Reviews

Billie The Bee by Mary Fleener

mschlat's review against another edition

3.0

I'm a big fan of Fleener's Slutburger comics, but this volume is somewhat closer to her "Fleener" comics from Zongo Press (less autobiographical and more whimsical). We're following Billie, a strangely large bee (although the mystery of her size isn't that mysterious), who gets recruited as a ranger for her hive, makes friends with others in her ecosystem (specifically, a rattlesnake, coyote, and two turtles), and has lots of adventures. It would feel like a kid's book if it weren't for the profanity, dirty jokes, and occasional animal-on-animal violence. It also has pages in Fleener's trademark cubismo style.

It's a fun read, but it didn't feel like a complete package to me. However, any Fleener is good news!

ari767's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

wampusreynolds's review against another edition

4.0

Fleener's illustrations are always beautiful and evocative of whatever facet of telling a story she wants to emphasize. So many panels in this tale of nature that teaches many facts in narrative and asterisked notes are museum-worthy. She is a master artist of this form. The only reason this isn't five stars is because the plot does not live up to the illustrations.

amdame1's review

3.0

Black and white illustrations are dull, although well-drawn.
Story is a combination of informational and fiction about Billie the Bee who is unusually large so the queen makes Billie into a ranger who goes out and makes friends with all the animals in the surrounding area.
Truthfully, I cannot see ANY of my middle school students picking this one up.
Also SPL has it catalogued as YA, not JUV but I cannot figure out why because *possibly* a younger student might pick it up...