The Gardener of Alcatraz: A True Story, written by Emma Bland Smith and illustrated by Jenn Ely. Charlesbridge, Penguin Random House, 2022. $19.99 ages 7 and up

 

"As the days crawled by, he lay low. He endured
the no-talking rules. He avoided riots. He performed
his dreary job, scouring the ground for handballs
that had been knocked over the rec yard wall. 

Make no mistake: it was a tedious life."

Convicted on charges of counterfeiting, Elliott Michener was transported with nineteen other inmates to Alcatraz, the island prison in San Francisco Bay. He had no desire to stay, and spent his early time there hoping he could find a way to escape. As days passed, he remained quiet, and obeyed all the rules while doing the job assigned to him. 

When he found a key and handed it over to authorities, his luck turned. Administration in the prison was looking for someone to care for the gardens. They needed someone who was honest and trustworthy. Elliott seemed their man for the job. 

Knowing nothing about gardening, and hating the job he had been doing, he threw himself into his new work. He focused on preparing the soil, building terraces and learning all he could learn about plants and planting. Soon, he had used every available space on the island for the plants he loved. He also changed the people around him. When he was assigned to work for Warden Swope and his wife, he tended to their home and meals while also continuing to garden. Life was good for Elliott. Soon, he was left in charge if the family was away. 

"They trusted him and treated him 
like a person, and that made life 
on Alcatraz bearable."

When he was transferred from Alcatraz to Leavenworth, he was very unhappy. He took the lessons learned earlier about good behavior and staying out of trouble with him. Sure enough, he was given an early release and spent his days living on a farm in Wisconsin, surrounded by plants and color once again. 

Jenn Ely’s mixed media spreads depict the transformation that took place with Elliott in charge of the gardens. From drab and uninviting to glorious color, she fills her illustrations with detail, color, and daily events as Elliott spends his time doing what he loves to do. 

Extensive back matter includes a time line, historical photographs, further information about Michener and Alcatraz, and a selected bibliography.