Seeds of Hope

Ten-year-old Danny loves the Prairies and wants to become the next-generation farmer on his family's land. But Papa and Grandpa are talking about selling the farm and his best friend is moving away into the city. The town bully also won't leave him alone. What can Danny do to protect himself and help his family deal with all these issues?

Ten-year-old Danny loves the wide open spaces and the beautiful prairie sky. Like his father and grandfather, Danny wants to be a farmer. He only wishes the town bully would leave him alone. Is there any way Danny can protect himself? Not only that, but times are tough for farmers and suddenly Papa and Grandpa are talking about selling and moving away. Danny is worried. Are things as bad as Papa thinks? What if Papa decides to leave the farm? What will happen to Danny and his family? In Seeds of Hope, author Mary Harelkin Bishop explores the litany of Western Canadian farm problems including a prairie fire, grasshoppers and the worry of a family farm in trouble. Through Danny, Harelkin Bishop shares her own love of the prairie farm with its wide open spaces, endless potential and optimism despite constantly-threatening problems. Seeds of Hope was awarded: Finalist, Children's Literature, in the 2009 Saskatchewan Book Awards; Honourable Mention, Teenage/Young Adult, in the 2009 Nashville Book Festival; and ​Honourable Mention, Teenage, in the 2008 London (England) Book Festival.

Mary Harelkin Bishop is a teacher in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She is the author of the best-selling Tunnels of Moose Jaw Adventures series and the inspiring motivational biography Moving Forward: The Journey of Colette Bourgonje. Her award-winning novel Seeds of Hope: A Prairie Story was inspired by her love of the family farm and the people who work the land on the North American prairies.