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bookalong's review against another edition
4.0
"I don't know what honey tastes like. Gramps knows. He says "Sweet like honey" sometimes. When the real bees flew from flower to flower, they did this job. One tiny bee could do the work of 20 kid bees every day. And the speaker says there used to be millions of them."
melbsreads's review against another edition
3.5
Trigger warnings: domestic violence, kidnapping, parental abduction, mental health, death of a parent, grief.
Well, this was a lot darker than I anticipated... I mean, I knew that it was set in a world where bees are extinct and children have to climb trees with bags of pollen to ensure that fruit and vegetables will still grow.
But really, that's a very small part of the story. It's instead about a young girl who desperately wants to be a Bee (as the children carrying pollen are known) but is essentially kidnapped by her mother from the farm where she's grown up with her grandfather and sister to instead work as a servant in the big city. There, she witnesses the domestic violence her mother's new relationship is causing, and the dramatic differences between the poverty she's grown up with and the extreme opulence and wastefulness of the city's rich.
And given that it's a middle grade book, I definitely didn't expect that level of darkness. And while I enjoyed it, I feel like I would have liked it better if it hadn't been *quite* as heavy handed with the serious topics as it was...
Well, this was a lot darker than I anticipated... I mean, I knew that it was set in a world where bees are extinct and children have to climb trees with bags of pollen to ensure that fruit and vegetables will still grow.
But really, that's a very small part of the story. It's instead about a young girl who desperately wants to be a Bee (as the children carrying pollen are known) but is essentially kidnapped by her mother from the farm where she's grown up with her grandfather and sister to instead work as a servant in the big city. There, she witnesses the domestic violence her mother's new relationship is causing, and the dramatic differences between the poverty she's grown up with and the extreme opulence and wastefulness of the city's rich.
And given that it's a middle grade book, I definitely didn't expect that level of darkness. And while I enjoyed it, I feel like I would have liked it better if it hadn't been *quite* as heavy handed with the serious topics as it was...
mandi_m's review against another edition
4.0
Our youngest book club (7-10yr olds) just read the recently CBCA nominated How To Bee which was a challenging read set in a slightly altered Australia when the use of pesticides has destroyed the bee populations - very topical! The kids loved the main character of Peony who was smart and brave and had lots of great discussion around why her dialogue was different and about whether her mother's fate was deserved! I would recommend this for 8-12 yr olds.
We scored it:
7 / 3 / 8 / 4 / 9.75 / 10 / 6 / 9 / 8
We scored it:
7 / 3 / 8 / 4 / 9.75 / 10 / 6 / 9 / 8
_magpie_'s review against another edition
4.0
A thought provoking story about a world in which bees have become extinct and small children live on orchards, climbing fruit trees, pollinating the flowers by hand. Suitable for older middle-grade readers because of some content around domestic violence.
lizziej's review against another edition
4.0
Started out slow and I couldn't get into it but suddenly changed location and the story took a different turn that I ended up enjoying
thiefofcamorr's review against another edition
5.0
Kept me entertained for the flight from Amsterdam to Edinburgh - much obliged!
jeanieinabook's review against another edition
5.0
I was looking for a 3rd book by a New Zealand author to send to my nieces in Europe. It was hard to find something that was age appropriate, there seemed to be lots for under 8’s and 13+. Luckily I’d heard of this in passing. I read it in a day and loved it, I’m sure they will too.
anna_hepworth's review against another edition
4.0
This is a great book for kids. It is not a great book for me, because there is a significant plot point that is Not Good.
There is some fascinating world building going on here, with the ways that dealing with pollination happens in a world (country?) without bees (with my science hat on, I'm all like 'honey bees are not the only pollinators', but I get that this isn't the place for that nuance).
The viewpoint character is completely believably not quite ten; some of the situations they get in to are a tad terrifying as a parent, but will probably come across as exciting to a middle grade reader.
content notes:
There is some fascinating world building going on here, with the ways that dealing with pollination happens in a world (country?) without bees (with my science hat on, I'm all like 'honey bees are not the only pollinators', but I get that this isn't the place for that nuance).
The viewpoint character is completely believably not quite ten; some of the situations they get in to are a tad terrifying as a parent, but will probably come across as exciting to a middle grade reader.
content notes:
Spoiler
domestic violence, parental death, kidnapping by a family memberozshark's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe 4.5 stars. I started this a few months ago, but had to put it aside to read the current crop of shortlist titles. This was excellent though and I was keen to return to it.
9 yo Peony lives with most of her family on a farm, in a future where bees have all but become extinct and children have taken their place, pollinating crops by hand. Life is hard on the farm, workers are only paid room and board and conditions are very poor. Her mum works in the city, in order to earn some actual cash, which is needed for medicine and other necessities. All Peony wants is to become a bee and to live with her family around her.
This is a fascinating, at times heart-breaking and ultimately heart-warming novel. The character of Peony is tough, fierce and likeable. She will do anything for those she loves. Her philosophy is best summed up about half way through the novel: " We're not poor Ma.... We've got enough. But we've got more if we're all together, taking care of each other."
I wished we spent more time on the farm, as that was the past that fascinated me the most, but the parts of the story set in the city were still excellent.
Based on this and the Dog Runner, I think I will read anything Ms MacDibble produces. A unique author!
9 yo Peony lives with most of her family on a farm, in a future where bees have all but become extinct and children have taken their place, pollinating crops by hand. Life is hard on the farm, workers are only paid room and board and conditions are very poor. Her mum works in the city, in order to earn some actual cash, which is needed for medicine and other necessities. All Peony wants is to become a bee and to live with her family around her.
This is a fascinating, at times heart-breaking and ultimately heart-warming novel. The character of Peony is tough, fierce and likeable. She will do anything for those she loves. Her philosophy is best summed up about half way through the novel: " We're not poor Ma.... We've got enough. But we've got more if we're all together, taking care of each other."
I wished we spent more time on the farm, as that was the past that fascinated me the most, but the parts of the story set in the city were still excellent.
Based on this and the Dog Runner, I think I will read anything Ms MacDibble produces. A unique author!