Treasure (Seed Savers)
by S. Smith
Genre of this Book: Middle Grade Speculative Fiction
Word count: 36,000
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. With Ana’s guidance, 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?
Seed Savers: Treasure is available on Amazon.com, Smashwords, and Amazon UK.
Sandy, how did you come up with the title for your book? Does it have any special meaning?
The series title, Seed Savers, wasn’t hard. The whole basis of the book is that saving seeds — even owning seeds — is illegal; the ragtag group of “underground” individuals who continue to save seeds would naturally be called seed savers. The subtitle took me longer to develop.
Who was your favorite character and why?
In Treasure, I think my favorite is a minor character named Gruff. I liked how he just walked into the story and surprised me. I also like his attitude and the fact that he keeps bees on the roof of his building.
Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?
Yes, quite a few. First, that anybody (even children) can make a difference in the world. The other main theme is about enjoying good food and knowing where food comes from.
What would/could a reader or reviewer say about this book that shows they “get” you as an author?
If they said something about the book being a good read as well as providing social commentary on the world around us that would show that they “get” both me and the book.
Give us an excerpted quote from your favorite review of this book:
“The more you think about it, the more you see that this story, while maintaining a fast-paced surface, has lots and lots of layers.”
Where can people learn more about your writing?
http://authorssmith.com
