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Beholding Bee
Bee is an orphan who lives with a carnival and sleeps in the back of a tractor trailer. Every day she endures taunts for the birthmark on her face—though her beloved Pauline, the only person who has ever cared for her, tells her it is a precious diamond. When Pauline is sent to work for another carnival, Bee is lost.
Then a scruffy dog shows up, as unwanted as she, and Bee realizes that she must find a home for them both. She runs off to a house with gingerbread trim that reminds her of frosting. There two mysterious women, Mrs. Swift and Mrs. Potter, take her in. They clothe her, though their clothes are strangely out of date. They feed her, though there is nothing in their house to eat. They help her go to school, though they won't enter the building themselves. And, strangely, only Bee seems able to see them.
Whoever these women are, they matter. They matter to Bee. And they are helping Bee realize that she, too, matters to the world--if only she will let herself be a part of it.
This tender novel beautifully captures the pain of isolation, the healing power of community, and the strength of the human spirit.
Then a scruffy dog shows up, as unwanted as she, and Bee realizes that she must find a home for them both. She runs off to a house with gingerbread trim that reminds her of frosting. There two mysterious women, Mrs. Swift and Mrs. Potter, take her in. They clothe her, though their clothes are strangely out of date. They feed her, though there is nothing in their house to eat. They help her go to school, though they won't enter the building themselves. And, strangely, only Bee seems able to see them.
Whoever these women are, they matter. They matter to Bee. And they are helping Bee realize that she, too, matters to the world--if only she will let herself be a part of it.
This tender novel beautifully captures the pain of isolation, the healing power of community, and the strength of the human spirit.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
67 people are currently reading
3756 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Newton Fusco
8 books92 followersKimberly Newton Fusco, recipient of the American Library Association's Schneider Family Book Award, adores her young readers and is always excited to meet them!
Her 4 previous novels, TENDING TO GRACE, THE WONDER OF CHARLIE ANNE, BEHOLDING BEE, and CHASING AUGUSTUS were released to starred reviews and many accolades, including the Parents' Choice Silver Medal, the ALA Best Book for Young Adults, the NYPL Book for the Teen Age, the IRA Notable Book list, and Bank Street College's Best Books of the Year list. Her books were twice named RI Book of the Year by The Alliance for the Study and Teaching of Adolescent Literature at Rhode Island College - ASTAL, and she was a finalist for the Julia Ward Howe Young Readers Award. She has been a Junior Library Guild selection and her books have been placed on numerous state master award lists. She is published by Knopf Books for Young Readers and is represented by Elizabeth Harding, vice president, Curtis Brown, Ltd. www.curtisbrown.com
Kim provides keynote addresses, offers writing workshops, and speaks at literary festivals, schools and libraries across the US, and has been a One Book, One Community selection. She was an award-winning education writer for many years before becoming a novelist, and schools are a second home to her. She is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in NYC, and lives with her family in Rhode Island, the Ocean State. Visit her at www.kimberlynewtonfusco.com.
Her 4 previous novels, TENDING TO GRACE, THE WONDER OF CHARLIE ANNE, BEHOLDING BEE, and CHASING AUGUSTUS were released to starred reviews and many accolades, including the Parents' Choice Silver Medal, the ALA Best Book for Young Adults, the NYPL Book for the Teen Age, the IRA Notable Book list, and Bank Street College's Best Books of the Year list. Her books were twice named RI Book of the Year by The Alliance for the Study and Teaching of Adolescent Literature at Rhode Island College - ASTAL, and she was a finalist for the Julia Ward Howe Young Readers Award. She has been a Junior Library Guild selection and her books have been placed on numerous state master award lists. She is published by Knopf Books for Young Readers and is represented by Elizabeth Harding, vice president, Curtis Brown, Ltd. www.curtisbrown.com
Kim provides keynote addresses, offers writing workshops, and speaks at literary festivals, schools and libraries across the US, and has been a One Book, One Community selection. She was an award-winning education writer for many years before becoming a novelist, and schools are a second home to her. She is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in NYC, and lives with her family in Rhode Island, the Ocean State. Visit her at www.kimberlynewtonfusco.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 419 reviews
December 4, 2013
I noticed that this book has a solid "4" as its rating by GoodReads readers, but I have to tell you, I LOVED this book. This book is gritty tale about a story of survival under some very adverse situations. I love the main character, Bee, a young girl. I love that all the women in this story needed to be strong for a variety of reasons. For me, this next statement is unusual - I loved the ghostly presences in the story. I can understand the concerns about the implausible parts of the plot, but even those worked for me. I think this is a great book!!
November 9, 2016
There were so many high points in this book, that I don't even know where to start. I guess we have to begin with Bee's Diamond. How flawless was it of Fusco to call Bee's birthmark her Diamond? Completely. A diamond is something precious, rare, and valuable. I love that her birthmark was compared to this. What a great lesson for kids. Shout out to Ruth Ellen's Mom for standing up for these kids, saying that they should all be in the same class so that they can learn to socialize and fit in (like all kids do when they are young). This is such a crucial part of the book for me because it signifies the time period. One where the Principal believed that these kids needed the separation, because their learning abilities must have been effected by their physical ailments. Or because they will get teased, so you better place them in a different class. Like I said, it was one of my favorite moments in the book.
I really enjoyed the ghost-like presences in this book. Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Swift were amazing characters. I thoroughly believe our family members watch over us after they pass, so this was a fun addition to the book. Bee's friends were the best, as well as Ruth Ellen's family (especially her mom). Pauline was just okay for me, I didn't dislike her, but she wasn't the highlight of the book for me.
I wish we could've seen a reunion with Bobby, for a second I thought we were going to get one, but then we reached the end of the book and no reunion. Also, I want to know what happens/ed to Ruth Ellen's father, maybe he is one of those soldiers that is never found, but I need some closure. Closure, I might add, I never got about Francine either (am I the only one who relates Francine to Arthur because that's the only other Francine I know??).
Beholding Bee shows kids how to be confident, how to treat others kindly, and to have hope. I would say this one is a winner that anyone would love and appreciate.
I really enjoyed the ghost-like presences in this book. Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Swift were amazing characters. I thoroughly believe our family members watch over us after they pass, so this was a fun addition to the book. Bee's friends were the best, as well as Ruth Ellen's family (especially her mom). Pauline was just okay for me, I didn't dislike her, but she wasn't the highlight of the book for me.
I wish we could've seen a reunion with Bobby, for a second I thought we were going to get one, but then we reached the end of the book and no reunion. Also, I want to know what happens/ed to Ruth Ellen's father, maybe he is one of those soldiers that is never found, but I need some closure. Closure, I might add, I never got about Francine either (am I the only one who relates Francine to Arthur because that's the only other Francine I know??).
Beholding Bee shows kids how to be confident, how to treat others kindly, and to have hope. I would say this one is a winner that anyone would love and appreciate.
March 17, 2013
So, this one...really surprised me. I wasn't enjoying it much at all at first. I found Bee's way of constantly referring to her birthmark as "my diamond" off-putting, and there's a weird lack of contractions here (I think I noticed maybe two in the entire book), that made everyone's speech feel slightly stilted. And the kids that Bee interacts with while working sometimes seemed a little too cruel. Weirdly enough though, for all my hating of books that take place at carnivals or circuses, that's one aspect of Beholding Bee that didn't bother me.
But anyway, it felt like it just took a little while for this story to find its footing, and it kind of plods along until Pauline, Bee's surrogate mother, runs off with her new boyfriend and leaves Bee with the traveling show alone. Even then, I felt like I couldn't quite figure out where the story was going until Bee finally decides to leave the show as well and take off on her own (or, well, with a dog and a pig and a glimpse every now then of the elusive lady with the orange floppy hat).
Once Bee gets settled in her new home though, I got hooked, and really enjoyed seeing her learn to make friends and deal with bullies and find out what it's like to be a family. She makes some poor decisions, but her thought processes always felt very natural to me, as well as the way she later comes to the conclusion that maybe she should have done things a little differently.
And I loved how the message comes together at the end, that there's a long line of women in Bee's family that were strong and didn't hide themselves. Their circumstances were all different--for some the problem was, as it is for Bee, something that physically set them apart from others, and sometimes, as for Mrs. Swift, the problem was simply being a woman in a time when women had to fight to be seen. I thought that was a great message, and that the author really handled it well, without bashing the reader over the head with it.
In the end, I found the story quiet and really kind of beautiful, and with just the right amount of things tied up neatly and things left flying loose and unknown, and I think it's one that will stick in my head for awhile to come.
But anyway, it felt like it just took a little while for this story to find its footing, and it kind of plods along until Pauline, Bee's surrogate mother, runs off with her new boyfriend and leaves Bee with the traveling show alone. Even then, I felt like I couldn't quite figure out where the story was going until Bee finally decides to leave the show as well and take off on her own (or, well, with a dog and a pig and a glimpse every now then of the elusive lady with the orange floppy hat).
Once Bee gets settled in her new home though, I got hooked, and really enjoyed seeing her learn to make friends and deal with bullies and find out what it's like to be a family. She makes some poor decisions, but her thought processes always felt very natural to me, as well as the way she later comes to the conclusion that maybe she should have done things a little differently.
And I loved how the message comes together at the end, that there's a long line of women in Bee's family that were strong and didn't hide themselves. Their circumstances were all different--for some the problem was, as it is for Bee, something that physically set them apart from others, and sometimes, as for Mrs. Swift, the problem was simply being a woman in a time when women had to fight to be seen. I thought that was a great message, and that the author really handled it well, without bashing the reader over the head with it.
In the end, I found the story quiet and really kind of beautiful, and with just the right amount of things tied up neatly and things left flying loose and unknown, and I think it's one that will stick in my head for awhile to come.
August 10, 2013
Twelve-year-old Bee has a birthmark on her face that cause people to stare and tease her. She lives with Pauline, a young woman who cares for her after Bee's parents are killed in a car crash. They work at at a traveling circus under an abusive boss. When Pauline is forced to leave the circus by the boss to take care of business in a different city for him, Bee latches onto Bobby, another adult who works there. Bobby teaches Bee how to stick up for herself and run, but then he leaves because of a better job elsewhere. After the boss threatens Bee, she decides to run too. Bee is led by a mysterious woman in an orange floppy hat to a house where Bee learns what it means to have a family.
The story is realistic with a twist of magic as the two woman are only seen by Bee. Themes of bullying, inclusion versus exclusion of special needs kids, handicaps, and standing up for oneself are some topics that can be discussed. The character of Bee seems too young at times, especially at the start of the novel, but she is socially stunted because of her birthmark, that makes her avoid people in general, so perhaps this was done on purpose by the author.
Some might not like how Bee handles the bully in the story, although it is authentic in how kids handle situations like Bee's. Bee gets information on the bully and says mean and hurtful things right back because she's tired of being attacked verbally and physically. Bee reflects on her actions later with another adult and wonders if it was the best thing to do in the end. Many of the adults in the beginning of the story come across as one-dimensional and it isn't until the second half that some become more complex and interesting. A nice debut novel.
The story is realistic with a twist of magic as the two woman are only seen by Bee. Themes of bullying, inclusion versus exclusion of special needs kids, handicaps, and standing up for oneself are some topics that can be discussed. The character of Bee seems too young at times, especially at the start of the novel, but she is socially stunted because of her birthmark, that makes her avoid people in general, so perhaps this was done on purpose by the author.
Some might not like how Bee handles the bully in the story, although it is authentic in how kids handle situations like Bee's. Bee gets information on the bully and says mean and hurtful things right back because she's tired of being attacked verbally and physically. Bee reflects on her actions later with another adult and wonders if it was the best thing to do in the end. Many of the adults in the beginning of the story come across as one-dimensional and it isn't until the second half that some become more complex and interesting. A nice debut novel.
August 21, 2013
I liked this well enough, or rather, I liked Bee. I loved the settings, the time period, and many of the characters. The problem I'm having here is that there is WAY too much going on and nothing gets explored. We have two kids (basically) raising themselves in a carnival during the second world war. In addition, Bee has a large birthmark on her cheek. There is enough there to explore the story and watch Bee grow. But no, we need to add on a pig trainer with a past, two ghost women in a house (and WHAT are the odds that Bee would randomly walk into THAT town on that street and then be led to that house?), a family dealing with polio and a MIA father in the war, school yard bullies, women's rights, the rights of the special needs children, etc. Gees. It has so many morals (all of which are told to me and not shown-except for standing up for yourself) that I feel like I have been beat over the head with the lecture stick.
The shame here was that the writing was charming, the characters interesting, and the settings were awesome. Where was the editor on this one?
I don't think this one would be a great book club read because there is way too much going on here, but for historical fiction fans it has the right "feel" to it-as long as the reader doesn't mind not spending too much time on any one thing. I happen to love this time period and enjoyed that aspect very much.
Overall, not a bad book, but not a great one either. Certain aspects in the book reminded me very much of other books: Charlotte's Web (the pig, I guess), Heidi (ironically), The Graveyard Book, Because of Winn Dixie and a few others from my childhood.
The shame here was that the writing was charming, the characters interesting, and the settings were awesome. Where was the editor on this one?
I don't think this one would be a great book club read because there is way too much going on here, but for historical fiction fans it has the right "feel" to it-as long as the reader doesn't mind not spending too much time on any one thing. I happen to love this time period and enjoyed that aspect very much.
Overall, not a bad book, but not a great one either. Certain aspects in the book reminded me very much of other books: Charlotte's Web (the pig, I guess), Heidi (ironically), The Graveyard Book, Because of Winn Dixie and a few others from my childhood.
July 1, 2013
It is 1942 and the effects of WWII are beginning to be felt in the traveling carnival where 12 year old Bee tends the hot dog stand. Most of the men are gone - drafted or enlisted, and now sugar and gasoline being rationed and life in the carnival is getting harder and harder for the owner, Ellis.
Bee has lived in the back of a hauling truck with Pauline ever since she was 4 and her parents were killed in an accident. Ellis wants to put her into the sideshow. Bee has a diamond-shaped birthmark that covers one side of her face and he is sure people will pay good money to gawk at it. Pauline has always protected Bee from this fate, but when Ellis sends her to Poughkeepsie to work in a stationary show, life becomes much harder for Bee. Luckily, just as she needs someone to hold on to, a little dog the color of butterscotch that she names Peabody comes into Bee's life.
All Bee has really ever wanted is a permanent home and family, and now at Ellis's mercy and with Pauline gone, she realizes she must find that for herself. So one morning, Bee runs away from the carnival with Peabody and Cordelia, a little piglet from the show. And then she comes upon it - the absolutely perfect gingerbread house where two elderly ladies are living and waiting for her. But wait, one of those ladies is familiar to Bee, she has seen her off and on before whenever things had gotten tough.
Bee moves in but it doesn't take long to realize something isn't quite right about Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Swift. They certainly provide for her, even if they don't eat much, and they make sure she begins school, even if she is put in a 'special' class of kids separated from the 'regular' kids. There, Bee makes a best friend, Ruth Ellen, a girl with a brace on her leg because of polio, and a worst enemy, Francine, a girl who continuously bullies her because of the 'diamond' on her face.
But more and more, Bee is bothered by the fact that only she and Peabody can see her caretakers. One the one hand, it causes Bee problems with the nosy neighbor who thinks she's living in the house alone and the school principle who wants them to come to school for a meeting. One the other hand, Bee loves these two odd ladies and doesn't like to be reminded that they came to help her and won't be able to stay forever.
Still, life is ever so much better for Bee now, except for the bullying over the birthmark so that she stills feels the need to cover up by pulling her hair tightly over it "like a curtain." But sometimes, at home or at Ruth Ellen's, Bee forgets about her birthmark.
But then Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Swift begin to visibly fade away. Was life in her gingerbread house too good to be true for Bee? Or will she find the strength and courage to fight for the home and family that she wants so badly?
Beholding Bee is one of those Middle Grade novels I couldn't put down. Bee, the book's first person narrator, tells her story in short, sometimes very short, chapters and in language so conversational it feels like she is speaking directly to you and only you. Sometimes when she is speculating on a thought or idea, or when she is trying to figure out why someone has done something, her voice has an endearing quality I don't find often enough in Middle Grade novels.
And there is a lot going on in this wonderful coming of age story - issues around bullying, inclusion in school, self-esteem, self-reliance, courage. Pauline has always protected her, especially from bullies, but now Bee is, essentially, on her own and must learn to take care of herself, even if that does mean making mistakes along the way.
This is a home front novel and there are some wonderful WWII references throughout the book giving the setting a real feeling of the time. But the one realistic aspect that always gets to me in these books are the way they make you realize how very, very vulnerable children, are especially during a war. Had Bee not found the courage to run away from a greedy adult who just wanted to exploit her, she would most certainly have ended up a carnival side show attraction with no one to stand up for her and stop it.
I have always like fantasy and sci-fi, but nothing pulls me into a book quite like magical realism. And so I loved Beholding Bee. Set so completely in reality, you begin to wonder about Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Swift. Ghosts from the past? Figments of Bee's imagination? I guess you will just have to read Beholding Bee and decide for yourself.
One more thing - Peabody is definitely the dog of my dreams.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was purchased for my personal library
This reveiw was orginally published at The Children's War
Bee has lived in the back of a hauling truck with Pauline ever since she was 4 and her parents were killed in an accident. Ellis wants to put her into the sideshow. Bee has a diamond-shaped birthmark that covers one side of her face and he is sure people will pay good money to gawk at it. Pauline has always protected Bee from this fate, but when Ellis sends her to Poughkeepsie to work in a stationary show, life becomes much harder for Bee. Luckily, just as she needs someone to hold on to, a little dog the color of butterscotch that she names Peabody comes into Bee's life.
All Bee has really ever wanted is a permanent home and family, and now at Ellis's mercy and with Pauline gone, she realizes she must find that for herself. So one morning, Bee runs away from the carnival with Peabody and Cordelia, a little piglet from the show. And then she comes upon it - the absolutely perfect gingerbread house where two elderly ladies are living and waiting for her. But wait, one of those ladies is familiar to Bee, she has seen her off and on before whenever things had gotten tough.
Bee moves in but it doesn't take long to realize something isn't quite right about Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Swift. They certainly provide for her, even if they don't eat much, and they make sure she begins school, even if she is put in a 'special' class of kids separated from the 'regular' kids. There, Bee makes a best friend, Ruth Ellen, a girl with a brace on her leg because of polio, and a worst enemy, Francine, a girl who continuously bullies her because of the 'diamond' on her face.
But more and more, Bee is bothered by the fact that only she and Peabody can see her caretakers. One the one hand, it causes Bee problems with the nosy neighbor who thinks she's living in the house alone and the school principle who wants them to come to school for a meeting. One the other hand, Bee loves these two odd ladies and doesn't like to be reminded that they came to help her and won't be able to stay forever.
Still, life is ever so much better for Bee now, except for the bullying over the birthmark so that she stills feels the need to cover up by pulling her hair tightly over it "like a curtain." But sometimes, at home or at Ruth Ellen's, Bee forgets about her birthmark.
But then Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Swift begin to visibly fade away. Was life in her gingerbread house too good to be true for Bee? Or will she find the strength and courage to fight for the home and family that she wants so badly?
Beholding Bee is one of those Middle Grade novels I couldn't put down. Bee, the book's first person narrator, tells her story in short, sometimes very short, chapters and in language so conversational it feels like she is speaking directly to you and only you. Sometimes when she is speculating on a thought or idea, or when she is trying to figure out why someone has done something, her voice has an endearing quality I don't find often enough in Middle Grade novels.
And there is a lot going on in this wonderful coming of age story - issues around bullying, inclusion in school, self-esteem, self-reliance, courage. Pauline has always protected her, especially from bullies, but now Bee is, essentially, on her own and must learn to take care of herself, even if that does mean making mistakes along the way.
This is a home front novel and there are some wonderful WWII references throughout the book giving the setting a real feeling of the time. But the one realistic aspect that always gets to me in these books are the way they make you realize how very, very vulnerable children, are especially during a war. Had Bee not found the courage to run away from a greedy adult who just wanted to exploit her, she would most certainly have ended up a carnival side show attraction with no one to stand up for her and stop it.
I have always like fantasy and sci-fi, but nothing pulls me into a book quite like magical realism. And so I loved Beholding Bee. Set so completely in reality, you begin to wonder about Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Swift. Ghosts from the past? Figments of Bee's imagination? I guess you will just have to read Beholding Bee and decide for yourself.
One more thing - Peabody is definitely the dog of my dreams.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was purchased for my personal library
This reveiw was orginally published at The Children's War
June 14, 2013
A beautiful story about creating family and community. Everyone we meet in the world is dealing with something difficult or challenging in their lives--some things more visible than others. Beholding Bee helps us realize that we must look past outward appearances and behaviors and to get to know who people are in their hearts.
The lyrical writing and short chapters make this book easy to read and accessible to many readers, but it is Bee (and the many wonderfully human characters that support her) who will stay with you long after you close the book.
Fans of Wonder, Ivan and magical realism will greatly enjoy this book.
"Everyone is going to notice your birthmark, Bee. You can't help but notice. But it's what people do after they notice that is important."
The lyrical writing and short chapters make this book easy to read and accessible to many readers, but it is Bee (and the many wonderfully human characters that support her) who will stay with you long after you close the book.
Fans of Wonder, Ivan and magical realism will greatly enjoy this book.
"Everyone is going to notice your birthmark, Bee. You can't help but notice. But it's what people do after they notice that is important."
August 11, 2013
Love. This. Book.
Love the characters. Love the craft. Love the wisdom. Love the messages. Love the magic.
Love this in my heart (and trading "compression sleeve" for "birthmark"): "Everyone is always going to notice your birthmark, Bee. It's like Ellen's brace. You can't help but notice. But it's what people do after they notice that's important. Do they treat you like a person with dignity? Or do they baby you and coddle you or make fun of you or worse?"
Summer #bookaday 57
Love the characters. Love the craft. Love the wisdom. Love the messages. Love the magic.
Love this in my heart (and trading "compression sleeve" for "birthmark"): "Everyone is always going to notice your birthmark, Bee. It's like Ellen's brace. You can't help but notice. But it's what people do after they notice that's important. Do they treat you like a person with dignity? Or do they baby you and coddle you or make fun of you or worse?"
Summer #bookaday 57
August 5, 2016
Review of the Day: Has some smart moments and certainly took the narrative in directions I didn't expect, so that ultimately I wasn't the world's biggest fan but I'd be interested in seeing more from this author in the future.
September 10, 2017
What a sweet gem of a book this was. Definitely one of my favorite reads this year.
December 18, 2018
A sweet, nice book, with twists and turns. The main character is very relatable. 10/10 book.
August 13, 2013
This book is a beautiful story. It is all about strong women.
Additionally it does something I have always wanted to do, illuminate the problem with labeling anyone who does not look normal as less than.
I am a person with a birthmark across my ear and head. It was on my cheek and most of my neck when I was a child. Everything the author describes, the comments towards Bee, the staring, the honest belief from ignorant people that somehow having a birthmark makes you damaged, is spot on. My difficulty getting through this book was remembering my own anger at how people could be.
The resolution provided in the story was very satisfying and honest. It also went beyond getting over a physical difference and boiled down to being a strong person and specifically a strong woman. I hope all girls get to read this book.
Additionally it does something I have always wanted to do, illuminate the problem with labeling anyone who does not look normal as less than.
I am a person with a birthmark across my ear and head. It was on my cheek and most of my neck when I was a child. Everything the author describes, the comments towards Bee, the staring, the honest belief from ignorant people that somehow having a birthmark makes you damaged, is spot on. My difficulty getting through this book was remembering my own anger at how people could be.
The resolution provided in the story was very satisfying and honest. It also went beyond getting over a physical difference and boiled down to being a strong person and specifically a strong woman. I hope all girls get to read this book.
January 28, 2018
You might also enjoy:
✱ Spirit's Key
✱ Nightingale's Nest
✱ Waiting for Augusta
✱ Fish In A Tree
✱ Spirit's Key
✱ Nightingale's Nest
✱ Waiting for Augusta
✱ Fish In A Tree
July 12, 2017
If you can make it past the first 30 or so pages, you will like this book. If you make it past Part I, you will be glad you did and will love this book! This is a story about Bee who was born with a large birthmark on her page. Part I is about her life working at a traveling circus/show with her older cousin Pauline in the 194os. In Part II, Pauline has left her for a young man. Feeling that she has no alternatives, she runs away from the circus and searches for a home. In Part III, she and Pauline are reunited.
A beautiful story about overcoming adversity and becoming a better person.
A beautiful story about overcoming adversity and becoming a better person.
February 17, 2020
I was personally very bored by this book. It is so slow-paced, that it took me much longer to read than anticipated, especially for a middle-grade book.
I know I am not the intended audience for this book, so it is hard for me to review it, but I do see the good aspects of it and why so many people have enjoyed it.
It just wasn't for me.
I know I am not the intended audience for this book, so it is hard for me to review it, but I do see the good aspects of it and why so many people have enjoyed it.
It just wasn't for me.
May 30, 2017
This is a lovely little story about being different and finding a family in unlikely places. Bee was born with a dark birthmark covering nearly half her face, lost her parents when she was little, and lives in a carnival. She dreams of finding a real home some day, and with a little magic and a lot of running (not to mention a dog and a pig), she just might do it. Though set in the 1940's, this doesn't read like historical fiction, and reluctant readers will like the short chapters.
April 7, 2023
This is a reread. I first read this book when I was around 10ish years old, and found it when I was cleaning out my closet. I figured a rereading was in order and I’m certainly glad I came to the decision. The Daring Escape of Beatrice and Peabody, while for young audiences, is a sweet and charming novel. There are a few good plot twists and there’s a blanket of charm surrounding the whole story. It has a good message and very well written characters. Even as I reread this in my late teens, I can see the writing is so well done as it feels like I am entering the mind of a child. I love this book, and I can’t wait to pick it up again in another 8 years.
June 20, 2021
Endearing characters override the jerks in this story. This is touching on different levels. You can learn resourcefulness, forgiveness, perseverance, compassion, strength and courage from the lovable main character.
November 11, 2023
Kind of an odd book. Honestly, I'm not sure what originally prompted me to put this on my list. While the characters are somewhat interesting, the story itself was a struggle. I spent a long time wondering where it was going, and I don't feel like I really enjoyed the way it ended. Too many loose ends.
January 7, 2015
This December, I read Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco. The main character, Bee Hockenberry, is orphaned at a young age and “taken in” by Ellis, the owner of a local traveling carnival. Pauline, the young lady who runs the hot dog stand, takes Bee in and treats her as her daughter. Pauline and Bee live in the back of a traveling truck, but life is great because they have each other. Bee gets upset sometimes because she has a large, red, diamond-shaped birthmark on her face, stretching from her ear to her chin. She is often teased about her “diamond”, so she hides the diamond behind her hair. When Ellis opens a permanent carnival in Poughkeepsie, NY, he snatches Pauline from Bee and sends her to work the hot dog stand at the Poughkeepsie carnival. Distraught, Bee runs away from the traveling carnival in sadness and finds a house with two very kind old women who she calls her “aunts”. Her aunts give her housing and try their best to take care of her. The only problem: her aunts are hundreds of years old and only she can see them. Bee has to find a way for people in her new town to understand and accept her. Bee wants desperately to get back to Pauline, and she needs a very special group of people to help her along the journey. Through this elaborate story, Kimberly Newton Fusco displays many strong messages for the reader to find. My favorite message was that it is okay to be different. People teased Bee about her diamond, and at first she felt the need to cover it. Then, Bee realized that covering it only made her weak. When she pulled her hair back, it felt like the weight of the world was lifted off her shoulders. Her hair represented a shield, because it gave her a sense of security. However, if a person fought just hiding behind a shield, they would lose the battle for sure. By the end of the book, Bee learned to stand up for herself and fight. Another message in the book is that family and friends will help a person get through anything. Bee leaned on Pauline, her aunts, Mrs. Swift and Mrs. Potter, her friends, Susan, Ruth Ann, Jonathan, and teachers, Mrs. Healy, to help her regain her confidence in herself and stand up tall. Her best friend, Ruth Ann, her mother, and little brother, Sammy, drove Bee to Poughkeepsie, NY to find Pauline again. This very beautiful story shows the emotional and social growth of a young girl who regains her confidence and stands up to the many bullies in her life.
I absolutely loved the book Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco. I thought that the author used great sensory language. She described everything in detail and it made you feel as though the reader was standing next to Bee and feeling the same emotions that she was feeling. “The last of the French toast still sits in the bottom of Cordelia’s food bucket, where it is surrounded by apple peels, egg-shells, onion skins, and a large dollop of yesterday’s oatmeal (154).” The author includes great detail, but not excessively. This improved the book and was a large part of why it appealed so much to me. I also loved how the author used less words, which had a greater impact than if she had droned on about the point she was trying to make. I thought that this was really great because that is a skill that is difficult to master. “I am quiet so she can cry on and on because I know all about grown-ups not telling you things and how you have to be careful to pick the ones you can believe in (267).” In one sentence, the authors portrays how many times Bee has been betrayed and now she has found someone that she trusts, with a shoulder that Pauline can cry on. The author could have related all that Bee has endured and how many times she has been betrayed, but this sentence is much more powerful than any paragraph. A third thing that I loved about Kimberley Newton Fusco’s writing is that she really builds complexity into each character up so you feel their emotions with them. The depth of character she creates makes the reader feel as though they know the character personally. “Susan starts crying just looking at all the tears and she keeps reaching for Ruth Ellen and Jonathan rushes to get a glass of water from the water pitcher even though nobody asked him to (197).” After reading almost 200 pages of the book, the reader doesn’t just think that Susan cries easily and Jonathan gets water for others when people don’t ask him to. When reading this, the reader connects Susan with her behavior. Every day, Susan tells Ruth Ann and other people that she admires them and that she “lubs” them. Almost every day, Susan hangs off of Ruth Ann’s good leg and repeatedly tells her that she “lubs” her until the teachers physically remove her from Ruth Ellen. The reader also knows that Jonathan is always looking out for others before himself, and this sentence only supports this inference. By the end of the book, the characters felt so real that the reader felt like they knew them in real life or could relate them to another person in their life. I loved this book and would recommend it to everyone!
I absolutely loved the book Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco. I thought that the author used great sensory language. She described everything in detail and it made you feel as though the reader was standing next to Bee and feeling the same emotions that she was feeling. “The last of the French toast still sits in the bottom of Cordelia’s food bucket, where it is surrounded by apple peels, egg-shells, onion skins, and a large dollop of yesterday’s oatmeal (154).” The author includes great detail, but not excessively. This improved the book and was a large part of why it appealed so much to me. I also loved how the author used less words, which had a greater impact than if she had droned on about the point she was trying to make. I thought that this was really great because that is a skill that is difficult to master. “I am quiet so she can cry on and on because I know all about grown-ups not telling you things and how you have to be careful to pick the ones you can believe in (267).” In one sentence, the authors portrays how many times Bee has been betrayed and now she has found someone that she trusts, with a shoulder that Pauline can cry on. The author could have related all that Bee has endured and how many times she has been betrayed, but this sentence is much more powerful than any paragraph. A third thing that I loved about Kimberley Newton Fusco’s writing is that she really builds complexity into each character up so you feel their emotions with them. The depth of character she creates makes the reader feel as though they know the character personally. “Susan starts crying just looking at all the tears and she keeps reaching for Ruth Ellen and Jonathan rushes to get a glass of water from the water pitcher even though nobody asked him to (197).” After reading almost 200 pages of the book, the reader doesn’t just think that Susan cries easily and Jonathan gets water for others when people don’t ask him to. When reading this, the reader connects Susan with her behavior. Every day, Susan tells Ruth Ann and other people that she admires them and that she “lubs” them. Almost every day, Susan hangs off of Ruth Ann’s good leg and repeatedly tells her that she “lubs” her until the teachers physically remove her from Ruth Ellen. The reader also knows that Jonathan is always looking out for others before himself, and this sentence only supports this inference. By the end of the book, the characters felt so real that the reader felt like they knew them in real life or could relate them to another person in their life. I loved this book and would recommend it to everyone!
December 21, 2019
An absolutely extraordinary book for both older children and adults. I loved Bee, her character shines throughout this book. She is layered, complicated, complex and flawed... perfectly. The plot moves along steadily building tension right up to the end. The aunts are endearing and whimsy. Everything about this book is worth a reading! I highly recommend it!
February 8, 2018
This is a sweet YA book in the vein of “Wonder,” about an orphan girl raised with a traveling carnival in the 1940’s. She was born with a birthmark that covers one side of her face and throughout the course of the book learns to respect herself and be comfortable in her own skin. There’s a supernatural element that’s never really explained, but it’s a well written book about all the strong women who paved the way and continue to be a part of us.
December 23, 2021
The beginning of this book was slow moving ~ it got better and better as the story of Bee progressed and I fell in love with the characters and the message!
April 13, 2013
BEHOLDING BEE by Kimberly Newton Fusco, Knopf, February 2013, 336p., ISBN: 978-0-375-86836-8
"When you spend as much time watching folks looking at my diamond as I do, you can tell what's inside of them without looking too deep. It's like knowing what's in a bologna sandwich without lifting the bread.
"Pauline tells me I have a sixth sense, like a gift you get when one of your other senses is missing. 'Like when you can't see, your hearing is really good, Bee, or when your hearing is gone, your heart is big.' We are lying on our mattresses in the back of our hauling truck. She is writing in her little notebook.
"The shine from the moon is peeking into the truck. 'Or when you can see somebody other folks can't?' I whisper.
"Pauline knows I am talking about the old lady in the orange floppy hat. She has been showing up since my mama and papa's funeral. Now that I am older and getting teased, she comes more often. She is sure to appear on the days that truly are very, very bad, the days when a boy says, 'What's the matter, did you get burned all over your face?' or when a mama tells her girls to stay away from me. Those are the days she comes.
"Pauline does not like me talking about the lady in the orange floppy hat. I think it's because Pauline can't see her, and I do wonder why that is. 'Stop talking fairy tales,' she tells me, rolling over."
Bee's "diamond" is the large birthmark on her face. As she tells us, "My diamond stretches from my eyebrow to under my cheek. It is a map of all my heartache."
Seven years ago, when she was four and her parents died in a traffic accident, Bee insisted on staying with her young protector Pauline and the carnival run by Ellis, for which her mother had operated the hot dog wagon. This is Bee's home. But now it is 1942, America is at war, there is wartime rationing, and things are tough on the carnival circuit. Ellis would like a stay-put operation. He is also waiting impatiently for the day when he can use Bee and her diamond as a sideshow attraction.
When Ellis begins setting his plans into motion, it leads to Bee fleeing with Peabody -- the stray dog she's furtively taken in -- and Cordelia, the runt piglet Bee adores, that is part of one of the carnival's acts.
This is when the story takes an amazing left turn. After running down random streets with dog and piglet in tow, Bee ends up at a very strange house at which the lady with the orange floppy hat turns out to be one of two elderly women residents. As the story progresses, it amused me to no end that the old lady is named Mrs. Potter.
"When he gets tired of biscuits, Mrs. Potter goes over and looks at the wall by the stove. Then she limps down to the basement and comes back with a big ax.
"'I know it was right here,' she says, looking at the wall. Then she swings and whacks at the wall, sending wall dust all up and over my pot of mashed potatoes."
There is a full measure of comedy here, folded in with a dollop of women's history, and ammunition for a serious debate about the best way of serving special needs students. There is also a major thread about bullying, the question of whether revenge is sweet or toxic, and whether or not Bee is right in her belief that "When you spend as much time watching folks looking at my diamond as I do, you can tell what's inside of them without looking too deep,"
BEHOLDING BEE is a fun and satisfying coming of age story about a girl searching for home and family.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
"When you spend as much time watching folks looking at my diamond as I do, you can tell what's inside of them without looking too deep. It's like knowing what's in a bologna sandwich without lifting the bread.
"Pauline tells me I have a sixth sense, like a gift you get when one of your other senses is missing. 'Like when you can't see, your hearing is really good, Bee, or when your hearing is gone, your heart is big.' We are lying on our mattresses in the back of our hauling truck. She is writing in her little notebook.
"The shine from the moon is peeking into the truck. 'Or when you can see somebody other folks can't?' I whisper.
"Pauline knows I am talking about the old lady in the orange floppy hat. She has been showing up since my mama and papa's funeral. Now that I am older and getting teased, she comes more often. She is sure to appear on the days that truly are very, very bad, the days when a boy says, 'What's the matter, did you get burned all over your face?' or when a mama tells her girls to stay away from me. Those are the days she comes.
"Pauline does not like me talking about the lady in the orange floppy hat. I think it's because Pauline can't see her, and I do wonder why that is. 'Stop talking fairy tales,' she tells me, rolling over."
Bee's "diamond" is the large birthmark on her face. As she tells us, "My diamond stretches from my eyebrow to under my cheek. It is a map of all my heartache."
Seven years ago, when she was four and her parents died in a traffic accident, Bee insisted on staying with her young protector Pauline and the carnival run by Ellis, for which her mother had operated the hot dog wagon. This is Bee's home. But now it is 1942, America is at war, there is wartime rationing, and things are tough on the carnival circuit. Ellis would like a stay-put operation. He is also waiting impatiently for the day when he can use Bee and her diamond as a sideshow attraction.
When Ellis begins setting his plans into motion, it leads to Bee fleeing with Peabody -- the stray dog she's furtively taken in -- and Cordelia, the runt piglet Bee adores, that is part of one of the carnival's acts.
This is when the story takes an amazing left turn. After running down random streets with dog and piglet in tow, Bee ends up at a very strange house at which the lady with the orange floppy hat turns out to be one of two elderly women residents. As the story progresses, it amused me to no end that the old lady is named Mrs. Potter.
"When he gets tired of biscuits, Mrs. Potter goes over and looks at the wall by the stove. Then she limps down to the basement and comes back with a big ax.
"'I know it was right here,' she says, looking at the wall. Then she swings and whacks at the wall, sending wall dust all up and over my pot of mashed potatoes."
There is a full measure of comedy here, folded in with a dollop of women's history, and ammunition for a serious debate about the best way of serving special needs students. There is also a major thread about bullying, the question of whether revenge is sweet or toxic, and whether or not Bee is right in her belief that "When you spend as much time watching folks looking at my diamond as I do, you can tell what's inside of them without looking too deep,"
BEHOLDING BEE is a fun and satisfying coming of age story about a girl searching for home and family.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
July 27, 2013
It’s not an easy thing to tell about a story without telling you ‘all’ of the story, especially when it’s as sweet and satisfying as this one was. For all the children who feel “different”, who are ridiculed even by those who only stare, this is a book to treasure. We follow the strong protagonist, Beatrice (Bee), who lives with Pauline in the back of a hauling truck as they work for a traveling carnival during World War II. And Bee is allowed to stay because she has a diamond-shaped birthmark that covers a big part of her face, and Ellis the carny owner has big plans to ‘show’ her when she gets older. Pauline is caring for Bee because her parents were killed in a car accident when she was very young. For an eleven year old, Bee has already had a number of tough things happen to her, but also some good things. Pauline is a thoughtful young woman who makes you feel good that she actually decided to take the responsibility for raising a child.
Other characters are important too in the book. There is the scary, alarming and abusive Ellis; and the kind and gentle Bobby, who runs the baby pig races. Soon a dog is added, but he must keep hidden because Ellis forbids anyone to keep a dog. Peabody, the dog, fills a huge void in Bee’s heart, especially as she keeps losing people. Pauline runs off with a new employee, taking off to a city that will end up being a permanent home to the carnival. Bobby leaves to work in a factory that builds bombers.
And then there is the lady with the orange flappy hat, who first appears at Bee’s parents’ funeral. That’s when the story gets very interesting. It is magical, showing Bee’s incredible strength that helps her manage some very big challenges, at the age of eleven, twelve, and at the end, thirteen. I wondered often if Bee’s aunts who appear real, or had Bee created them through her need for support? The author weaves some unbelievable scenes into real events, like the parts when Bee attends school and soon encounters the chief bully, Francine, a girl in Bee’s school who has her own troubles, but chooses to act out from those troubles by bullying Bee. And there is Bee’s new friend, Ruth Ellen, a girl that is crippled and has to wear a leg brace. Ruth Ellen’s family befriends Bee, adding to her support through their caring ways, despite the fact they are poor and waiting for word of the father who is fighting in the war.
I don’t want to confuse, but only to emphasize that Fusco has written such deeply drawn characters that it’s difficult not to tell at least a little about them. Although some aren’t in the book all the time, they all play important parts in Bee’s life as she gains confidence in herself, growing up to be a problem-solver, drawing on inner strength the way many need to do when facing challenges. It’s a terrific and inspiring story, one to put in the hands of many kinds of student readers.
Other characters are important too in the book. There is the scary, alarming and abusive Ellis; and the kind and gentle Bobby, who runs the baby pig races. Soon a dog is added, but he must keep hidden because Ellis forbids anyone to keep a dog. Peabody, the dog, fills a huge void in Bee’s heart, especially as she keeps losing people. Pauline runs off with a new employee, taking off to a city that will end up being a permanent home to the carnival. Bobby leaves to work in a factory that builds bombers.
And then there is the lady with the orange flappy hat, who first appears at Bee’s parents’ funeral. That’s when the story gets very interesting. It is magical, showing Bee’s incredible strength that helps her manage some very big challenges, at the age of eleven, twelve, and at the end, thirteen. I wondered often if Bee’s aunts who appear real, or had Bee created them through her need for support? The author weaves some unbelievable scenes into real events, like the parts when Bee attends school and soon encounters the chief bully, Francine, a girl in Bee’s school who has her own troubles, but chooses to act out from those troubles by bullying Bee. And there is Bee’s new friend, Ruth Ellen, a girl that is crippled and has to wear a leg brace. Ruth Ellen’s family befriends Bee, adding to her support through their caring ways, despite the fact they are poor and waiting for word of the father who is fighting in the war.
I don’t want to confuse, but only to emphasize that Fusco has written such deeply drawn characters that it’s difficult not to tell at least a little about them. Although some aren’t in the book all the time, they all play important parts in Bee’s life as she gains confidence in herself, growing up to be a problem-solver, drawing on inner strength the way many need to do when facing challenges. It’s a terrific and inspiring story, one to put in the hands of many kinds of student readers.
November 14, 2013
This is another wonderful, poignant, touching story by Kimberly Newton Fusco. Bee is such a fabulous character. She's plucky but very emotionally fragile. My heart went out to her and I was rooting for her to survive her hardships with her head held high. She learns some wonderful lessons, delivered in the form of character dialogue, that everyone should learn. I couldn't put the book down. I had to know how Bee turned out and the story of the mysterious aunts. The author tells the story in the first person from Bee's point of view. I don't know how she does it, but she makes it believable and interesting. Bee is wise beyond her years without being precocious. The language sounds like a 12 year old but a 12 year old who has experienced things most kids her age haven't. I really got inside Bee's head and felt like I was following beside her, helping her to be strong. I adored Bee's animal companions and the sweet, humorous touch they added to the story. When I was Bee's age, my terrier was my best friend so I could relate. I had fun guessing which real life figures the aunts were modeled after. I guessed one but not the other. The prose is beautifully written and accessible for the target audience yet difficult enough for adults. (Mrs. Swift constantly has Bee look up words in the dictionary.) I admire the way the author can share the moral of her story without beating the kids over the head with it. However, I didn't quite connect with Bee the way I did with Charlie Anne. I suppose it's because Charlie Anne's disability was something that people couldn't see so it was, in a way, more difficult for her than Bee's physical issue. Bee could have stood up for herself more easily. I also felt that this story was a variation on the same theme as the author's previous two books so that knocked it down a notch in my opinion. Everyone who has ever felt different and or been bullied, should read this book.
February 4, 2015
Oh god, this book! This girl. Bee was dear to my heart from the very first pages. Her voice is so vulnerable, so piercing and true, that I couldn't stop reading for wanting to find out how things would turn out for her (and also for her little dog and piglet, who I really, really enjoyed reading about!).
Aside from Bee being so compelling, the other characters were also well fleshed-out. Ruth Ellen and her mom, Bobby the pig racing man, sassy Pauline, and Francine the mean girl all are so painfully, sweetly three-dimensional. The language is also beautiful. Whether she is describing swimming at night or scratching a pig between the ears, Bee has a way of saying things that is just delicious.
Ok, I realize that this book is not perfect. Really, there is enough story for several books here, and it is all a little bit mushed together. The three separate story arcs made the book seem to drag on for a very long time, and the spare writing style and short chapters really seem to lend themselves to a shorter book overall. I could have seen it ending way back when Bee lands at the farmhouse, and then another book about her adjusting to school, and a third one about what happens afterward. However, all three stories really contribute to Bee's growing independence and confidence, so I'm not all that bothered by it. I also have to say that the magical realism and the ridiculous coincidences involving Mrs. Potter and Mrs Swift seemed a little out of place in such a grounded and realistic book.
Bee's voice and her difficulties reminded me of the character Augie in the book Wonder, and I'd recommend this book to fans of that one. I'd also recommend it highly for kids who like stories about characters overcoming adversity. There's not a ton of action, but still lots of good reasons to keep turning those pages!
Aside from Bee being so compelling, the other characters were also well fleshed-out. Ruth Ellen and her mom, Bobby the pig racing man, sassy Pauline, and Francine the mean girl all are so painfully, sweetly three-dimensional. The language is also beautiful. Whether she is describing swimming at night or scratching a pig between the ears, Bee has a way of saying things that is just delicious.
Ok, I realize that this book is not perfect. Really, there is enough story for several books here, and it is all a little bit mushed together. The three separate story arcs made the book seem to drag on for a very long time, and the spare writing style and short chapters really seem to lend themselves to a shorter book overall. I could have seen it ending way back when Bee lands at the farmhouse, and then another book about her adjusting to school, and a third one about what happens afterward. However, all three stories really contribute to Bee's growing independence and confidence, so I'm not all that bothered by it. I also have to say that the magical realism and the ridiculous coincidences involving Mrs. Potter and Mrs Swift seemed a little out of place in such a grounded and realistic book.
Bee's voice and her difficulties reminded me of the character Augie in the book Wonder, and I'd recommend this book to fans of that one. I'd also recommend it highly for kids who like stories about characters overcoming adversity. There's not a ton of action, but still lots of good reasons to keep turning those pages!
February 23, 2016
Beeholding Bee will engage readers from the first page. Life has not been fair to Bee who at eleven became an orphan when both parents were tragically killed. She was born with a disfiguring facial birthmark which causes her to hide and withdraw inwardly. However, fortunately, Pauline, a carnival worker who knew her parents has befriended her. They both work for Ellis, the sleazy owner of the traveling carnival. By day Bee cuts onions and works with Pauline at the hotdog concession. Her home is the back of a hauling truck used by the carnival. She fears Ellis, who lurks around with threats to include Bee in his freak side show act.
Kimberly Newton Fusco uses precise descriptive prose to setting and place for readers to fully realize. Characters are multi-dimentional, descriptively real thus a perfect novel to have students focus on character traits. The novel is written in first person through Bee's voice an important author strategy that makes the reader feel Bee's pain and low self-esteem. Bee would rather be a shadow, hidden and forgotten. Another devastating break forces Bee to take charge, in order to find a new place to live. Readers will adore her spunk and vulnerability, a memorable and relevant character to identify with.
Beholding Bee lends itself to classroom discussion and literature group study in elementary and early middle school. A perfect classroom read aloud with themes reminiscent of Wonder, by R.J. Palacio.
Themes that emerge for discussion-difference, acceptance, bullying, special needs, courage and perseverance, women's roles/rights and more.
Beholding Bee, by Kimberly Newton Fusco is an essential first choice purchase for school and public libraries, and consider a classroom set purchase grade 3+. I'm sure this will be a student favorite...highly recommended.
Kimberly Newton Fusco uses precise descriptive prose to setting and place for readers to fully realize. Characters are multi-dimentional, descriptively real thus a perfect novel to have students focus on character traits. The novel is written in first person through Bee's voice an important author strategy that makes the reader feel Bee's pain and low self-esteem. Bee would rather be a shadow, hidden and forgotten. Another devastating break forces Bee to take charge, in order to find a new place to live. Readers will adore her spunk and vulnerability, a memorable and relevant character to identify with.
Beholding Bee lends itself to classroom discussion and literature group study in elementary and early middle school. A perfect classroom read aloud with themes reminiscent of Wonder, by R.J. Palacio.
Themes that emerge for discussion-difference, acceptance, bullying, special needs, courage and perseverance, women's roles/rights and more.
Beholding Bee, by Kimberly Newton Fusco is an essential first choice purchase for school and public libraries, and consider a classroom set purchase grade 3+. I'm sure this will be a student favorite...highly recommended.
April 21, 2013
Young Bee is an orphan. When her parents are killed while working for a carnival she is allowed to stay on with Pauline. Pauline raises her until their boss sends Pauline away. Then her friend Bobby, who runs the pig races goes off to work in a factory. Bee has always felt alone, but never as alone as she does now. She is born with a birthmark that covers one side of her face. This subjects her to taunts and teasing. Now her protectors are gone. Bee decides it is time to leave the carnival and find a permanent place to stay. She and a dog she had found set off until they find the perfect gingerbread looking house. There she finds Mrs. Swift and Mrs. Potter. Mrs. Potter has been visiting her since her parents died. The problem is no one else can see her or Mrs. Swift. Through their love and lessons Bee must learn to stand on her own and become the person she was born to be. You must read this book. I was sucked in emotionally form the beginning. You want to pity Bee, but at the same time you want to scream at her to stand up to those who bully her. It is a story that takes place during the time when America is at war with Japan. Families are separated and people are bullied for all kinds of things. Being different brought out the bully in people you wouldn't expect to be bullies. There are lessons for everyone to learn. Kids will love this book because they will be able to relate to the different types of bullying. They will learn because they will be able to sympathize with the victims. This is a book that not only kids but adults will enjoy. If I could make it a rule every school would read this book at the beginning of the year. In many ways it reminded me of the book Wonder. If you liked that book you will LOVE this one.
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