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Honey
For a girl like Melody and a dog like Mo, life can be both sticky and sweet. Melody has lived in Royal, Indiana, for as long as she can remember. It's been just her and her father, and she's been okay with that. But then she overhears him calling someone Honey -- and suddenly it feels like everyone in Royal has a secret. It's up to Melody and her best friend, Nick, to piece together the clues and discover why Honey is being hidden. Meanwhile, a dog named Mo is new to Royal. He doesn't remember much from when he was a puppy . . . but he keeps having dreams of a girl he is bound to meet someday. This girl, he's sure, will change everything. In HONEY, Sarah Weeks introduces two characters -- one a girl, one a dog-- who are reaching back further than their memories in order to figure out where they came from and where they're going. It's a total treat from beginning to end.
152 pages, Hardcover
First published January 27, 2015
98 people are currently reading
1172 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Weeks
102 books508 followersSarah Weeks has been writing children’s books and songs for the past twenty years. She is a graduate of Hampshire College and NYU and recently became an adjunct faculty member in the prestigious Writing Program at the New School University, in New York City.
Her first YA novel, So B. It, which appeared on the LA Times bestseller list was chosen as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and received the 2004 Parent’s Choice Gold Award. In addition to being an author, Sarah is an accomplished singer/songwriter. She has written for television, stage and screen and a number of her picturebooks include songs which she both writes and sings for the accompanying CD’s. Sarah's titles have sold well over a million copies, including several foreign editions.
Sarah is a tireless promoter, visiting schools throughout the country, serving as author-in-residence and speaking to teachers and librarians at national conferences including IRA, ALA and NCTE. She lives in New York City with her two teenage sons.
Her first YA novel, So B. It, which appeared on the LA Times bestseller list was chosen as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and received the 2004 Parent’s Choice Gold Award. In addition to being an author, Sarah is an accomplished singer/songwriter. She has written for television, stage and screen and a number of her picturebooks include songs which she both writes and sings for the accompanying CD’s. Sarah's titles have sold well over a million copies, including several foreign editions.
Sarah is a tireless promoter, visiting schools throughout the country, serving as author-in-residence and speaking to teachers and librarians at national conferences including IRA, ALA and NCTE. She lives in New York City with her two teenage sons.
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June 11, 2018Dessert-related terms of endearment, in descending frequency order
Honey
Hon
Sweetie
Sugar
Cupcake
Sweetie pie
Honey bun
Sugar plum
Baby cakes
Honey pie
Agave
Maple syrup
Stevia
Aspartame
Saccharin
Sucralose
Acesulfame potassium
5-Nitro-2-propoxyaniline
Honey
Hon
Sweetie
Sugar
Cupcake
Sweetie pie
Honey bun
Sugar plum
Baby cakes
Honey pie
Agave
Maple syrup
Stevia
Aspartame
Saccharin
Sucralose
Acesulfame potassium
5-Nitro-2-propoxyaniline
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April 22, 2020Unintentional or not, secrets can keep any sticky situation from turning sweet.
For as long as she can remember, it's just been Melody and her father. That's always been enough for her. But when she hears him calling someone Honey - it suddenly feels like everyone in Royal, Indiana is keeping a secret. Who is Honey? And why are they being hidden?
Meanwhile, a dog named Mo is new to Royal. He doesn't remember much from his puppy days, but he keeps having dreams of a girl he's bound to meet someday. This girl is sure to change everything.
A story of miscommunications and hurt hearts. A tale of a family evolving through past, present, and future.
Trigger warnings a dead parent, smoking, body shaming, and food poisoning.
Calm, observant Melody knew she'd missed a clue once her father uttered that word. Determined to figure out the secret it felt like everyone in Royal already knew, the clever girl quickly put her investigative skills to use. My heart broke for her as she dealt with the dormant grief for her mom that her answers awoke. Even though her emotional turmoil, the perceptive girls endeavors to understand and move on were admirable.
From a smitten, distracted father, to a good-hearted yet careless grandfather, from a supportive best friend who went along with whatever was needed, to a mouthy neighbor girl, from a kind-hearted salon owner who knew so much more beyond the benefits of a beauty boost, to a dog who was looking for happiness he knew was coming, misheard/untold truths had a way of affecting everyone's lives. While they may not have bloomed to life before my eyes, the well-crafted supporting cast was lovely. Showing different types and their ever changing nature, family was a thoughtfully talked about theme. Funny, caring Nick was the best friend dreams are made of. He always had Melody's heart in mind. Mischievous Teeny unfortunately drove me up the wall as she said things that set others minds ablaze. Mo's hopeful point of view made me eager to reach the point where their stories would merge.
Secrets shatter hearts in more ways then we could ever think of, especially within a family. Offset by moments of humor that will amuse children and parents, Sarah Weeks's story of hidden well intentions, discovering unknown family truths, and the devastating effects of contending with undealt with grief, was tastefully done. Fast paced and sweetly predictable, the contemporary also touched on moving on and not jumping to conclusions. It came off as a bit forced, but I adored how the changing perspectives allowed us to see all angles of the story as it came together. Striking a perfect balance of sad and light-hearted, Honey was a warm hug.
Will you let Honey buzz into your heart?
For as long as she can remember, it's just been Melody and her father. That's always been enough for her. But when she hears him calling someone Honey - it suddenly feels like everyone in Royal, Indiana is keeping a secret. Who is Honey? And why are they being hidden?
Meanwhile, a dog named Mo is new to Royal. He doesn't remember much from his puppy days, but he keeps having dreams of a girl he's bound to meet someday. This girl is sure to change everything.
A story of miscommunications and hurt hearts. A tale of a family evolving through past, present, and future.
Trigger warnings a dead parent, smoking, body shaming, and food poisoning.
Calm, observant Melody knew she'd missed a clue once her father uttered that word. Determined to figure out the secret it felt like everyone in Royal already knew, the clever girl quickly put her investigative skills to use. My heart broke for her as she dealt with the dormant grief for her mom that her answers awoke. Even though her emotional turmoil, the perceptive girls endeavors to understand and move on were admirable.
From a smitten, distracted father, to a good-hearted yet careless grandfather, from a supportive best friend who went along with whatever was needed, to a mouthy neighbor girl, from a kind-hearted salon owner who knew so much more beyond the benefits of a beauty boost, to a dog who was looking for happiness he knew was coming, misheard/untold truths had a way of affecting everyone's lives. While they may not have bloomed to life before my eyes, the well-crafted supporting cast was lovely. Showing different types and their ever changing nature, family was a thoughtfully talked about theme. Funny, caring Nick was the best friend dreams are made of. He always had Melody's heart in mind. Mischievous Teeny unfortunately drove me up the wall as she said things that set others minds ablaze. Mo's hopeful point of view made me eager to reach the point where their stories would merge.
Secrets shatter hearts in more ways then we could ever think of, especially within a family. Offset by moments of humor that will amuse children and parents, Sarah Weeks's story of hidden well intentions, discovering unknown family truths, and the devastating effects of contending with undealt with grief, was tastefully done. Fast paced and sweetly predictable, the contemporary also touched on moving on and not jumping to conclusions. It came off as a bit forced, but I adored how the changing perspectives allowed us to see all angles of the story as it came together. Striking a perfect balance of sad and light-hearted, Honey was a warm hug.
Will you let Honey buzz into your heart?
December 24, 2014
Sarah Weeks's Pie is one of my favorite books ever, so seeing a new follow-up of sorts was an exciting one for me. Honey is not a true follow-up or a sequel, but it is a similar story with a really different take. We have a lot of broken families in this small town, and broken families can breed fear and betrayal among the ranks. Without giving too much away, this book takes a while to get to where we know what's truly going on in terms of the point (a major flaw in a middle grade book clocking in at well under 200 pages), but once we truly understand the motivations and the trust begins to grow again, it becomes the same sort of beautiful message that existed in Pie throughout.
The way this ends really worked for me on an emotional level personally, and it redeems the really slow start. If you were blown away by Pie, temper your expectations, but know that this is a really well done story about family (and the extended people who become family when you need them the most) that really belongs right next to Pie on everyone's shelves.
The way this ends really worked for me on an emotional level personally, and it redeems the really slow start. If you were blown away by Pie, temper your expectations, but know that this is a really well done story about family (and the extended people who become family when you need them the most) that really belongs right next to Pie on everyone's shelves.
March 1, 2018
Rounded up from 4.5 stars. I think I liked this even better than "Pie" and I did not expect that. The side-by-side stories of Melody and Mo was effective and I loved listening to this book. Wish I could see all of the nail polish colors that Melody names for Bee-Bee at the Beehive. She has a gift.
March 25, 2025
Sarah Weeks is becoming a favorite author for me. This story was so good. I really enjoyed trying to figure out how everything would come together.
April 22, 2015
Melody lives in Royal, Indiana with her dad. Her mom died in childbirth and her dad is a high school teacher. When he starts burning dinners, singing "You are My Sunshine," and staring off into space, it is pretty obvious he's smitten with some mystery woman. Melody talks to chain-smoking Gramp-o who has emphysema and is tethered to an oxygen tank, but he doesn't think she's right. When Melody overhears a late night call where her dad uses the word, "honey," she is determined to investigate. Rather than ask him directly, she goes to the rumor source, The Bee Hive Beauty Salon. A place full of nail polish, people, and a dog named, "Mo," she learns more than just who her dad is in love with. All sorts of miscommunications happen before things get sorted out in the end.
The character arc of Melody shows her dealing with the death of her mother and moving forward with her dad finding someone else. While she investigates she has the unsought-after help of Teeny, a six-year-old tutu-charging terror that adds humor to the plot. Nick helps Melody as well and it is through discussions with him that she reveals her fears of who she thinks her dad is marrying. When she thinks her fears come true, she gets emotional and lashes at the adults around her until the truth is revealed.
The story unfolds from Melody and a dog named, "Mo's," point of view. Mo's chapters were cheesy, but I would be curious to get a kids point of view. They adore dogs and might like the sappy pooch pining for his one and only long-lost owner, Melody's mom. He has a vision of a girl, that happens to be Melody, hugging him and he knows they are meant to be together. The author uses Mo to give the backdrop on Melody's mom and how she died. It advances the plot but it felt forced to me and I found it boring compared to Melody's mystery. I skimmed those parts which is my usual tactic when the pace slows.
Melody's mother is a prodigy that makes the cover of Time magazine. She gives up her amazing career to be a music teacher and live in a small town. Can you see my thick eyebrows raised to my hairline? I needed more of an explanation on that one. Miss Hogan is a one-dimensional villain and her story isn't wrapped up.
Honey is a great title for this slightly sappy story. The family is loving and accepts each other. Gramp-o loves his son and granddaughter and helps out with watching Melody. Readers will feel good after reading this. Good for ages 8-10.
The character arc of Melody shows her dealing with the death of her mother and moving forward with her dad finding someone else. While she investigates she has the unsought-after help of Teeny, a six-year-old tutu-charging terror that adds humor to the plot. Nick helps Melody as well and it is through discussions with him that she reveals her fears of who she thinks her dad is marrying. When she thinks her fears come true, she gets emotional and lashes at the adults around her until the truth is revealed.
The story unfolds from Melody and a dog named, "Mo's," point of view. Mo's chapters were cheesy, but I would be curious to get a kids point of view. They adore dogs and might like the sappy pooch pining for his one and only long-lost owner, Melody's mom. He has a vision of a girl, that happens to be Melody, hugging him and he knows they are meant to be together. The author uses Mo to give the backdrop on Melody's mom and how she died. It advances the plot but it felt forced to me and I found it boring compared to Melody's mystery. I skimmed those parts which is my usual tactic when the pace slows.
Melody's mother is a prodigy that makes the cover of Time magazine. She gives up her amazing career to be a music teacher and live in a small town. Can you see my thick eyebrows raised to my hairline? I needed more of an explanation on that one. Miss Hogan is a one-dimensional villain and her story isn't wrapped up.
Honey is a great title for this slightly sappy story. The family is loving and accepts each other. Gramp-o loves his son and granddaughter and helps out with watching Melody. Readers will feel good after reading this. Good for ages 8-10.
November 13, 2017
It may be a short book page wise, but every word and every page were just perfection. I absolutely loved this little gem of a book.
August 9, 2018
This book had good bones, but...
1. Kids making fun of a person's body part represented as acceptable behavior by the MC and her friend who are supposedly good kids.
2. Main character, who is characterized as a good kid, is loudly disrespectful to a teacher in public with no consequences.
3. Eleven year old MC gets in her grandfather's car and turns it on, gives it gas, and sits in it alone with it idling and the next door neighbor is worried about why she is sitting alone in the car and never questions the fact she turned the car on and gave it some gas. Again, normal behavior?
4. Adults thinking it's a wonderful thing that the neighborhood stray had the "love bug" for the pharmacist's unspayed female cat and they had a large litter of kittens. Spay and neuter, people!
5. The newspaper prints a story about a puppy mill that has fallen on "hard times" so a character goes and buys a puppy from them to help them out. NO! PUPPY MILLS ARE BAD. BAD! You should never feel bad for a puppy mill. It should have been written as the newspaper was reporting the puppy mill was shut down and they went to the rescue shelter to adopt the puppy they saw in the newspaper photo.
There many other disconnects and head-scratchers in the story, like an unlocked room in the MC's home that is not forbidden, but she's never gone in it in eleven years to look around. Even if she had no curiosity, her best friend is the curious sort and certainly would have suggested it at some point. What happened with the room and other things would be spoilers, so I can't point out specific problems.
There were so many possible teaching moments in this book that were not only ignored, but supported as acceptable behavior. This is not how Middle Grade books should function.
1. Kids making fun of a person's body part represented as acceptable behavior by the MC and her friend who are supposedly good kids.
2. Main character, who is characterized as a good kid, is loudly disrespectful to a teacher in public with no consequences.
3. Eleven year old MC gets in her grandfather's car and turns it on, gives it gas, and sits in it alone with it idling and the next door neighbor is worried about why she is sitting alone in the car and never questions the fact she turned the car on and gave it some gas. Again, normal behavior?
4. Adults thinking it's a wonderful thing that the neighborhood stray had the "love bug" for the pharmacist's unspayed female cat and they had a large litter of kittens. Spay and neuter, people!
5. The newspaper prints a story about a puppy mill that has fallen on "hard times" so a character goes and buys a puppy from them to help them out. NO! PUPPY MILLS ARE BAD. BAD! You should never feel bad for a puppy mill. It should have been written as the newspaper was reporting the puppy mill was shut down and they went to the rescue shelter to adopt the puppy they saw in the newspaper photo.
There many other disconnects and head-scratchers in the story, like an unlocked room in the MC's home that is not forbidden, but she's never gone in it in eleven years to look around. Even if she had no curiosity, her best friend is the curious sort and certainly would have suggested it at some point. What happened with the room and other things would be spoilers, so I can't point out specific problems.
There were so many possible teaching moments in this book that were not only ignored, but supported as acceptable behavior. This is not how Middle Grade books should function.
May 13, 2015
I read this one over the weekend and it is just as charming as Pie! There are two stories in this book that merge at the end. Melody has some memories of her mom but it is hard to confirm them with her dad. Her dad gets sad talking about her mom since she died. Mo, a dog, has memories of a family.
Melody overhears his dad calling someone "honey". She is excited for her dad but also very curious--who is this mysterious "honey"? Melody looks for answers at the Bee Hive which is the beauty shop in their town, Royal. It is the place where a lot of news gets passed and it is the home of Mo.
How does everything get resolved? Read the book to find out! And when you are done reading you may have a hankering to get a manicure!
Melody overhears his dad calling someone "honey". She is excited for her dad but also very curious--who is this mysterious "honey"? Melody looks for answers at the Bee Hive which is the beauty shop in their town, Royal. It is the place where a lot of news gets passed and it is the home of Mo.
How does everything get resolved? Read the book to find out! And when you are done reading you may have a hankering to get a manicure!
February 24, 2015
Honey is a short & sweet story featuring a well-behaved tomboy, her true-blue best friend, a meddling 6-year-old, a rebellious grandfather, and a dog who just wants to find the girl he dreams about. I wish I could make a visit to Royal so I could see the Bee Hive in all its black & yellow glory!
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
September 17, 2015
This is a middle school book that this grandmother enjoyed immensely. I loved the characters of Melody and the dog Mo. I especially liked how the author included sections to allow us into the mind of the dog. The book is full of love and has some humor as well. (Melody's six-year-old neighbor is an annoying bratty kid who wants what she wants.)
October 7, 2017
My daughter ( age 10) read this and really enjoyed it and asked me to read it. I love that she was so excited by the story that she wanted to share. She kept asking what part are you at now. Great book for her age group .
October 26, 2016
I read the book ''Honey'' by Sarah Weeks,the genre is realistic fiction. The publication date 2014.In my opinion I think this book was OK,because some parts of the book were boring to me. For example, at the end she found out that her dad was going to marry her favorite teacher. Also, she found out the dog Moe was her mom's dog before she died. Some characters in this book were Melody, Henry, Bee-Bee, and Moe. Melody is a girl who's mother died giving birth to her, Moe is a dog that was Melody's mom's dog until she died and then it became Bee-Bee's, Henry is Melody's father who she's really close to because that's the only parent shes ever known, and lastly Bee-Bee who is her mother and fathers really close friend that moved to Royal. The main conflict in this book is that melody doesn't want her dad to marry the teacher she doesn't like. The setting is Royal,Indiana. The main plot line is about a girl named Melody and she's trying to figure out who her dad is going to remarry, by asking people questions around Royal. I thought the theme of this story was don't assume. This book was predictable, because I guessed that her dad was gonna marry her favorite teacher and that he was gonna get Moe back. I would recommend this book to all ages because it's appropriate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2019
Fifth-grader Melody Bishop lives with her widower father, a high school teacher, in Royal, Indiana. One day she overhears him calling someone "Honey." He must have fallen in love, so she and her friend Nick try to discover who her father's sweetheart must be (it just can't be her mean teacher!). Interwoven with Melody's adventures is the story of Bee-Bee Churchill, who owns the town's new beauty salon, the Bee Hive (where all the gossip happens), and a 10-year-old French bulldog, named Mo, who keeps having dreams of a mysterious girl he seems to already know.
This is a slender and light story, but much like Kate DiCamillo's best work, the gossamer prose hides weighty emotional ideas. The realistic characters with their backstories and motives help flesh out the narrative. There is an affecting and even moving resolution; it's one of those stories in which everything falls into place exactly where it should, and yet it doesn't come off as mawkish or contrived.
This is a slender and light story, but much like Kate DiCamillo's best work, the gossamer prose hides weighty emotional ideas. The realistic characters with their backstories and motives help flesh out the narrative. There is an affecting and even moving resolution; it's one of those stories in which everything falls into place exactly where it should, and yet it doesn't come off as mawkish or contrived.
March 3, 2015
Melody's mother died shortly after she was born, so Melody has no memories of her at all. For all of her ten years, it's been just her and her dad - who's great. But lately her dad has been really spacey. He often seems distracted, her burns everything he cooks, and he keeps whistling "You Are My Sunshine" all the time. He's a teacher, so he tends to get distracted at the end of every school year - but this seems like something bigger than that. When Melody overhears her father talking on the phone late at night and then call the person on the other end "honey", she realizes that he's dating all these years after her mother's death. But who is "honey"? Melody is determined to find out. This funny and sweet book will appeal to readers in grades 4-6. And if you like it, check out Sarah Weeks' other titles. I particularly liked PIE.
June 17, 2020
Root beer dum dums, wild berry Skittles, nail polish, a dog named Mo, and 10 year~old Melody, and honey! Sarah Weeks' storytelling is superb! She weaves mystery, loss of a mother, family history, friendship, and a dog into one heart~warming tale. The characters are a strong aspect in Honey. Such rich characteristics ~ I feel like I know them all personally. I also adore when the dog, Mo is telling parts of the story from his perspective. I smiled and had tears as I read this little gem! Can't wait to booktalk it (along with Pie, of course)!
December 20, 2015
This is a cute book, but Pie was much better.
November 16, 2018
Very cute book. Great friendship and family dynamic and a lesson of problems with jumping to conclusions.
February 1, 2019
3.5 Slightly unrealistic but a really cute book =)
June 20, 2021
Super fast read. I thought it was going to be too predictable of a story but then I was wrong, so I guess not! I'd like to know a little more about Mrs. Nelson's history. That woman could have used some neighborly help.
June 29, 2023
i loved it so much
November 27, 2019
My daughters and I listened to this book in the car over the past few weeks. We enjoyed the creative characters and the interactions between the children. The element of mystery had us listening to the story while parked in the car in the garage after coming home from errands. I liked how the reflections of the dog, Mo, were weaved into story and how everything came together in the end.
December 17, 2024
Being a dog lover, any time I glimpse a puppy on a book cover, I have to check it out. Especially if it happens to be middle grade fiction as, not only do I enjoy that genre in general, but books for that readership tend to have happy endings for everyone, including any four-legged friends. So I'm happy to say that this short novel turns out to be a charming little read.
Plot-wise, Honey, by Sarah Weeks, is about Melody Bishop, who lives with her dad in the small town of Royal, Indiana. For years, it's just been her and her father as Melody's mother passed away when Melody was too young to remember her. Life is good until Teeny, Melody's nosy six-year-old neighbor, lets it slip that Melody's father has a "Honey." This upsets Melody, so she recruits the help of her friend Nick to uncover who this person might be. Meanwhile, in the same town, a dog named Mo has a comfortable life but keeps dreaming of a little girl who recognizes him. Will he ever meet who he believes is his true owner, and will Melody ever learn the true identity of the mysterious "Honey"?
True to its name, Honey is a sweet darling of a book. Based on its narrative structure, simple description, and overall delivery, this feels tailor-made for the young middle grade crowd. I would even suggest it might appeal to older independent readers who are graduating into chapter books. That's not to say there is nothing for teens and adults to enjoy, but the story as a whole feels best appreciated by a younger readership.
As noted in the synopsis, this novel supports a dual storyline - one that focuses on Melody and the other on Mo. I enjoyed both plots and I think the story warrants it given its physical brevity. Both Melody and Mo's plots parallel and mirror each other. Melody is trying to uncover parts of her past, and Mo is trying to reconstruct memories from his puppy-hood. Melody feels compelled to uncover the elusive "Honey" her father is sweet on, and Mo feels compelled to uncover the elusive girl he keeps seeing in his dreams. The similarities, as one could probably discern, are not subtle but do complement each other.
Melody is a good middle grade protagonist as she strikes the right chord of being young and acting appropriately for her age, but she is also starting to figure out aspects of the grown up world. Two things she is most befuddled by are her mother's history (as Melody never got to know her mom) and the identity of the mysterious "Honey." Both aspects to her plot are handled well and fittingly for the target readership as, for adult readers, "Honey"'s identity will be quickly deduced. Again, I can't fault the novel for that as, considering its primary audience, that mystery element works.
Accompanying Melody are her friend Nick and neighborhood snoop Teeny. Again, both of these characters will stand out as tropes to adult readers, meaning they're present more to fulfill a function rather than fleshed out as individuals. But they serve their respective purposes well. Between the two, while I had nothing against Nick, I enjoyed Teeny a little more as her personality is more colorful. It also helps that she's younger than Melody, so this gives Melody a supporting character who serves as both a proverbial thorn in her side as well as someone to look after. Teeny's bratty personality isn't grating and can be funny at times, especially when she's made to see the error of her ways. The manner in which Melody deals with her shows strained patience (but who could blame her?) and adds an extra touch of humor and warmth to the story.
Among the adult characters, Bee-Bee Churchill is a standout. Her bee hive-inspired salon is a visual treat, and her personality is upbeat and vibrant. Unlike some middle grade books that advocate an inherent distrust of adults or otherwise portray grownups as foolish or unreliable, Honey depicts its adults as human - not dunderheads or villains but simply imperfect people. Some of the adults here do keep information from Melody, but it's because she's not mature enough to handle it thoughtfully. In the case of Bee-Bee, she is a proverbial horse of a different color and someone Melody feels she can open up to who treats her with kindness and respect. I enjoyed Bee-Bee for that reason and her scenes are some of the novel's highlights.
Turning to the lone canine character, Mo is akin to Melody in that he's fleshed out in proportion to the depth of the overall story and its length. I enjoyed his chapters and Weeks does a good job bringing the reader into his thoughts. Being a dog, it makes sense that his view of and thoughts about the human world will track simplistically abstract, but that's okay. It makes his portions distinctive because they're related from his point of view, not from a human's POV. While, overall, Mo's plot, compared to the amount of time devoted to Melody's story, is not as long, it makes for a good breather and a simple parallel story that cements the novel's focus on people - and pets - finding a sense of belonging right where they are.
Overall, Honey is a delightful speedy read that strikes a good balance between serious and sweet without becoming overbearing either way. While the novel's overall execution tracks towards young middle graders, that doesn't mean it's unreadable for other age groups. In the end, whether you plan to give this novel to a younger reader or want to peruse it yourself, Honey leaves readers with a warm, cozy feeling that has just the right touch of sweetness.
Content:
Language - None.
Violence - None. Mo was born and raised in a puppy mill but is eventually rescued and was never abused. During one of Mo's memories, we learn that a woman died after having a baby, but no details are given as the moment is related from Mo's limited point of view and understanding. Also, there are times when characters contend with grief or sad memories of loved ones who have since passed away, but the story never becomes depressing. Elsewhere, Teeny acts out in bratty ways at times, but she learns her lesson in the end. Lastly, for readers concerned about the treatment of an animal character, Mo never comes to any harm and is alive at the end of the story.
Sexual Content - None. Melody's father has a love interest, whom he calls Honey, but the relationship is chaste.
Plot-wise, Honey, by Sarah Weeks, is about Melody Bishop, who lives with her dad in the small town of Royal, Indiana. For years, it's just been her and her father as Melody's mother passed away when Melody was too young to remember her. Life is good until Teeny, Melody's nosy six-year-old neighbor, lets it slip that Melody's father has a "Honey." This upsets Melody, so she recruits the help of her friend Nick to uncover who this person might be. Meanwhile, in the same town, a dog named Mo has a comfortable life but keeps dreaming of a little girl who recognizes him. Will he ever meet who he believes is his true owner, and will Melody ever learn the true identity of the mysterious "Honey"?
True to its name, Honey is a sweet darling of a book. Based on its narrative structure, simple description, and overall delivery, this feels tailor-made for the young middle grade crowd. I would even suggest it might appeal to older independent readers who are graduating into chapter books. That's not to say there is nothing for teens and adults to enjoy, but the story as a whole feels best appreciated by a younger readership.
As noted in the synopsis, this novel supports a dual storyline - one that focuses on Melody and the other on Mo. I enjoyed both plots and I think the story warrants it given its physical brevity. Both Melody and Mo's plots parallel and mirror each other. Melody is trying to uncover parts of her past, and Mo is trying to reconstruct memories from his puppy-hood. Melody feels compelled to uncover the elusive "Honey" her father is sweet on, and Mo feels compelled to uncover the elusive girl he keeps seeing in his dreams. The similarities, as one could probably discern, are not subtle but do complement each other.
Melody is a good middle grade protagonist as she strikes the right chord of being young and acting appropriately for her age, but she is also starting to figure out aspects of the grown up world. Two things she is most befuddled by are her mother's history (as Melody never got to know her mom) and the identity of the mysterious "Honey." Both aspects to her plot are handled well and fittingly for the target readership as, for adult readers, "Honey"'s identity will be quickly deduced. Again, I can't fault the novel for that as, considering its primary audience, that mystery element works.
Accompanying Melody are her friend Nick and neighborhood snoop Teeny. Again, both of these characters will stand out as tropes to adult readers, meaning they're present more to fulfill a function rather than fleshed out as individuals. But they serve their respective purposes well. Between the two, while I had nothing against Nick, I enjoyed Teeny a little more as her personality is more colorful. It also helps that she's younger than Melody, so this gives Melody a supporting character who serves as both a proverbial thorn in her side as well as someone to look after. Teeny's bratty personality isn't grating and can be funny at times, especially when she's made to see the error of her ways. The manner in which Melody deals with her shows strained patience (but who could blame her?) and adds an extra touch of humor and warmth to the story.
Among the adult characters, Bee-Bee Churchill is a standout. Her bee hive-inspired salon is a visual treat, and her personality is upbeat and vibrant. Unlike some middle grade books that advocate an inherent distrust of adults or otherwise portray grownups as foolish or unreliable, Honey depicts its adults as human - not dunderheads or villains but simply imperfect people. Some of the adults here do keep information from Melody, but it's because she's not mature enough to handle it thoughtfully. In the case of Bee-Bee, she is a proverbial horse of a different color and someone Melody feels she can open up to who treats her with kindness and respect. I enjoyed Bee-Bee for that reason and her scenes are some of the novel's highlights.
Turning to the lone canine character, Mo is akin to Melody in that he's fleshed out in proportion to the depth of the overall story and its length. I enjoyed his chapters and Weeks does a good job bringing the reader into his thoughts. Being a dog, it makes sense that his view of and thoughts about the human world will track simplistically abstract, but that's okay. It makes his portions distinctive because they're related from his point of view, not from a human's POV. While, overall, Mo's plot, compared to the amount of time devoted to Melody's story, is not as long, it makes for a good breather and a simple parallel story that cements the novel's focus on people - and pets - finding a sense of belonging right where they are.
Overall, Honey is a delightful speedy read that strikes a good balance between serious and sweet without becoming overbearing either way. While the novel's overall execution tracks towards young middle graders, that doesn't mean it's unreadable for other age groups. In the end, whether you plan to give this novel to a younger reader or want to peruse it yourself, Honey leaves readers with a warm, cozy feeling that has just the right touch of sweetness.
Content:
Language - None.
Violence - None. Mo was born and raised in a puppy mill but is eventually rescued and was never abused. During one of Mo's memories, we learn that a woman died after having a baby, but no details are given as the moment is related from Mo's limited point of view and understanding. Also, there are times when characters contend with grief or sad memories of loved ones who have since passed away, but the story never becomes depressing. Elsewhere, Teeny acts out in bratty ways at times, but she learns her lesson in the end. Lastly, for readers concerned about the treatment of an animal character, Mo never comes to any harm and is alive at the end of the story.
Sexual Content - None. Melody's father has a love interest, whom he calls Honey, but the relationship is chaste.
September 9, 2019
If you enjoy books by Sarah Weeks, Honey is the book for you. Honey is a thrilling mystery, that takes place with our main character, Meloney. Meloney’s mother passed away when she was born, so she grew up with her father. Mel has a best friend Nick who she hangs out with almost everyday. But one day something was up. Her father had been daydreaming a lot lately, and one night Mel heard him calling someone “Honey”. Her and Nick were on the case to find out who Honey is. Will they find Honey? Is Meloneys father telling her everything? Sarah Weeks leaves you on a cliffhanger and hooks you in. She definitely puts detail into every sentence. She has written many great books such as, “Pie”, which has won a handful of awards. Readers will learn not to jump to conclusions. Overall I strongly recommend this book.
February 26, 2021
Incredible! A great middle school read with twists you’ll never guess! So much fun!
Sarah Weeks's Pie is a tremendously great read, so seeing a new follow-up of sorts was an exciting one for me. Honey is not a true follow-up, but it is a similar story with a really different take.
For as long as she can remember, it's just been Melody and her father. That's always been enough for her. But when she hears him calling someone Honey - it suddenly feels like everyone in Royal, Indiana is keeping a secret. Who is Honey? And why are they being hidden?
Meanwhile, a dog named Mo is new to Royal. He doesn't remember much from his puppy days, but he keeps having dreams of a girl he's bound to meet someday. This girl is sure to change everything.
Sarah Weeks's Pie is a tremendously great read, so seeing a new follow-up of sorts was an exciting one for me. Honey is not a true follow-up, but it is a similar story with a really different take.
For as long as she can remember, it's just been Melody and her father. That's always been enough for her. But when she hears him calling someone Honey - it suddenly feels like everyone in Royal, Indiana is keeping a secret. Who is Honey? And why are they being hidden?
Meanwhile, a dog named Mo is new to Royal. He doesn't remember much from his puppy days, but he keeps having dreams of a girl he's bound to meet someday. This girl is sure to change everything.
February 28, 2019
I listened to the audiobook just because i love the way Rebecca Soler narrates. I borrowed several different books simply because she was the one reading them.
I was pleasantly surprised, not knowing anything about the story other than it was about a girl and a dog and their long awaited reunion.
It was a short and sweet story geared towards younger readers, butI enjoyed it nonetheless, and think my toddlers would love it so I might get. A hard copy and read it with them.
I was pleasantly surprised, not knowing anything about the story other than it was about a girl and a dog and their long awaited reunion.
It was a short and sweet story geared towards younger readers, butI enjoyed it nonetheless, and think my toddlers would love it so I might get. A hard copy and read it with them.
February 18, 2016
Cute story of a girl named Melody who is sure her dad is dating someone...and she fears the worst. She is certain her dad is dating her teacher (who she strongly dislikes). There's a great best friend, an annoying younger neighbor girl, a wonderful grandpa, a sweet dog and a charming salon owner as characters. A fun read. My 3rd graders really liked it.
November 26, 2023
Cute little book about a little girl whose mom died when she was born. Her dad is acting goofy and she tries to figure out what is making him smile these days. I think 4th girls especially will enjoy this story.
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