The Gardener of Alcatraz: A True Story by Emma Bland Smith and illustrated by Jenn Ely
Starting in 1934, Alcatraz Island changed from being a military post to a high security (and impossible to escape) prison for the most dangerous criminals. One of these criminals was Elliott Michener. Elliot Michener was caught making counterfeit money. This, of course, is illegal. Like many new prisoners to Alcatraz Island, Elliott had plans on how he could try to escape from prison. Many prisoners had tried but none had been successful. Elliott thought if he could "trick" the guards into trusting him then he could escape without anyone noticing. He decided to volunteer in the prison gardens to gain the guards trust. There was just one problem... It turned out he really enjoyed working in the gardens. Not only did her enjoy the gardens, but he really enjoyed gardening. Oh no! What's a prisoner to do? So, did I like this book? Absolutely! History, gardening, a reformed prisoner, a well told story, and great pictures. What's not to love? I can think of nothing better than a book that looks great, has great information about something that interests me, and I learn something new. To learn more about Alcatraz and the gardens please visit the following websites: Alcatraz Island (National Park Service) and The Gardens of Alcatraz. To hear Elliot Michener talk about being a gardener on Alcatraz then click here. To learn more about books created by Emma Bland Smith and Jenn Ely please visit their websites.
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