SOLVED. Little kid lands on planet with survivors and they nearly starve cause the plants grow like crystals. [s]

[Andrew]

I read this story when I was in the 3rd grade. If I remember correctly the child is telling the account of her, at least I feel like it is a girl, and her family as they try to survive on a harsh alien planet.

I believe they crash landed. They create a little village of sorts and try to grow wheat and other crops; they nearly starve because all the plants grow out as hard crystals.

They eventually figure out that they can crush the crystals, the wheat is the first thing they discover this with, and use the powder to make bread and other foods.

The last thing I remember from this story, because I was not able to finish it, is that there was something mysterious happening on the planet; probably an alien life form of some sort.

I really feel like this was a story inside a collection of stories, like a book full of short stories or a text book that has stories in it. If anyone remembers this book, please post up.

Even if you just think it could be x/y/z book, please let me know. This story has been a splinter in my mind all these years and I would love to finish it and share it with my children. Something about this story really stuck out to me and was one of the earliest things I can remember about falling in love with science fiction.

[Kris]

Farmer in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein?

[Shanna_redwind]

Could it be The Green Book?

[Feliks]

features children and crystals

[Daisy]

The Green Book sounds like your best bet, I read it at about that same age.

[Kate]

[Andrew]

Sorry for the delay. I will look at these books and get back to everyone. Thank you for your ideas!

[Andrew]

It is "The Green Book". I cannot tell you how happy I am right now. I have wanted to read this book for so long. It was the last thing I was reading when my father picked me up early from school to tell me my grandmother had died.

I am tearing up right now just thinking about it.

Thank you so much!

[Kate]

Wow, Andrew, what a book to be reading at the time your grandmother died. The theme in the book about telling stories as a way of enriching lives and maintaining connections is strong, and fitting for a time of loss.