Leung 1

Scott Leung
Miss Lukins
Language Arts Period 5-6
24 January 2017
With Sadness, There Comes Bravery
Many people, possibly including you, have felt very sad or bad about
something, but after a while, they gain courage. In Paul Fleischmans novel

Seedfolks, the character impacted most by the Gibb Street garden is Kim as her
tone changes from sad to determined and hopeful. This happens because she wants
to prove to her deceased dad that she is his daughter. Therefore, because of the
garden, she realizes that it has changed other people who also have bad
experiences.
In the beginning of the chapter, Kims tone is sad because more attention is
on her father than on her. For example, she states, Might notice me . . . My own
tears had them come as well, but for a different reason (1). This shows that
during her fathers death anniversary, her mom and sister will come over to the
altar feeling sympathy for her dad while Kim was left alone. She feels really sad
not just because of the isolation and her dads death, but was also because shed
never met her dad. Overall, she feels really depressed during that time.

Leung 2

Then, Kim reaches the Gibb Street vacant and starts planting some lima
beans. For instance, she states, I dug six holes . . . He would watch my beans
break ground and spread, and would notice with pleasure their pods growing plump
(3 ). This proves that she is planting lima beans in the vacant lot to prove her dads
spirit that she is his daughter. She chooses to plant the beans to prove to her
father that shes his daughter because her father was a farmer. In conclusion,
Kim has a lot of determination.
Later on, Kims tone changes to hopeful because she had hope that her beans
will survive. One example of this tone is when she states, And I vowed to myself
that those be would thrive (3). This demonstrates that Kim has faith in her beans
compared to some people who dont care. One of the other characters also have
faith for whatever they are planting. Therefore, she no longer feels hopeless from
the beginning.
In Paul Fleischmans novel, Seedfolks, the character Kim transforms from
feeling sad to happy at the end of the story. This is due to her visit to the Gibb
Street garden, because she had made her fathers spirit happy. From the article
Goodness of Gardening, Palita Punchibandara states that Through gardening,
those who lead stressful lives and those with disabilities can experience a greater
sense of competence, enhance sensory stimulation, improve movement skills and

Leung 3

find occasions for self-expression, creativity and socialization (1). This shows that
gardening changes peoples mood in more of a positive way. In the end, we can learn
from Kim that she is really determined and courageous, but also that she has hope,
faith, and forget about the past and look forward to the future.