A Neighborhood Transformed

What creates community? Paul Fleischman's Seedfolks (1997) is a gem of a novella that indirectly addresses this question (among others). Based on how the story ends, the answer seems simple: We build community by letting go of our prejudices and getting to know people as individuals rather than as stereotypes.

Narrated through the perspectives of thirteen ethnically diverse characters living on or near Gibb Street in Cleveland, Ohio, readers are taken on a journey of a neighborhood that transforms into a community--all because of a garden that flourishes from what was previously a vacant, rat-infested, trashy lot.

Rich in language and symbolism with characters whose authentic voices and varying perspectives create a vivid portrait of the highs and lows of life, Seedfolks is also an uplifting read that highlights the power of storytelling in the hands of a skilled writer. As such, many truths can be gleaned from the story, the most important of which is that of an individual's capacity to effect positive and meaningful change through very small acts.

This is a #CBR8 crossposted review.