Nate isn’t happy moving away from his school, friends and life in Singapore. It doesn’t help watching his mum in constant pain after a back injury. His Dad is still in Singapore, but vows to join them soon. But soon is too far away for Nate.

Luna tries to connect with the new boy next door, but he blows her off. Maybe he’s seen the video too. The video from that party that has been shared 1000’s of times, bringing stares and whispers wherever she goes.

The bees arrive on mass from out of nowhere. Suddenly they’ve taken up residence in a wall in Nate’s new home. A local beekeeper tells them he can help, but they can’t rush it. Nate’s mum wants to call the pest control people, but he convinces her not to kill the creatures that help provide so much food in the world.

Luna helps Nate on the first day back at school. He’s missed three terms of their year, and feels completely lost. She enjoys having someone to talk to, after being ignored or whispered about since the video.

Together, along with a surfing beekeeper, his girlfriend, and 20,000 bees, they begin to put their lives back together, discovering the courage they need in each other to move on.

It’s far from smooth, with more than one betrayal that seem insurmountable. Time, love and new people in their lives help heal the hurts and rebuild their confidence.

This verse novel is so full of love. Pip Harry has captured so many different types of relationships beautifully in Drift. Bees (and their honey) are the catalyst that kick off the novel and bring this wonderful group of characters together.

Issues of environment, cyber bullying, mental health and the healing power of running and swimming, are woven together sweetly in an authentically portrayed Real Life novel.

When you’ve finished reading, Drift feels like a warm hug.

Author – Pip Harry

Age – 12+

(2025, Lothian Books, Hachette, Verse Novel, First Person, New Boy at School, High School, Australia, Missing Friends, Back Injury, Cyber Bullying, Video, Loss, Mental Health, Bee Keeper, Family, Friendship, Betrayal, School, Peer Pressure, Running, Swimming, Sports)

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