: Smashwords
Published: Nov. 19, 2013
ASIN: B008FRCAEY
Amazon Synopsis:
Age Level: 9 - 12
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Green Book Festival 2013 Winner - YA
Category
UP Authors Fiction Challenge Winner
Two kids, two bikes, and an idea they can change their world.
It's 2077. There's no apocalypse, but some things are different. Things like the weather, the internet, and food. In twelve-year-old Clare's world, blueberry is just a flavor and apples are found only in fairy tales.
Then one day Clare meets an old woman who teaches her about seeds and real food. The woman (Ana) tempts Clare with the notion that food exists other than the square, processed, packaged food she has always known. Under Ana's tutelage, Clare and her friends learn about seeds and gardening despite suspicions that such actions are illegal.
When the authorities discover the children's forbidden tomato plant and arrest their mother, Clare and her brother flee. Clare has heard of a place called "The Garden State," and with their bikes, a little money, and backpacks, the children begin a lonely cross-country journey that tests them both physically and spiritually. Will they succeed in their quest to find a place of food freedom? And can they, only children, help change the world?
Treasure is a gentle dystopian, frightening only is the possibility that we may not be far from the future it paints.
UP Authors Fiction Challenge Winner
Two kids, two bikes, and an idea they can change their world.
It's 2077. There's no apocalypse, but some things are different. Things like the weather, the internet, and food. In twelve-year-old Clare's world, blueberry is just a flavor and apples are found only in fairy tales.
Then one day Clare meets an old woman who teaches her about seeds and real food. The woman (Ana) tempts Clare with the notion that food exists other than the square, processed, packaged food she has always known. Under Ana's tutelage, Clare and her friends learn about seeds and gardening despite suspicions that such actions are illegal.
When the authorities discover the children's forbidden tomato plant and arrest their mother, Clare and her brother flee. Clare has heard of a place called "The Garden State," and with their bikes, a little money, and backpacks, the children begin a lonely cross-country journey that tests them both physically and spiritually. Will they succeed in their quest to find a place of food freedom? And can they, only children, help change the world?
Treasure is a gentle dystopian, frightening only is the possibility that we may not be far from the future it paints.
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My Thoughts:
In today’s worries
over climate change and genetically modified foods, this book is very
appropriate. Set in the near future, all home gardening is classified as
illegal and food seems to come in some kind of pill form or chewable tablet at
least. Everything edible is known as a sweetie, snack, protein or veggie and
they are all square or round. Children think all food originates in the store.
When Clare, her
brother Dante and their friend Lila meet an old lady named Ana who becomes
their tutor and teaches them about seeds and gardening, a whole new world opens
up to them. But when Clare’s mother is arrested for an illegal tomato plant
found in their home, Dante and Clare take off in hopes of finding a place where
growing food is not illegal.
Fleeing north
towards Canada tests them mentally, physically and spiritually. With only their
backpacks, a few provisions and their wits, they need to be especially careful
of who they talk to as the authorities are looking for two runaways.
There are several
twists and turns in this novel that adds some moderate suspenseful moments, but
nothing too extreme for the middle-grade age category. It is an excellent
adventure shared by two siblings.
I liked the
educational aspect of Treasure. A lot
of information about seeds and how plants grow from seeds was given. I found it
quite interesting that most of that information can actually be found in the
bible.
I liked the
characters of Clare and Dante. I found them to be very endearing and
courageous. I did think it was a little bit strange that they were willing to
leave their mother behind and run away in order to find a place where they
could grow food at their young ages of about 12 and 7, but depending on how
much society has changed by then, perhaps it is possible that this was
important enough to them.
I enjoyed Treasure. I think it’s quite a suitable
book for any middle-grade child. I gave the book 4 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the
author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest
review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
About the Author:
S. Smith grew up
on a farm with a tremendously large garden. She maintains that if you
can’t taste the soil on a carrot, it’s not fresh enough. Although she now lives
with her husband, children, and three cats in the city, she still manages to
grow fruit and vegetables on their lot, as well as tend to three egg-laying and
friendly hens. Someday, she hopes to add bees to the collection.
Ms.
Smith is a member ALLi (The Alliance of Independent Authors) and of her local
seed bank. She gardens and writes at her home in the beautiful and green
Pacific Northwest.
A
licensed ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, Ms. Smith has enjoyed
teaching students from around the world.
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