Scan barcode
waywardfancy's review against another edition
5.0
How to Bee is set in a future affected by climate change and where bees are extinct. It is told in the voice of nine year old Peony - a fierce voice that resonates honesty and will stay with you long after you finish the book.
Peony, her sister and grandfather live and work on a fruit farm where children are bees, scrambling along branches in order to pollinate the blossoms. Peony is a pest – she has to kill unwanted insects – but, deeply ambitious, she wants to be promoted to bee- a job for the quickest and bravest children and a role she isn’t old enough for yet. But when some bees get too big to be up in the branches and fall and break their bones the Foreman says, 'Tomorrow we'll find two new bees.' This is Peony’s chance.
But then Peony’s mother arrives, pregnant to her ape like violent boyfriend, and takes Peony back to the city to work as a servant alongside her. There she meets Esmeralda, the daughter in the wealthy household who has everything Peony doesn’t – except she is crippled by fear of the outside world.
Together they hatch a plan to give them both what they want and need: Peony wants to go back to the farm and be a bee and Esmeralda wants to be able to go outside and be brave.
This book will enthral and move you. The language of the book is in a future dialect of staccato rhythms, that makes Peony’s voice bright and original. It is a story of family and courage and loyalty written in mesmerising language and filled with gritty characters. Harsh and beautiful, fierce and kind. Just like Peony.
This book made me miss my tram stop and cry in public. Memorable.
tamarareads's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve been hearing wonderful things about this book, and finally got to read it. I can see what all the fuss is about. Between this and In the dark spaces, Cally Black/ Bren MacDibble is one to watch!
More...