Seedfolks

Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. Gibb Street; Cleveland, Ohio (Chapter 1)

2. Plants six beans (Chapter 1)

3. Since 1919 (Chapter 2)

4. Typist for the parole board (Chapter 2)

5. His wife died in a car crash, and his son died in a shooting. (Chapter 3)

Short Answer

1. The bean plants are Kim’s way of connecting to her deceased father and showing him that she is his daughter. (Chapter 1)

2. As a longtime resident and former typist for the parole board, Ana has seen the very worst kinds of things happen on Gibb Street. (Chapter 2)

3. Wendell is so impressed by Kim’s hopeful act of planting beans that he begins to have faith in himself and his ability to create change in the world. This reminds him of a biblical story in which the children show the adults how to have faith. (Chapter 3)

Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. Gonzalo’s great uncle (Chapter 4)

2. Her grandmother (Chapter 5)

3. Paradise (Chapter 6)

4. The Garden of Eden and the Tower of Babel (Chapter 6)

Short Answer

1. “Garcia’s Equation” is Gonzalo’s theory that adult immigrants to the US become more childlike, while children become more mature due to differences in language acquisition: Adults often do not speak English well and must rely on others, often their children, to communicate. This causes Gonzalo to feel jaded: He believes he knows all there is to know and feels burdened by the responsibility of watching Tío Juan. (Chapter 4)

2. The garden, by showing Gonzalo Tío Juan’s wisdom, allows the two to change roles and perspectives. Tío Juan becomes a wise elder and mentor once again, while Gonzalo can be a child with a mind open to learning. (Chapter 4)

3. Leona recognizes that others would garden if the garbage were cleared away. She knows she has the skills to get it cleared, so she decides to act for the common good and in memory of her grandmother, from whom she learned determination and perseverance. (Chapter 5)

4. Leona brings in a stinking garbage bag from the lot to make her complaint real to the officials. (Chapter 5)

5. Sam recognizes that the garden could be a paradise but knows that unless the divisions present in the neighborhood disappear, the garden will not meet that potential. (Chapter 5)

Chapters 7-10

Reading Check

1.  A locket (Chapter 7)

2. He sees it as a punishment for his father’s lying. (Chapter 7)

3. A violent robbery (Chapter 8)

4. Atlas or ‘Ceps; Tomato (Chapter 9)

5. Royce (Chapter 9)

6. Ancient Egyptians (Chapter 10)

Short Answer

1. Virgil’s father’s lies and the difficulty of growing lettuce in the hot summer undermine both Virgil’s faith in his father and his belief that hard work pays off. However, the locket reminds him of the story of Persephone, and he decides to keep working in the belief that his efforts will not be in vain. (Chapter 7)

2. Sae Young craves the connection of family, but her husband’s death and her immigration from Korea have separated her from family. The violent robbery she survived has also made her fearful of people. The safety and community in the garden help her make connections and work with others, as in a large family. (Chapter 8)

3. The thriving plants send the message that Curtis can focus and have patience, his ability to ignore teasing from friends and even racist harassment shows his growing maturity, and his care for Royce demonstrates that he can care for someone beyond himself. (Chapter 9)

4. Nora’s conflict revolves around caring for Mr. Myles, who she believes would be healthier if she could get him involved with others. However, she cannot easily understand him due to his speech and mobility issues following a stroke. The garden allows communication without speech, and the community of gardeners fosters a sense of connection that helps Mr. Myles begin to heal and thrive. (Chapter 10)

Chapters 11-13

Reading Check

1. To experience the miracle of life; to take care of something (Chapter 11)

2. A million crabs in a million crevices (Chapter 12)

3. Seedfolks (Chapter 13)

4. With Kim planting beans in April (the same way it starts) (Chapter 13)

Short Answer

1. Leona tells Maricela that nature works in its own time, outside of any clock or calendar, and that it isn’t a disgrace to be a part of nature. This helps Maricela see her pregnancy as something other than a source of shame—even as something beautiful. (Chapter 11)

2. Amir sees the garden as a place that breaks the “rules” that create separation in America: People can get to know their neighbors by talking, sharing, and deepening their perspectives. (Chapter 12)

3. The impromptu festival brings everyone together to share in the benefits of good food, friendship, and connection—just like the garden itself, and just like a true community. (Chapter 12)

4. Like Florence’s ancestors, who walked away from slavery and started a better life for their descendants, the first gardeners took steps to create a better way of living in the neighborhood, which can be passed on to future generations through the garden. (Chapter 13)