Name: The Gardener of Alcatraz
ISBN: 9781623541606

At a Glance

Why This Clicks

A Garden’s Turn

A prison-garden story pairs a surprising true-life turn with questions that reach beyond Alcatraz.

Come here for

The odd, human turn from escape plans to gardening
A picture-book biography with humor and empathy

Expect

A story of gardening, new skills, and hard-won dignity
Back matter on Alcatraz’s history and today’s U.S. prison system

Book Details

Authors: Emma Bland Smith
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Published: April 5, 2022
Format: Print & ebook
Theme: Historical Biographies for Kids · JUVENILE FICTION / Science & Nature / Flowers & Plants
Reading lane: Historical Biographies for Kids

Affinity

Publisher Categories

Historical Biographies for Kids
Kids' Gardening
Law & Crime for Kids

About This Book

A prisoner gardens his way to freedom in this inspiring picture-book biography. When Elliott Michener was locked away in Alcatraz for counterfeiting, he was determined to defy the odds and bust out. But when he got a job tending the prison garden, a funny thing happened. He found new interests and skills--and a sense of dignity and fulfillment. Elliott transformed Alcatraz Island, and the island transformed him. Told with empathy and a storyteller's flair, Elliott's story is...

Read full description

A prisoner gardens his way to freedom in this inspiring picture-book biography. When Elliott Michener was locked away in Alcatraz for counterfeiting, he was determined to defy the odds and bust out. But when he got a job tending the prison garden, a funny thing happened. He found new interests and skills--and a sense of dignity and fulfillment. Elliott transformed Alcatraz Island, and the island transformed him. Told with empathy and a storyteller's flair, Elliott's story is funny, touching, and unexpectedly relevant. Back matter about the history of Alcatraz and the US prison system today invites meaningful discussion.