Hour of the Bees

Reviewed by: Mary Lehmer - Freeport Community Library, Freeport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 10, 2016

Review

Carol is the main character in this story and her family is going to spend the summer helping her grandpa Serge move from his ranch into a retirement home. Almost as soon as they get there, grandpa Serge begins to tell Carol stories about a magical black tree that used to be on the ranch and how the bees that only she can see are a sign that the tree might return. This story starts out slowly. The family and its issues just seem ordinary and don't really pull you in. But once Carol’s (Caro-leen-a as her grandpa calls her) grandpa starts telling stories about the magical tree, it is almost impossible to put down. The way the stories in the book weave back and both between life on the ranch and life with the magical tree makes it hard to tell what is real and what is imaginary. And the relationship that develops between Carol and her grandpa is both heartwarming and heart breaking. A terrific book, a definite contender for cream of the crop.

Overall Book Score: excellent