S. Smith
Author of Seed Savers: Treasure (Volume 1)
S. Smith is Smiths (2). For other authors named Smiths, see the disambiguation page.
Works by S. Smith
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This is a Middle Grade SciFi book about gardening. Actually it is about escape from totalitarian regimes and a return to fresh food and freedom of choice to grow it, but on the surface it is just about 12 year old Clare, her seven year old brother Dante and their friends Lily (same age as Clare) and Ana, who is substantially older – kind of my age. Their adventure is about growing food – in secret.
Seed Savers is what I believe in. In S Smith’s world, food choice has long gone, since show more the corporate agribusinesses managed to hoodwink governments into belief in factory farming on a national scale, using genetically modifed crops. Furthermore it has prohibited the preservation of biodiversity and natural selection in food plants that keeps us with robust strains likely to adapt to climate change and weather patterns, pests and diseases, and, most importantly, enable people to save their seeds year after year to provide for the future. Ana, a volunteer at the after-school club at the church, is dedicated to passing her seed-saving knowledge on to the next generation. and resorts to using passages from the Bible as a good method of teaching people that have never heard of fruit or vegetables, since all their food comes in blocks of goodness (hmmph) from Stores. The Bible has many references to stewardship of the land and saving seeds, and God providing the fruits for people to use (the Koran seems to be good on Allah providing fruits, too) and religion, or at least church attendance, is still encouraged in this world.
S Smith outlines these societal changes as we meet the people who rebel, still, against the consequences of these disastrous government actions. She writes it in an engaging and gripping style. I made myself put the book down a third of the way through, to take a breather, since I was scared of what was going to happen. Then I couldn’t wait to pick it up again, and I finished it in one sitting.
In Clare and Dante we have beautifully crafted characters, and Dante just keeps pulling out surprises as he has wisdom beyond his years – or maybe he just gains it through their journey.
It’s a story in three parts – Clare, Dante and Lily discovering about plants through Ana’s covert teaching; the escape into another grim society, and the journey to another, freer place. I was hooked into all three parts. It’s a lovely story with lots of bright ideas from the kids and twists and turns in the adventure.
Everyone should read this book. Especially if they aren’t sure how the food in their stores comes to be there. I’m looking forward to the next in the series. show less
Seed Savers is what I believe in. In S Smith’s world, food choice has long gone, since show more the corporate agribusinesses managed to hoodwink governments into belief in factory farming on a national scale, using genetically modifed crops. Furthermore it has prohibited the preservation of biodiversity and natural selection in food plants that keeps us with robust strains likely to adapt to climate change and weather patterns, pests and diseases, and, most importantly, enable people to save their seeds year after year to provide for the future. Ana, a volunteer at the after-school club at the church, is dedicated to passing her seed-saving knowledge on to the next generation. and resorts to using passages from the Bible as a good method of teaching people that have never heard of fruit or vegetables, since all their food comes in blocks of goodness (hmmph) from Stores. The Bible has many references to stewardship of the land and saving seeds, and God providing the fruits for people to use (the Koran seems to be good on Allah providing fruits, too) and religion, or at least church attendance, is still encouraged in this world.
S Smith outlines these societal changes as we meet the people who rebel, still, against the consequences of these disastrous government actions. She writes it in an engaging and gripping style. I made myself put the book down a third of the way through, to take a breather, since I was scared of what was going to happen. Then I couldn’t wait to pick it up again, and I finished it in one sitting.
In Clare and Dante we have beautifully crafted characters, and Dante just keeps pulling out surprises as he has wisdom beyond his years – or maybe he just gains it through their journey.
It’s a story in three parts – Clare, Dante and Lily discovering about plants through Ana’s covert teaching; the escape into another grim society, and the journey to another, freer place. I was hooked into all three parts. It’s a lovely story with lots of bright ideas from the kids and twists and turns in the adventure.
Everyone should read this book. Especially if they aren’t sure how the food in their stores comes to be there. I’m looking forward to the next in the series. show less
If you haven’t read the first in the series, [b:Treasure|13630113|Treasure (Seed Savers, #1)|S. Smith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1335901861s/13630113.jpg|19237670],you should do so first. There is gentle explanation here of the situation to date, but it is just SO much better to read them in sequence! Lily is missing her friends, and kicking around doing nothing much in her summer vacation except visiting her illegally planted seeds to see how they are faring. She makes a new friend in show more Rose, and like Lily, I was never sure how much she could be trusted, and whether she was a true friend or not. And then they start being followed by an annoying or incredibly interesting (depending on your point of view) boy aged about fourteen, who turns out to know a lot about growing plants – and eating them too. Very suspicious!
The plot twists like a climbing bean, throws shadows like the shadiest tomato plant and ripens like a true blueberry just when you least expect it! In many ways this second story is a transitional one, taking us through some necessary history and personal developments, on to what might be the denouement – but I’m beginning not to be sure whether all will be revealed in Heirloom, or whether there will be more in the series. This is no cliffhanger – it is a fully rounded story, satisfactory in its plot and characterisation, as well as threat and tension. The world is not only believable, but presages recent concerns over snooping through social media. Ms Smith has taken real-world concerns on limitations of personal freedom and taken them to a wholly logical conclusion.
Rise up, MG readers everywhere, and fight for your right to real food – and the right to grow it in your backyard, or balcony – and to tell your friends about it on the internet! Read the Seed Savers series, and beware! show less
The plot twists like a climbing bean, throws shadows like the shadiest tomato plant and ripens like a true blueberry just when you least expect it! In many ways this second story is a transitional one, taking us through some necessary history and personal developments, on to what might be the denouement – but I’m beginning not to be sure whether all will be revealed in Heirloom, or whether there will be more in the series. This is no cliffhanger – it is a fully rounded story, satisfactory in its plot and characterisation, as well as threat and tension. The world is not only believable, but presages recent concerns over snooping through social media. Ms Smith has taken real-world concerns on limitations of personal freedom and taken them to a wholly logical conclusion.
Rise up, MG readers everywhere, and fight for your right to real food – and the right to grow it in your backyard, or balcony – and to tell your friends about it on the internet! Read the Seed Savers series, and beware! show less
My original Treasure audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
In a world where seeds have become a monopoly, and where real food is a thing of the past, some people are trying to go back to the old ways. But they have to be careful and act in secret because these actions are illegal, and the big corporations are always alert.
The premises of this dystopian story were really good, especially because it is something that could become a reality at some point. The book show more is targeted at a young audience since the main characters are seven and twelve. The story is interesting and I think kids could really enjoy it.
Unfortunately, there is little world-building, which makes the book a bit flat. We know what people eat, and that big corporations control the seeds market, but there are no more details about the cities or the society. I understand that being this a book for children, Smith didn't see the need of going into much detail, but I think even young readers like to know the world in which the action occurs. Trains still exist, but we know nothing about buildings, cars, pollution, clothes, gadgets, etc. I think including a little bit more information would have been a cool detail that children would appreciate.
Another big issue I found is that there is quite some religion in this book. The fact that seeds were mentioned in the Bible, and the fact that this is used to teach the children is a good idea, and I don't mind that. But there is progressively more and more religion in the book. One of the main characters prays in many occasions for things to get better, and it is also mentioned that things happen for some reason. I just hate indoctrination, and while I respect religious people, I disagree about many things. Praying doesn't make things to happen, acting does, and sometimes things just don't happen. Also, affirming that things happen for a reason can help some people to cope with events, but this doesn't make it more real, and I think it's important for children to know this. Growing is about assuming responsibilities, not thinking that something bigger will save you if you pray very hard.
It surprised me a bit that there was not a lot about the health benefits of eating real food. If there is something in me believing that the situation in this book will not happen is the increasing amount of people trying to eat healthy to avoid illness. Unfortunately, there are nowadays a lot of ailments, many of the immune disorders, resulting from a poor diet and especially processed foods. This is one of the key factors for which I think we will resist and not fall into the destiny described in this book.
Julia Farmer delivered a good narration, putting the right amount of emotion and expression when interpreting the characters. Her children's voices were great. The only drawback is that sometimes both siblings sounded the same, which was a bit confusing.
It was an okay book, but I would only recommend it to children in religious families. There is just too much religion for other audiences.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author. show less
In a world where seeds have become a monopoly, and where real food is a thing of the past, some people are trying to go back to the old ways. But they have to be careful and act in secret because these actions are illegal, and the big corporations are always alert.
The premises of this dystopian story were really good, especially because it is something that could become a reality at some point. The book show more is targeted at a young audience since the main characters are seven and twelve. The story is interesting and I think kids could really enjoy it.
Unfortunately, there is little world-building, which makes the book a bit flat. We know what people eat, and that big corporations control the seeds market, but there are no more details about the cities or the society. I understand that being this a book for children, Smith didn't see the need of going into much detail, but I think even young readers like to know the world in which the action occurs. Trains still exist, but we know nothing about buildings, cars, pollution, clothes, gadgets, etc. I think including a little bit more information would have been a cool detail that children would appreciate.
Another big issue I found is that there is quite some religion in this book. The fact that seeds were mentioned in the Bible, and the fact that this is used to teach the children is a good idea, and I don't mind that. But there is progressively more and more religion in the book. One of the main characters prays in many occasions for things to get better, and it is also mentioned that things happen for some reason. I just hate indoctrination, and while I respect religious people, I disagree about many things. Praying doesn't make things to happen, acting does, and sometimes things just don't happen. Also, affirming that things happen for a reason can help some people to cope with events, but this doesn't make it more real, and I think it's important for children to know this. Growing is about assuming responsibilities, not thinking that something bigger will save you if you pray very hard.
It surprised me a bit that there was not a lot about the health benefits of eating real food. If there is something in me believing that the situation in this book will not happen is the increasing amount of people trying to eat healthy to avoid illness. Unfortunately, there are nowadays a lot of ailments, many of the immune disorders, resulting from a poor diet and especially processed foods. This is one of the key factors for which I think we will resist and not fall into the destiny described in this book.
Julia Farmer delivered a good narration, putting the right amount of emotion and expression when interpreting the characters. Her children's voices were great. The only drawback is that sometimes both siblings sounded the same, which was a bit confusing.
It was an okay book, but I would only recommend it to children in religious families. There is just too much religion for other audiences.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author. show less
Heirloom is the third in the Seed Savers series, following on from [b:Treasure|13630113|Treasure (Seed Savers, #1)|S. Smith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1335901861s/13630113.jpg|19237670] and [b:Lily|16241240|Lily (Seed Savers,#2)|S. Smith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354663446s/16241240.jpg|22251377], and, as I began to anticipate, there is a fourth in the offing, due out very soon!
In a world where all food production from growth to the stores is controlled by a corporation, growing real show more vegetables and cooking it yourself is forbidden, outlawed, and underground. In Heirloom we discover more about the background to the freedom fighters, and learn secrets about their leaders that have Lily in a spin. She sets off on her own trek across the country, just as Clare and Dante did in Treasure. Unlike them, she does not find a safe family to live with and a school to learn all about agriculture. Her journey leads to unnerving encounters and the discovery of a secret hidden high in the forested hills in the north.
I thought this book even better than its predecessors, and can merely echo my previous comments when I say everyone should read this if they want a future with free communication and self-determination. Of course, many people may want to be spoonfed, but I doubt they will if they are reading my blog!
The one thing I think should be changed is the blurb on the Goodreads site. I thought I’d got the wrong book from the short version – and it isn’t a blurb to attract readers! Otherwise – another 5 stars for Ms Smith! show less
In a world where all food production from growth to the stores is controlled by a corporation, growing real show more vegetables and cooking it yourself is forbidden, outlawed, and underground. In Heirloom we discover more about the background to the freedom fighters, and learn secrets about their leaders that have Lily in a spin. She sets off on her own trek across the country, just as Clare and Dante did in Treasure. Unlike them, she does not find a safe family to live with and a school to learn all about agriculture. Her journey leads to unnerving encounters and the discovery of a secret hidden high in the forested hills in the north.
I thought this book even better than its predecessors, and can merely echo my previous comments when I say everyone should read this if they want a future with free communication and self-determination. Of course, many people may want to be spoonfed, but I doubt they will if they are reading my blog!
The one thing I think should be changed is the blurb on the Goodreads site. I thought I’d got the wrong book from the short version – and it isn’t a blurb to attract readers! Otherwise – another 5 stars for Ms Smith! show less
Statistics
- Works
- 4
- Members
- 39
- Popularity
- #376,656
- Rating
- 4.7
- Reviews
- 5
- ISBNs
- 19
