Day: May 10, 2016
BOOK REVIEW: Hour of The Bees by Lindsay Eagar
Title: Hour of The Bees
Author: Lindsay Eagar
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: March 2016
Pages: 368
How did I get this book: Sent by author for an honest review
Synopsis (Goodreads)
What does it mean to be fully alive? Magic blends with reality in a stunning coming-of-age novel about a girl, a grandfather, wanderlust, and reclaiming your roots.
Things are only impossible if you stop to think about them. . . .
While her friends are spending their summers having pool parties and sleepovers, twelve-year-old Carolina — Carol — is spending hers in the middle of the New Mexico desert, helping her parents move the grandfather she’s never met into a home for people with dementia. At first, Carol avoids prickly Grandpa Serge. But as the summer wears on and the heat bears down, Carol finds herself drawn to him, fascinated by the crazy stories he tells her about a healing tree, a green-glass lake, and the bees that will bring back the rain and end a hundred years of drought. As the thin line between magic and reality starts to blur, Carol must decide for herself what is possible — and what it means to be true to her roots. Readers who dream that there’s something more out there will be enchanted by this captivating novel of family, renewal, and discovering the wonder of the world.
My Thoughts
Hours of the Bees is a young adult book that everyone should read. The topic is a difficult one that finds many of us in the real world. Eagar did an amazing job at showing how dementia affects everyone close to the individual.
Carol finds herself building a strange and wonderful relationship with her grandfather. She starts off the summer wanting to be back home with her friends, but by the end, her entire life changes. It is a very intense situation for Carol. Her father is upset and mad everyday. Her sister is selfish. And Carol finds herself watching her little brother along with her grandfather, while she checks off the imaginary blocks in her head on ‘how to deal with dementia’. During her babysitting, she hears amazing stories from her grandfather that blurs her reality.
Are these stories true or just crazy stories from an old man?
You will have to read it to find out yourself, but let me point out my likes and dislikes.
(+) Culture – It shows the importance of cultural roots.
(+) Characters – It was a delight watching them grow. They went through up and downs throughout that by the end I found myself crying.
(+) Writing – The writing was beautiful and I found the stories within whimsical and gripping.
(+) Delicate Issue – The way that Eagar handled dementia was with care. We seen how it can be difficult on everyone involved through a variety of emotions like anger, sadness, and confusion.
(-) Carol-leeeen-a – This was probably the only thing that annoyed me, but really by the time I got half way through I stopped noticing it. I get having to put emphasize on a word to show it’s cultural importance, but after writing it like that a few times we get it. But, was it a big deal for me? No!
My Rating 
Did I like it? Yes
Did I love it? It would not be put in my top books of 2016
Would I reread it? Maybe, depending on the reason.
Would I purchase it? No because I am not sure if it will be a reread book for me.
Would I recommend it? Yes, definitely. I think that everyone in middle grade and up should read this book. I am happy that I received a copy of Hours of the Bees and thank the publisher and author the chance to experience such a wonderful book.
Beyond Opinions 