Seed

Kids loved it. Really inspiring.

It gets you 'right in the feels' from the start. Marty and his mum don't have much money, his uniform is second-hand, his quilt cover is an old Mickey Mouse one.. but worse than all that is the fact that his mum is a hoarder. Their house is full of 'stuff' that she won't throw away. He's drowning in it.So much so that his granddad won't even come round anymore. A bit of an eccentric inventor, Marty visits his granddad at his allotment for air and space. It's when Granddad is only able to give Marty a seed for his birthday that things start to happen though...It's not Jack and the Beanstalk. It's not James and the Giant Peach. But it is fantastical and rather lovely.Not only does the book give us a focus on mental health issues, but Marty also meets a girl with a cochlear implant who keeps people at bay with her sharp wit and sarcasm, but just might be hiding a soft core of her own.There are some lovely characters here, from a Granddad who refuses to accept reality and ordinary life as it is, to a school guidance counsellor with some slightly wacky ways of advising his students. Marty has bullies to overcome, Gracie has ambitions to fulfil - it's a rather full novel for KS2/KS3 readers.And the denouement and climax of the story almost feels rushed, as there's so much that comes before it. It had me smiling, and I think this would make a lovely mini-series for children's television.There are some great relationships here, and some good storylines for PSHE discussions.Marty is definitely a contemporary protagonist that many will identify with, and it's lovely to have the wish-fulfilment/dreams idea used so well without moving outside the broad boundaries of real-world possibilities.A great read. For ages 9-13.

Seed is a spectacularously heart-warming, humorous, adventure that swept me into a world where the impossible might just become possible; where hope grows nurtured by kindness; and where nature has the power to fulfil dreams …Marty has a lot to deal with in his young life: his dad left home when he was four; his mum is struggling with her mental health, unable to leave the house and hoarding all sorts of clutter in their home and garden; he is a young carer; he is the victim of bullying at school; and, the council are threatening to evict them.He does, however, have a wonderful, warm relationship with his Grandad who he visits in his allotment every night after school. On his birthday, his Grandad gives him an unexpected present: a seed which may just contain the magic that will change his life.He plants the seed in his Grandad’s allotment and, together with his new friend Gracie, they watch the seed grow and grow, nourished with wishes and dreams, and when the impossible becomes possible, they begin an incredible, exciting adventure: an adventure that nurtures trust, acceptance and hope.This is such a beautifully told story, filled with warmth, humour and the healing power and magic of nature. I loved the bonds between Marty, his Grandad, his Mum and Gracie which were all different, but felt authentic. I also loved the feeling of community spirit as everyone became so invested in the impossible adventure.Marty is an incredibly sympathetic character who clearly cares about his mother and has to deal with both the hope and disappointment as she tries to manage her disorder. He has a wonderful relationship with his Grandad who is such a brilliant character: madcap, full of life and hope – and wacky inventions. Marty also forms a close friendship with Gracie who is deaf; he encourages her to follow her dream to be a dancer. Both children have to deal with loneliness and parental ‘absence’ and both learn the importance of expressing their feelings and following their dreams.Both the cover illustration and the internal illustrations are stunning. The cover illustration depicts the magic, wonder and hope engendered in the story perfectly. The grayscale internal illustrations are stunning and complement the story beautifully from the joy of Gracie’s dancing to the warmth of the relationship between Grandad and Marty and the magical nature of the adventure.This is a gorgeously uplifting story: a story of friendship, family, hopes and dreams wrapped up in a larger-than-life adventure imbued with the magic of nature … perfect for young nature-lovers and adventurers of 9+.I was provided with a review copy by the Publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is such a brilliant heart warming magical story.The story follows a young boy called Marty. He is having a difficult time. His mum has mental health issues and doesn't leave their house. They have very little money and Marty gets bullied at school.All this begins to slowly change when Marty receives a very special seed from his grandfather, for his birthday.I absolutely love the magical feel to this story. It is just brimming with messages of hope to follow your dreams. I loved the adventure Marty goes on with his Grandad and new friend Gracie on the giant pumpkin! At the same time some very difficult issues including mental house, parent separation, being a young carer and bullying are dealt with in a very sensitive way.The writing is just brilliant. The lists of all Marty and his Grandad own at the start and end of the book were one of my favourite parts of the story too.I can't wait to share this story with my daughter. I'm sure it will capture her imagination.

This is a very belated review, but I read pretty much all of this beautiful novel about hope and dreams while sitting in my parents garden back in Wales.Marty’s mum keeps everything, and I mean everything. She’s said she will change many times, and sometimes things get better. But Marty knows most people don’t have to squeeze into their houses.Meanwhile Gracie’s dad ignores her, too busy with his work to notice her dreams of being a dancer.And finally Grandpa has bought a special seed that will fix everything… or so he says.Seed is an absolutely astounding novel that moved me.It is a book about being brave enough to hope for something better and following your dreams, all with a little magic sprinkled in. George Ermos’ illustrations throughout are gorgeous and evocative.It is truly magical, and an unforgettable novel.