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novelette's review against another edition
4.0
Picked this up just to fulfill a prompt, but ended up really liking this. I'll definitely check out more by this author
harper11's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
listless_librarian's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
sweetbabyray1's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
maryquitecontrary_22's review against another edition
2.0
Wanted to like this one (I mean, come on, look at that title and cover art!), but I never found myself connecting with this coming-of-age story of magical realism.
gmamartha's review against another edition
4.0
I'm sure it's just me, but I cried like a baby. Grandpa's stories are a result of his dementia, right? or not. The two summer months in the 100-year drought-stricken ranch are spent getting the old place ready to sell and Grandpa transferred to a place to take care of him. But Carolina is learning her roots and the grandparents she didn't know. and herself.
avisreadsandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Cancer, Car accident, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Medical content, Abandonment, and Death of parent
janewhitehurst's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent. This book reminded me of a mix between Walk Two Moons and Pam Munoz Ryan's work. It details the story of Carol, who is about to start middle school, but must first spend the summer with her family packing up her sick grandfather's sheep ranch in New Mexico. At first, she is apprehensive about her grandfather, but soon develops a very tight bond with him and the story of his life. He has always lived on the ranch and while he has Alzheimer's, in his moments of clarity, he tells Carol the story of how he met his wife and their life together. While she is at the ranch, Carol battles issues of identity and heritage, family tensions, and normal pre-teen friend drama. Hour of the Bees is magical realism, but wasn't too over-the-top. It read as poetic, beautiful, and highly enjoyable.
lamom77's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautifully written story of life and death and the relationship of a grandfather and granddaughter! I found the first half of the book to be a bit slow and even considered putting it down a couple of times, but then once the characters and story began to mesh and come together, I couldn't put it down.