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Emma Bland Smith has done it again! In The Gardener of Alcatraz, she takes an obscure historical figure I had never heard of and brings his story to life in a way that is both captivating and deeply educational. This is the true story of Elliot Michener, a convicted counterfeiter sentenced to serve time on the infamous island prison of Alcatraz.
When Michener first arrives, he is convinced that he must be the first to escape Alcatraz. Unlike other inmates who had rioted and used desperate measures, he chooses a quieter, more strategic approach. One day, while doing his chores, he discovers a key in the prison yard and decides to return it to the guards instead of hoarding it and trying it in every lock he could find. This single act earns him a level of trust that leads to an unexpected opportunity—gardening.
At first, Michener sees his new task as just another job, but over time, something inside him shifts. As he carves the hills into gardens, tending the flowers and transforming the rocky prison landscape, he finds himself being transformed as well. Gardening, which once seemed like a means to an end, becomes his passion and ultimately, a key to his rehabilitation and early release.
The story is powerful not only for its themes of redemption and personal growth but also for the meticulous research behind it. The author’s note at the end details the careful efforts Smith and illustrator Jen Ely took to ensure historical accuracy—from the prison uniforms to the specific flowers Michener cultivated.
While this is a picture book, it feels best suited for early elementary school readers rather than the youngest audiences. The themes of crime, redemption, and self-discovery make it a unique and enriching read—one that will surprise and inspire young readers with a true tale of transformation in the most unlikely of places.
Smith has a knack for making me care about things I didn’t even know existed.