Sunflower Seeds is a collection of poems and short stories that were written over the span of several years, from elementary school to high school, and has been repeatedly refined and elaborated upon over time. These pieces have been selected to serve as a compilation of memories and emotions. In particular, the titular poem “Sunflower Seeds” is about struggling with and overcoming the isolation and loneliness that comes with growing up in a new environment. At a young age, Sophie left behind the world she had always known–composed of her friends, family, and home–and moved to Canada, a strange new country she had never even heard of. While she struggled at first to communicate verbally with new classmates and teachers, she never stopped writing. In these pieces, one can feel her initial fears and attempts at finding consolation in writing. One can also see her gradual growth as an individual and eventual satisfaction with her new home. Essentially, Sunflower Seeds seeks to capture all the peaks and valleys of adolescence.

Sophie Cheng was born in China. She first began learning English in grade one and discovered her love for reading and writing. She began to further explore this hobby after immigrating to Canada in grade four. A high schooler now, she still has great passion in reading and writing, and continue to use all available spare time to persist in writing. She keeps every piece she’s written, and this book is a collection of poems and short stories she has written over the past five years.