How to Bee

By Bren MacDibble

In a bee-less world, a young girl fights to fulfill her dream amidst unexpected challenges.

4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,697 ratings

224 pages· 38,101 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

$12.95Save 4%

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Bookroo's summary

In a future without bees, nine-year-old Peony dreams of becoming a hand-pollinator, or 'bee,' on her family's farm. But when her mother takes her to the city to work for a wealthy family, Peony must rely on her courage and wit to navigate this new world. Can she hold onto her dream and find her way back to the life she loves? Discover Peony's journey of resilience and hope in a world transformed by climate change.

From the publisher

A story about family, loyalty, kindness and bravery, set against an all-too-possible future where climate change has forever changed the way we live. In a world where real bees are extinct, the quickest, bravest kids climb the fruit trees and pollinate the flowers by hand. Peony lives with her sister, Magnolia, and her grandfather on a fruit farm outside the city. All Peony really wants is to be a bee. Even though she is only nine – and bees must be ten – Peony already knows all there is to know about being a bee and she is determined to achieve her dream. Life on the farm is a scrabble, but there is enough to eat and a place to sleep, and there is love. Then Peony’s mother arrives to take her away from everything she has ever known. Peony is taken to the city to work for a wealthy family. Will Peony’s grit and quick thinking be enough to keep her safe? How to Bee is a beautiful and fierce novel for younger readers, and the voice of Peony will stay with you long after you read the last page. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.6 Describe how a narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described.

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