The Miracle Seed

"This graphic novel follows the extinction and rebirth of the Judean date palm, an ancient plant brought back to life through the efforts of Jewish biologists Dr. Sarah Sallon and Dr. Elaine Solowey. Includes author's note, timeline of events, map of relevant locations in Israel, and photos of the date palms and their fruit"--"The thrilling true story of an ancient plant, wonderfully reborn in the modern era through the hard work of two female scientists.Thousands of years ago, in a time of rebellion, the Jewish people fought against their Roman rulers. The brutal Emperor Titus ordered the destruction of everything precious to the Jews: towns, villages, even their beloved Judean date palm trees. Centuries passed. The Jewish people were scattered, and the Judean date palm faded into extinction. Then, in 1963, a team of archaeologists uncovered two-thousand-year-old date palm seeds at the ruined fortress of Masada. For another forty years the seeds waited-until 2004, when Israeli scientist Dr. Sarah Sallon had a big, courageous idea. What if those ancient seeds could bring the Judean date palm back to life? Dr. Sallon recruited her friend Dr. Elaine Solowey, and their amazing experiment began...Intertwining world history, the scientific process, and colorfully detailed artwork, The Miracle Seed follows the Judean date palm's journey from tragic extinction to incredible rebirth. Captivating and hopeful, this graphic novel is an unforgettable look at perseverance and survival in the face of impossible odds. "--… (more)