Josias’s friends call to him on their way to school, asking when he will “hold the book”—join them at school. Josias has no use for reading and writing; he must tend the beans so his family has enough food. However, his garden is not faring well despite his best efforts. At this point, Josias realizes that books might hold the key to his gardening problems and he convinces his family to allow him to attend school. Author’s notes provide helpful in formation about rural Haiti and the difficulty of acquiring an education for children living in the countryside. 2007 America’s Award from the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies. nlh