About this book
Across the Fruited Plain by Florence Crannell Means invites listeners into a compassionate, episodic portrait of migrant life as seen through the eyes of children traveling the harvest circuit. Set against the backdrop of mid‑20th‑century seasonal labor, this young adult fiction traces a cast of young characters—Cissy, Tommy, Tomoko, Willie May, Fei Kin, Nawamana, Candelaria, Isabell and little Mary Margaret—whose days move between cranberry bogs, onion marshes, hop yards and oyster shucking as families follow the crops. Means combines keen observational detail with warm, age‑appropriate storytelling to explore themes of resilience, community, cultural diversity, and the social realities that shape childhood on the move. Episodes are grounded in historical context—when year‑round demand for fresh produce and economic pressures created a growing population of migrant workers—while preserving moments of play, courage, and human connection. Aimed at teen and young adult listeners, this audiobook is ideal for students, teachers, and anyone drawn to historical fiction that illuminates social history through authentic, empathetic voices. Listen for a quietly powerful look at how ordinary children navigate hardship and hope across America’s fruited plain.
