Seeds of Hope: A Prairie Story. Mary Harelkin Bishop. Regina, SK: Emmbee Ink & DriverWorks Ink (www.driverworks.ca), 2008. 175 pp., pbk., $10.95. ISBN 978-0-9810394-1-1. Subject Headings: Farm life - Prairie Provinces - Juvenile fiction. Brothers and Sisters - Juvenile fiction. Grades 4-7 / Ages 9-12. Review by Linda Wood. *** /4

excerpt:

"Danny thought of the stories Grandpa told about their ancestors and how they always managed to stick it out no matter how tough times were. (p. 169)

Most of all, Danny loved the connection he had to the land, especially when he was perched above the field on his rock. His favourite place in the whole world was sitting on his rock pile in the north field closest to the farmhouse. There, he felt as if one end of an invisible rope was wrapped around his waist, the other buried deep in the soil under the rock pile, binding him forever to the prairie. " (p. 20)

The drought is having devastating effects on the Cameron family's neighbours, driving even the most seasoned of them to despair. When 10-year-old Danny hears his best friend's father announce at a town meeting that they are giving up the family farm, it is the final blow to his world, akin to the biblical plagues of Egypt. Danny and Jeremy face the toughest challenge yet to their friendship the day of Jeremy's family farm auction when they realize they will be living apart, one in the city and one in the country...for now.

     Mary Harelkin Bishop's characters are refreshing in their honesty and resilience in the face of great odds which bring them to the brink of working off farm to subsidize land that has been in the Cameron family for generations or face losing it. Their being hard pressed to make ends meet sends Papa to work at a potash mine and Grandpa into repair work. Danny must help his grandfather plus keep his new job a secret in order to ultimately aid the family. This leaves Mama and little sister Jade to take care of everything at home while looking after baby twins. How will they all cope when Grandpa and Danny are already doing the work of three farmhands?

     Through it all, Danny draws strength from the land. The Camerons, and real families just like them, seasonally face intense heat, drought, scorched crops, prairie fire, hail, insects, costly waits for insurance, machinery repairs that delay seeding and exhaustion.

     Small flashes of humor, like Danny's sister becoming official egg collector and learning to stand up to an errant rooster, mirror Danny's own coming of age in carrying more responsibility and defending himself against Zach, the town bully.

     This past summer, with the plight of our own farmers due to flooding and hail damage predominant in the headlines, Seeds of Hope is even more topical. This story is not just one family's plight, but the novels strikes a universal chord with farmers everywhere, highlighting the challenges they face every day.

There was a slight tendency to overly romanticize Danny's physical description at the beginning, but when Bishop gave him free rein he came to life.

     The small illustrations in use as logo buttons designating chapter changes were very interesting, but the larger drawings detracted attention when more space was needed as the open space of the prairie was such a predominant theme. Young readers will stay engaged by Bishop's prose alone which will hold their attention fully to the end.

     Seeds of Hope was a finalist in Children's Literature at the 2009 Saskatchewan Book Awards. Best selling Saskatoon author and teacher, Mary Harelkin Bishop's "Tunnels of Moose Jaw Adventure" series has sold more than 50,000 copies.

Recommended.

Linda Wood is a journalist and tutor in Saskatoon, SK.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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