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charming_killerqueen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mckinlay's review against another edition
3.0
*I received a copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This book is super cute. Obviously it's not written for someone my age and it didn't really blow me away. Plus it had one of the tropes I hate! but i would definitely recommend it to a parent looking to read a book with their kid. What I loved most about it is when it was told from the perspective of one of the bees!
This book is super cute. Obviously it's not written for someone my age and it didn't really blow me away. Plus it had one of the tropes I hate! but i would definitely recommend it to a parent looking to read a book with their kid. What I loved most about it is when it was told from the perspective of one of the bees!
miszjeanie's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this quirky, unique middle-grade novel. Zinnia’s life does a quick 180 when her big brother leaves home without telling anyone (not even her!). As if that isn’t bad enough, a colony of bees moves into her hair.
I was a bit skeptical of this book at first, because I tend to balk at unrealistic storylines, but somehow this worked. Told from alternating perspectives of Zinnia and the bees, this book offers fresh insight into nature, art, friendship, and of course, growing up.
I wish Dr. Flossdrop’s character was more developed, but this is definitely a book worth reading!
I was a bit skeptical of this book at first, because I tend to balk at unrealistic storylines, but somehow this worked. Told from alternating perspectives of Zinnia and the bees, this book offers fresh insight into nature, art, friendship, and of course, growing up.
I wish Dr. Flossdrop’s character was more developed, but this is definitely a book worth reading!
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Quirky and oh so original, Zinnia will be sure to charm middle grade readers!
Thanks to the author for providing the @kidlitexchange network with a copy of this book for review purposes - all opinions are my own.
ZINNIA AND THE BEES is definitely a different middle grade story, and one that will appeal to kids who love nature, knitting and cheering for the underdog in a story. Zinnia is dealing with issues that so many kids are dealing with - a working single parent, an absent father, a sibling growing up and away from the rest of the family, friendship issues..........oh, and one issue that NO other kids are dealing with! A hive of bees on. her. head. The chapters in the story are mostly narrated by Zinnia, but some are narrated (in italics) by the bees and include a ton of factual information about bees and their hives - I told you it was unique!
While Zinnia is a 7th grader in the story, it is a very very innocent story and will definitely appeal to upper elementary students with higher level vocabularies as well.
Thanks to the author for providing the @kidlitexchange network with a copy of this book for review purposes - all opinions are my own.
ZINNIA AND THE BEES is definitely a different middle grade story, and one that will appeal to kids who love nature, knitting and cheering for the underdog in a story. Zinnia is dealing with issues that so many kids are dealing with - a working single parent, an absent father, a sibling growing up and away from the rest of the family, friendship issues..........oh, and one issue that NO other kids are dealing with! A hive of bees on. her. head. The chapters in the story are mostly narrated by Zinnia, but some are narrated (in italics) by the bees and include a ton of factual information about bees and their hives - I told you it was unique!
While Zinnia is a 7th grader in the story, it is a very very innocent story and will definitely appeal to upper elementary students with higher level vocabularies as well.
danicamidlil's review against another edition
Just didn't seem to go much of anywhere.
molly_dettmann's review against another edition
4.0
What’s a girl to do when she think her former best friends betrayed her, her older brother has left home without a word, AND she’s got a colony of bees in her hair?!
This was such an adorable read. For such a goofy premise this one still packed some punches with family and friendship issues. I loved Burch the most. He was such a cuties and you even get some intermittent chapters from the POV of the bees! Recommended for mid/upper elementary school students and fans of stories of humor with heart.
This was such an adorable read. For such a goofy premise this one still packed some punches with family and friendship issues. I loved Burch the most. He was such a cuties and you even get some intermittent chapters from the POV of the bees! Recommended for mid/upper elementary school students and fans of stories of humor with heart.
tracybabler's review against another edition
4.0
So much is happening in this clever book! Danielle Davis wove together:
-an errant beehive
-a disappearing brother
-a difficult mother
-yarn bombing
-bird watching
-flower bombing
-reality television
Somehow, she makes it all work! This is one of the most unique plot lines I've read. A very good read-aloud for elementary aged kids, and I think older MG readers will appreciate it, too.
-an errant beehive
-a disappearing brother
-a difficult mother
-yarn bombing
-bird watching
-flower bombing
-reality television
Somehow, she makes it all work! This is one of the most unique plot lines I've read. A very good read-aloud for elementary aged kids, and I think older MG readers will appreciate it, too.
sharquin's review against another edition
4.0
Zinnia and the bees was a very interesting book. As long as you can overlook a few flaws that the premise has, it's a great book.
This book deals with loss, friendships, figuring out who you are, and trying to understand people. These things are something that everyone struggles with from time to time and can be difficult to cope with on your own. I think that this book can help someone going through these things to understand that they aren't alone and that it is normal.
My overall rating for this book is a 4.5.
This book deals with loss, friendships, figuring out who you are, and trying to understand people. These things are something that everyone struggles with from time to time and can be difficult to cope with on your own. I think that this book can help someone going through these things to understand that they aren't alone and that it is normal.
My overall rating for this book is a 4.5.
genielyssereyes's review against another edition
5.0
What a sweet-as-honey story! I was so excited to obtain an ARC of this story at the LA Times Festival of Books. Danielle Davis has written a wonderful debut that made me feel like a kid, and I am a sucker for books that take me back like that. Zinnia's voice is one that I will not soon forget, for it is full of both charm and maturity. I enjoyed the zaniness of the bees in Zinnia's hair, and I felt the rawness of Zinnia's relationships with her loved ones, as well as her ever-important and growing relationship with herself. This is a wonderful coming-of-age book, and I look forward to what other stories Danielle Davis has in store for the world!
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
3.0
Having bees in your hair is an interesting concept for a book , that and the fact that the young Zinnia knitted, made me give this book a chance.
But other than inspire her, the poor bees just suffered the whole time. I suppose their little dialogues were supposed to be funny but they were painfully sad. We could have had no bees and had a good, fine story of a friendship and family dynamics.
My recommendation would be to skip the chapters with the bees. Then you will enjoy the book more.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review
But other than inspire her, the poor bees just suffered the whole time. I suppose their little dialogues were supposed to be funny but they were painfully sad. We could have had no bees and had a good, fine story of a friendship and family dynamics.
My recommendation would be to skip the chapters with the bees. Then you will enjoy the book more.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review