You might figure that a book about a community garden would have more to say about life then death. But here's deal: plants die. And so do people. Sorry to break it to you, Shmoopers, but Seedfolks doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of death. In fact, nearly every single character has to face the death of someone they love. For many of them, the garden is a place to work through their grief. Maybe watching the cycle of life in nature helps them process the cycle of human life, too.
Questions About Death
- How do the different characters feel about death? Do they have a pessimistic view? Do any have a more optimistic view?
- How does Seedfolks portray people dying versus plants dying?
- How does the community garden help folks deal with death? Does it make the experience easier or more difficult?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Gardening is good grief therapy. In Seedfolks, the garden helps people overcome the death of family members.
Gardening reminds the characters of death. In this book, plants die too, so there's no escaping mortality.