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White Bees
They stare at her. Point at her face. Shout laughter encased in cruel laughter toward her. Yet, despite it all, Amy shines beautiful. In this heartfelt memoir Amy endures multiple surgeries for her bilateral cleft lip and palate—including a grueling cranial facial surgery at age sixteen just as her older sister Jeannie, a model, competes in a national pageant. When she reaches her private breaking point as the girls around her start to date, she prays just one boy will see past her face of scars and into her heart—and chose her. What happens next shocks the entire student body, and has all of the girls wishing they could trade her places. A sample of Chapter 1: My mother has loved me from the very start. I must have felt her faith as she took me in her arms the day I was born and looked upon my tangled face and into my new blue eyes with courage and complete understanding, knowing the road ahead would be laced with trials and mixed with grace. High school wasn’t supposed to start this way. The same way all of my other school years had started—wearing my same face that brought the painful responses I pretended not to see. Above my basement bedroom, I heard Mom opening and shutting cupboard doors, the weight of her feet flexing the creaky floor in the rhythm of a new morning. I turned my head and inhaled the honest scent of my pillowcase, the fibers holding traces of salt water from nights I carried my burden alone. Not everyone stared at me with critical eyes. Mom stared right into my heart, my being, my soul. She didn’t ask if I was being teased or if I wished I were perfect. I’m not even sure the idea crossed her mind. Instead, she told me I was confident and beautiful, with way more friends than she’d ever had. She said I amazed her. And I believed her. I pulled my right leg to my chest and hugged my knee, then dropped my hand to trace the inch-long scar on the inside of my ankle from an IV I’d had as a new baby. Mom couldn’t remember which surgery caused the scar. But she’d said it had started as a small pierce from a needle and, once healed, had stretched as I’d grown. For some reason moving my finger back and forth over the raised scar brought me peace. My younger sister stirred in her twin bed four feet from mine. She lobbed one arm up and out from under the covers and onto the nightstand where her thick glasses rested. With the other hand, she cleared the tangled hair away from her face. She situated the glasses on her nose and asked, “Is it already time to get up?” I leaned up on one elbow, looking past her silhouette to our bedroom window. “Yup, it’s morning, Toots, even though it’s still dark outside. Jeannie is already up. I call the shower next.” “What’s that sound?” “That squeaky sound?” “Mmm hmm.” “Just Mr. Sorensen. You know, letting his dog, Max, out to pee. His gate squeaks.” “Oh. How’d you know that?” “I’ve been paying attention all summer. Listen. In a minute you’ll hear it again when he goes back inside. I’ve memorized the whole process.” Jeannie, older than me by eighteen months, threw open the door connecting our two rooms. “Hey, I lost the back to one of my pink triangle earrings. Do either of you have a pencil eraser I can use?” “I do,” Toots said. “But don’t use my favorite pencil. Just use one of the regular orange ones over there on my desk.” “I only need half. Thanks, Toots. You’re a lifesaver.” I released my hand from my ankle, stretched both legs down to the end of my bed, then pointed my toes until my feet arched and my calf muscles burned. I’d waited fifteen years to be transformed into beautiful. The “big” surgery, the cranial facial surgery I’d been waiting for, was supposed to have happened before I started high school. Instead, it hung on the horizon teasing me with time until the bone in my face matured. The surgery was partly for me, but mostly for the people who had to look at me.
370 pages, Paperback
First published October 14, 2013
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88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 4, 2014
Inspiring true story of an amazing woman and a wonderful tribute to the wonderful family and friends with which she is blessed.
February 13, 2025
My 2nd cousin's book. I loved reading her story. It is captivating and well written.
July 29, 2016
I started reading White Bees three days ago, not knowing what it was really about. I couldn't put it down, and I finished it WAY past my bedtime last night (2 a.m. this morning, actually). I drifted off to sleep feeling like Amy was someone I actually know. Amy's writing style is brutally honest and made me want to swoop in and protect her. Her story made me laugh at the too familiar 80s hair and fashions, and cry at the cruel way children (and adults) treat each other. But beneath the happy and sad parts, her story reinforced my belief in the power of prayer.
Her story starts with her birth, when her parents discovered that she had a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Her family loved her fiercely and Amy didn't even realize she was different until she started school. Throughout elementary school and junior high, she was teased, bullied, shunned and ridiculed by classmates, simply because she looked different. Simple things like blowing up a balloon in class (she couldn't), and the teacher who shamed her in front of everyone, humiliated her more than any child should have to endure. Throughout those difficult years, Amy clings to her small group of best friends and her family - the ones who love the beautiful HER inside her damaged face. This part of the book made me cry several times - for her bravery and for every child who was bullied or teased for being different.
She grows up spirited, strong and courageous as she faces surgery after painful surgery to correct her facial structure. She never loses her sense of humor, her faith in God, or her optimism, even as her friends start dating in high school and she is passed over by boys who only see her scars. Amy feels she's a beautiful child of God, and prays that some day everyone will be able to see the beauty inside her. I admired her so much, getting through her teen years with such confidence and grace. I know I wouldn't have dealt with bullies and superficial judgements by strangers with her positive attitude.
You'll have to read the book to find out how it ends, but I guarantee you will close the cover feeling more empathetic to those who look or act "different", and you'll certainly want to be a better friend. I give this book five stars - for the great writing, for the honest and heart-wrenching story, and for the positive message that we are all beautiful just the way God made us.
I received a complimentary copy of White Bees directly from the author, in exchange for writing an honest review.
Her story starts with her birth, when her parents discovered that she had a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Her family loved her fiercely and Amy didn't even realize she was different until she started school. Throughout elementary school and junior high, she was teased, bullied, shunned and ridiculed by classmates, simply because she looked different. Simple things like blowing up a balloon in class (she couldn't), and the teacher who shamed her in front of everyone, humiliated her more than any child should have to endure. Throughout those difficult years, Amy clings to her small group of best friends and her family - the ones who love the beautiful HER inside her damaged face. This part of the book made me cry several times - for her bravery and for every child who was bullied or teased for being different.
She grows up spirited, strong and courageous as she faces surgery after painful surgery to correct her facial structure. She never loses her sense of humor, her faith in God, or her optimism, even as her friends start dating in high school and she is passed over by boys who only see her scars. Amy feels she's a beautiful child of God, and prays that some day everyone will be able to see the beauty inside her. I admired her so much, getting through her teen years with such confidence and grace. I know I wouldn't have dealt with bullies and superficial judgements by strangers with her positive attitude.
You'll have to read the book to find out how it ends, but I guarantee you will close the cover feeling more empathetic to those who look or act "different", and you'll certainly want to be a better friend. I give this book five stars - for the great writing, for the honest and heart-wrenching story, and for the positive message that we are all beautiful just the way God made us.
I received a complimentary copy of White Bees directly from the author, in exchange for writing an honest review.
December 2, 2013
Beautiful, engaging memoir about a girl growing up with a cleft palate in the 70s. The title is clever...read it to find out why.
October 14, 2018
Not often do I write reviews. But with White Bees I have to share how much I enjoyed it. It is beautifully written: you literally live through the courage, frankness, pain, anxieties and utmost joy in a suspenseful way as Amy grows up. It has left me thinking more deeply about children with disabilities and how important it is to teach our children not to bully anyone. I loved the allegories at the beginning of each chapter. What a beautiful family too. Do not hesitate on this one and, IT IS STILL FREE ON KINDLE!
March 23, 2020
A sweet story about a young girl overcoming a terrible facial disfigurement. Not that well written but still very inspiring.
January 31, 2021
An incredible young lady!
September 17, 2015
This is a simple, inspirational story about a girl with a cleft lip and palate. She endures bullying, rejection, and multiple surgeries throughout her childhood. In high school Amy desperately wants to look normal, because inside she knows she is a wonderful person. Amy watches her beautiful sister win a beauty pageant, and all of her friends go on dates. Her time to shine finally comes for Junior Prom when Jamie asks her to go with him, and then he is crowned Prom King. I loved her relationship with her parents, her sweet grandparents, her younger siblings, her older sister Jeannie, and her best friend Katie. My favorite components were her mother's sweet love, and Amy's shining confidence. This wasn't a gripping page-turner, but it was a very sweet story about character and love.
The writing fits the Young Adult genre for me, which matches the author being an inspirational speaker for youth.
A few sections brought tears to my eyes. Here is one sweet quote about her older sister:
"I often thought that Jeannie must have pleaded with God while we were still in heaven: "Won't you please send me first?" she may have asked. "Amy will need me. I just know she will. Let me go ahead of her. I will show her how to have courage, how to be strong, and I will protect her when she needs me. And, God, don't wait too long to send her to Earth. I'll be waiting to take care of her."
And this quote near the end as Amy accepts and loves all that she has and is:
"And God, He had made me beautiful by making me just the way he intended."
The writing fits the Young Adult genre for me, which matches the author being an inspirational speaker for youth.
A few sections brought tears to my eyes. Here is one sweet quote about her older sister:
"I often thought that Jeannie must have pleaded with God while we were still in heaven: "Won't you please send me first?" she may have asked. "Amy will need me. I just know she will. Let me go ahead of her. I will show her how to have courage, how to be strong, and I will protect her when she needs me. And, God, don't wait too long to send her to Earth. I'll be waiting to take care of her."
And this quote near the end as Amy accepts and loves all that she has and is:
"And God, He had made me beautiful by making me just the way he intended."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2014
What a sweet, touching story of self-appreciation and the strength of a family. It was such a treat to get an inside glimpse into my wonderful cousin's childhood and her own personal struggles. It was so fun to see the '80s nostalgia, the teenage excitement, and the quirks of such a great family.
White Bees is a memoir written from the perspective of the author as she grew up dealing with the struggles of a cleft palate, and the pain, humiliation, and resulting strength that followed her. We see her elementary school years, the bullying, the teenage years and the awkward dates. Through her adversity, and with the help of a very loving sister, the author transforms into the beautiful person she always was, and had struggled to see.
Though the story and the struggles were sweet and touching, the writing was lacking. Mostly in editing and proofreading. Things could have been tightened up and basic punctuation proof reading should have been utilized. I also felt like the descriptions were sometimes overdone and the novel would have greatly benefitted from a more fluid and action centered story line.
White Bees is a memoir written from the perspective of the author as she grew up dealing with the struggles of a cleft palate, and the pain, humiliation, and resulting strength that followed her. We see her elementary school years, the bullying, the teenage years and the awkward dates. Through her adversity, and with the help of a very loving sister, the author transforms into the beautiful person she always was, and had struggled to see.
Though the story and the struggles were sweet and touching, the writing was lacking. Mostly in editing and proofreading. Things could have been tightened up and basic punctuation proof reading should have been utilized. I also felt like the descriptions were sometimes overdone and the novel would have greatly benefitted from a more fluid and action centered story line.
October 12, 2014
Amy writes her autobiography beginning with her birth, when she is born with a cleft lip and palate. She has a fabulous family who love her and help her see her inner beauty. She shares her inner most thoughts as she endures surgeries to restructure her face. She also describes what it was like to be the object of an elementary school bully's attention. Amy maintains her faith in God as she waits patiently to become "beautiful" with a major facial reconstruction at the age of about 17. The thing I enjoyed most about the book was that the author actually lives about 40 minutes from my home and was raised just 5 miles west of where I live. As she mentions different people who had an impact on her life I discovered that I knew many of them. The high school she attended was also my Alma mater so I could visualized many of the scenes as she describes them. The story is important. Her faith in God never waivers. The reader can see the great role that her family plays in her life. Everyone has obstacles to overcome and we must each find our way over them. Hopefully we'll have help from others, but more importantly, we will help others.
May 8, 2015
This autobiography gives insight into the challenges of teenage years with a Cleft Palat and how Amy pushes through and shines. Enduring years of bullying, surgeries, and fighting self esteem, Amy lets us into her teenage thought process.
What I found remarkable was that even though Amy endured some extra trials (with surgeries, etc.) in her adolescence, many of the insecurities she experienced were the same that most teenage girls go through, not to minimize her challenges.
Overall, I felt this gave me new insight into some particular challenges that teenagers face from looking "differently" than their peers. The writing isn't world class, but her example is compelling. I looked at the writing of this book as Amy telling her story as opposed to a "novel," and that helped me look past the writing. Again, what this book emphasized to me is even though Amy thought she looked so different from the rest, she was really experiencing many of the same teenage thoughts and emotions as her peers. We really are more alike than different.
What I found remarkable was that even though Amy endured some extra trials (with surgeries, etc.) in her adolescence, many of the insecurities she experienced were the same that most teenage girls go through, not to minimize her challenges.
Overall, I felt this gave me new insight into some particular challenges that teenagers face from looking "differently" than their peers. The writing isn't world class, but her example is compelling. I looked at the writing of this book as Amy telling her story as opposed to a "novel," and that helped me look past the writing. Again, what this book emphasized to me is even though Amy thought she looked so different from the rest, she was really experiencing many of the same teenage thoughts and emotions as her peers. We really are more alike than different.
May 16, 2015
This was a blast from the past to read growing up as a teenager in the 80s. The styles, the big hair, the fun stomps and music. It's not what I expected and as I did enjoy the regular growing up memories, I wanted to know more about what a cleft palate is, why people have them, what surgeries she went through and her struggles to overcome. As Amy did do this it somewhat it was hidden and just thrown out there. The Majority of the book is just normal life stuff. I would have loved to see her start the book with her grandfathers journals and then head out the novel from there. Jeanie her sister is a great example of what every girl wants in a sibling. Amy is very inspirational and is a beautiful person, inside and out.
July 16, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I was turned off at the start but made myself read it based on reviews on Amazons web reviews. After I started reading it I could not put it down. I cried several times while reading it. It was a view of someones life and their growing up with a disability. I do not recommend it for everyone but for me it was really a touching story. SPOILER ALERT HERE--- there is a part of the book that might be to much for some to read when she comes out of one of her surgeries it is excruciatingly painful and unpleasant. Great inspiration.
March 18, 2014
I heard Amy Jo speak about her experience and the process of writing her first book. I have to say that I enjoyed the speaking more than the reading of her experience. I know that these are her thoughts and feelings but it was difficult to hear about "how ugly she was"--or felt that she was-- I'm not going to comment further. This was an interesting choice for our book club and we did have some good discussion.
March 1, 2015
This was written by a good friend's childhood friend. It was a memoir from her childhood growing up after being born with a cleft palate. The author is about my age, so it was nostalgic for me to read about her 80's childhood, but also eye-opening to hear about all the surgeries and what she went through. I like her writing, it flowed very easily and was a very quick read. Lots of good lessons about how to treat others, too.
January 2, 2015
I was inspired by the strength & optimism Amy exuded in this telling of her life journey! I loved her descriptions of the teenage era she grew up in as they were so similar to my own. Such a great story, an amazing person, and a beautiful girl. I would have given it 4 stars but felt the writing was lacking in transitions and fluidity.
May 25, 2015
I found it rather annoying because of all get highs and lows. She will start sobbing into her depressions, and then someone or something will cause her happiness and age vows she will never be sad about her cleft lips, and then starts the depression process all over again. Overall, I think the book stated out with a great message and intent, but became repetitive.
February 22, 2016
I REALLY loved this book! I think as a SLP I understand the "professional" part of having a cleft lip and palate. I know all about the surgeries and therapies involved. I loved hearing about all of the personal struggles Amy suffered due to her cleft lip and palate.
I don't know if I would have enjoyed the book as much if I wasn't a SLP.
It was clean and I personally really liked it!
I don't know if I would have enjoyed the book as much if I wasn't a SLP.
It was clean and I personally really liked it!
November 3, 2014
I have heard the author is an inspirational speaker and I think she has a good message, but most of the book is about her everyday life in high school with her challenges being kind of a side note. I was expecting something different, I guess.
May 27, 2014
Absolutely loved this book. She writes beautifully. I also had the chance to meet her and she is so great! She is amazing!
April 21, 2015
Honest, open, entertaining and couldn't put it down.
December 15, 2015
I loved this Book!! Such s good read! I like card get perspective on things! Definitely a role model! Definitely a must read:)
September 4, 2016
Great, honest book! I wish she had included her prom picture at the end, though!
July 22, 2014
Inspirational!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews