The illustrations in this story are detailed and really held everyone's attention. My class was totally silent as I read it. I think they were struck by the idea of a story about criminal. One of our students had visited Alcatraz and so she told us a bit about it to start, which was really great. This is a great story of how people can change and the value of nature.
Goodreads says:
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. Thoughts of escape were replaced with 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.
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