the vegetable museum

* Shortlisted for the Red Cedar Children’s Book Award 2021 and the IODE Violet Downey Book Award 2020; selected for Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Best Books for Kids and Teens 2019 (starred selection), OLA Best Bets Top Ten (2019), and New York Public Library Best Books

Thirteen-year-old Chloë left her whole life back in Montreal, including her mom and her best friend. Now she’s stuck in Victoria with her dad and her estranged grandfather, Uli, who recently had a stroke. When Chloë agrees to help Uli look after his garden, she’s determined to find out why he and her dad didn’t speak to each other for years.

For decades Uli has collected seeds from people in the community, distinct varieties that have been handed down through generations. The result is a garden full of unusual and endangered produce, from pink broccoli to blue kale to purple potatoes.

But Chloë learns that the garden will soon be destroyed to make way for a new apartment complex. And the seed collection is missing! Chloë must somehow find a way to save her grandfather’s legacy.

Reviews

“Scenes of Chloë and her grandfather are poignant and realistic and might even spark some agricultural interest in middle-graders…the characters are warm, and the concept of seed vaults is made wonderfully personal.”

- Kirkus Reviews

“The Vegetable Museum follows a family and its unique heirlooms – vegetable seeds from all over the world ‘that all mean something to somebody somewhere.’ It is a heartfelt story of family history, memory and food security – as engaging and contemplative as a sun-dappled garden.”

- Alison Hughes, Governor General's Award-nominated author of Hit the Ground Running

“The Vegetable Museum  is not just a middle-grade novel; it is a testament to the power of a garden to bring generations together. It might even inspire some future gardeners! Mulder has created a love story for families, a tribute to the ability of seeds growing more than just plants. Wishing there had been more than 181 pages.”

- Resource Links

“An engaging middle school novel about family relationships…There are powerful lessons about coping with adversity.”

- CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“A deeply satisfying story about family, friendship and the power of community … Mulder neatly juggles the various threads of the story while making sure readers aren’t overwhelmed by the serious issues she grapples with in her novel.”

- The Globe and Mail