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The Danger of Small Things
A teen uses her art to protest injustice and galvanize others to resist in this “suspenseful…lyrical” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) near-future dystopian novel about girls finding their voices in the darkest of times, perfect for fans of
The Handmaid’s Tale
and
Girls with Sharp Sticks
.
The whole world rested on a single bee’s wings…until that last honeybee died, and the balance of the universe tipped. Now, famine and war rage across the land. People are no longer allowed to read or create art. They are forbidden to believe in the existence of love.
Like every other girl, Jess has been taken from her home to live in a government dormitory, where they are forced to pollinate crops by hand with brushes. But unlike the others, Jess knows how to read and paint—and she knows that brushes aren’t meant for pollinating.
Jess is her mother’s daughter, with a strong streak of rebellion that even the harshest punishment can’t stamp out. She knows there is something horribly wrong with this system built on the hard labor of young girls, a system that forces them to marry and have children as soon as they are able. With smuggled paints and brush in hand, can Jess inspire a revolution?
The whole world rested on a single bee’s wings…until that last honeybee died, and the balance of the universe tipped. Now, famine and war rage across the land. People are no longer allowed to read or create art. They are forbidden to believe in the existence of love.
Like every other girl, Jess has been taken from her home to live in a government dormitory, where they are forced to pollinate crops by hand with brushes. But unlike the others, Jess knows how to read and paint—and she knows that brushes aren’t meant for pollinating.
Jess is her mother’s daughter, with a strong streak of rebellion that even the harshest punishment can’t stamp out. She knows there is something horribly wrong with this system built on the hard labor of young girls, a system that forces them to marry and have children as soon as they are able. With smuggled paints and brush in hand, can Jess inspire a revolution?
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 24, 2026
About the author
Caryl Lewis
63 books61 followersCaryl Lewis is an award winning Welsh language novelist. She was raised in Aberaeron before moving at the age of twelve to her family's farm in the parish of Dihewyd. She is an alumnus of Durham University and University of Wales Aberystwyth. Her first novel, Dal hi!, was published in 2003.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
May 11, 2026
The unravelling of the world begins with the last bee’s death, poverty, starvation, societal collapse on a global scale follows in its wake. In an unspecified country in the not-so-distant future, life has taken on a dystopian cast. Books have been outlawed, anyone believed to be queer has been imprisoned. Teenage boys are conscripted to fight in order to subdue the masses and maintain the status quo. Girls are taken away at 11, brought to camps where their labour will sustain the needs and wants of the country’s military leadership. As soon as the girls begin to menstruate, they’re assigned husbands and dispatched to breed. Jess is set to work as a ‘brusher’ one of many toiling from dawn to dusk spreading pollen that will ensure future crops. Fresh food they’ll never see, let alone get to eat. But Jess, daughter of a former climate activist, dreams of something better. She surmounts crushing betrayals, forms unlikely alliances, striving to protect best friend Cass and Cass’s girlfriend Deva. And, as she does so, she hatches a daring, escape plan. Better, she decides, to burn out than fade away.
After a shaky start I found Welsh author Caryl Lewis’s YA cli-fi novel incredibly compelling. Conceived as Lewis’s protest against the shortsightedness of the powerful, as well as ambivalence and complacency over collapsing ecosystems and rapidly-increasing species extinction. It’s sensitively rendered, carefully plotted, all too convincing. There are traces of the influence of novels like The Handmaid’s Tale, The Carhullan Army and How I Live Now. At first I wondered if it might end up becoming too derivative. But Lewis’s narrative boasts its own unique flavours – informed by her membership of beekeeping communities as well as a deep-seated commitment to addressing climate emergency. Lewis carefully grounds her story in reality, skilfully working in references to literature and, above all, protest art. Jess’s experiences highlight the sinister machinations of authoritarian regimes, the all-too-familiar methods intended to crush political opposition and dampen the spirit of resistance; her role as a brusher is based on hand pollination practiced in parts of China - where approximately 80 per cent of native, wild honeybees have already vanished. Deftly blending the visceral with the lyrical, Lewis’s poignant story acknowledges the seriousness of our situation yet manages to offer hope, albeit fragile.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Simon & Schuster for an ARC
Rating: 4.5
After a shaky start I found Welsh author Caryl Lewis’s YA cli-fi novel incredibly compelling. Conceived as Lewis’s protest against the shortsightedness of the powerful, as well as ambivalence and complacency over collapsing ecosystems and rapidly-increasing species extinction. It’s sensitively rendered, carefully plotted, all too convincing. There are traces of the influence of novels like The Handmaid’s Tale, The Carhullan Army and How I Live Now. At first I wondered if it might end up becoming too derivative. But Lewis’s narrative boasts its own unique flavours – informed by her membership of beekeeping communities as well as a deep-seated commitment to addressing climate emergency. Lewis carefully grounds her story in reality, skilfully working in references to literature and, above all, protest art. Jess’s experiences highlight the sinister machinations of authoritarian regimes, the all-too-familiar methods intended to crush political opposition and dampen the spirit of resistance; her role as a brusher is based on hand pollination practiced in parts of China - where approximately 80 per cent of native, wild honeybees have already vanished. Deftly blending the visceral with the lyrical, Lewis’s poignant story acknowledges the seriousness of our situation yet manages to offer hope, albeit fragile.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Simon & Schuster for an ARC
Rating: 4.5
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Danger of Small Things is a YA dystopian novel about girls who know they deserve more and the quiet power of rebellion started by the young.
It's set in the near future (almost sobering with how close it is to becoming our reality) where the bees are extinct, books are burned, and girls are used for labour and childbearing. I feel like the first chapter alone sets a powerful tone for the rest of the book, highlighting how bleak and controlled the world the characters live in is and setting an unsettling vibe for the rest of the book. But despite the bleakness, there's also quiet hope slowly sparking resistance after Jess, the main character, uses her art as a form of protest.
This definitely reads on the younger end of YA, sometimes bordering on middle grade (however, I'd still classify it as YA due to the heavy themes), and it's very character driven. I wish the worldbuilding would have been expanded on and that there was more depth in places, but emotionally, it still landed and would be a good pick for a school curriculum due to the fear it instills about the future. (climate collapse, girls' autonomy being taken away, and censorship- it all feels painfully relevant nowadays.)
For fans of The Handmaid's Tale, Girls with Sharp Sticks, and YA stories about rebellion, this is a thoughtful and haunting read. Not perfect, but powerful in its message and exactly the kind of dystopian that makes you sit with your discomfort!
It's set in the near future (almost sobering with how close it is to becoming our reality) where the bees are extinct, books are burned, and girls are used for labour and childbearing. I feel like the first chapter alone sets a powerful tone for the rest of the book, highlighting how bleak and controlled the world the characters live in is and setting an unsettling vibe for the rest of the book. But despite the bleakness, there's also quiet hope slowly sparking resistance after Jess, the main character, uses her art as a form of protest.
This definitely reads on the younger end of YA, sometimes bordering on middle grade (however, I'd still classify it as YA due to the heavy themes), and it's very character driven. I wish the worldbuilding would have been expanded on and that there was more depth in places, but emotionally, it still landed and would be a good pick for a school curriculum due to the fear it instills about the future. (climate collapse, girls' autonomy being taken away, and censorship- it all feels painfully relevant nowadays.)
For fans of The Handmaid's Tale, Girls with Sharp Sticks, and YA stories about rebellion, this is a thoughtful and haunting read. Not perfect, but powerful in its message and exactly the kind of dystopian that makes you sit with your discomfort!
Read
November 8, 2025This is one of those books where I have to remind myself that I'm not the target audience. It's a quiet dystopia, not a flashy one with lots of Capital Letters in it, and for an adult who has read more books simply because I've been on earth longer than a teenager, it's not the most revolutionary of ideas, but it makes sense and it's still powerful. The pacing felt a bit off and it was hard to tell whether it had been weeks or months, but otherwise I think this is pretty good.
April 29, 2026
My first YA fiction in a loooong time! Came across a review of this that billed it as a Handmaid's-esque post-fall environmental sci-fi. The review was not wrong - this felt like it leaned very heavily on Atwood's structure in its world-building. If I had read it as a teen without other literary touchpoints, it might have felt more groundbreaking, as someone who has been reading the genre for 30+ years, it felt derivative. I was not excited about finishing it, but I did, because it was an easy read.
While not billed as the first in the series, the ending leaves readers primed for a sequel.
While not billed as the first in the series, the ending leaves readers primed for a sequel.
February 14, 2026
A world in which bees have gone extinct and young girls take over the take of hand pollution of crops. This is very much a YA version of The Handmaids Tale and fits right in with the Hunger Games and other dystopian classics.
Overall, a great read that emphasises the power of art and imagination, the value of community and love, and the power of choice. It addresses many of the challenges we face in our current political climate. Some of the themes in this book are familiar to humanity. Jess is a strong character to follow and the story is entirely narrated from her perspective. There are multiple side characters, some of which feel more fleshed out than others. I liked Charmian, Cass and the others but I wanted a bit more from them. Something I found well done was the references to actual books and artists without them being named, the impact that burning books can have, and the role that anti-intellectualism can play in controlling society.
There are still a few things that in my opinion could have been explored more in depth or executed better. For instance, Elliot plays a pretty important role in this story but I think we didn’t get enough of him (and his relationship with Jess). Pacing also felt a bit off and it was hard to understand how much time passed, particularly at the end. Some things also felt rather short, this book does a lot in 260 odd pages. It might have been worth adding pages and making this story more detailed; I’m thinking more about Elliot, Jess upbringing, the Mothers etc.
I would definitely recommend this book, particularly to younger audiences. This is firmly written for a YA audience, so if you’re more familiar with the dystopian genre and have read the classics, this book may feel a bit repetitive.
*thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy*
Overall, a great read that emphasises the power of art and imagination, the value of community and love, and the power of choice. It addresses many of the challenges we face in our current political climate. Some of the themes in this book are familiar to humanity. Jess is a strong character to follow and the story is entirely narrated from her perspective. There are multiple side characters, some of which feel more fleshed out than others. I liked Charmian, Cass and the others but I wanted a bit more from them. Something I found well done was the references to actual books and artists without them being named, the impact that burning books can have, and the role that anti-intellectualism can play in controlling society.
There are still a few things that in my opinion could have been explored more in depth or executed better. For instance, Elliot plays a pretty important role in this story but I think we didn’t get enough of him (and his relationship with Jess). Pacing also felt a bit off and it was hard to understand how much time passed, particularly at the end. Some things also felt rather short, this book does a lot in 260 odd pages. It might have been worth adding pages and making this story more detailed; I’m thinking more about Elliot, Jess upbringing, the Mothers etc.
I would definitely recommend this book, particularly to younger audiences. This is firmly written for a YA audience, so if you’re more familiar with the dystopian genre and have read the classics, this book may feel a bit repetitive.
*thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy*
October 20, 2025
I’m a winner of a giveaway for this novel, hence how I got to read it early. I started this book a little apprehensive, mainly because I know the spiral that can come from end of the world thought processes. But this one is a REAL danger we could face. Bees are vital to our world, and we HAVE to protect them.
That being said, this book clearly has multiple meanings, especially towards sexism and the inherent idea that our own disinterest in things that don’t bother us could cause cataclysmic events to happen. We ignore the bee because we’ve always had them, we don’t think about losing them because we think “oh someone will fix that issue, there’s plenty of people who care” but the more people think this way, the more people who do NOTHING to solve the problem grows.
This story depicts a dystopia in a way we don’t often think about, similar to the Hunger Games.
We’ve already seen themes in this book multiple times in history. We’ve already had book burnings before, already had food rationing, already had children in camps.
Charmian is a perfect representation of how we will turn in eachother rather than the real people we should be against. Division of numbers makes for a weaker enemy. Charmian being scared, trying to manipulate her way out, but getting blindsided, is the truest form of how people in power don’t care.
Also, I will readily admit when they said they married off girls at age 16 based on fertility,,, Eugh. That was particularly haunting.
I really REALLY loved the inclusion of LGBT+ in this society, the whole “after they banned the books, anyone who loved the same sex were jailed” because that’s exactly what happened in the holocaust too. It’s happening today even. I’m gay myself, and it was incredibly nice to see homophobia depicted in a dystopia novel. Not many do. And I really like how C (letters to avoid spoilers) loves D, that it’s not a choice. That it was never a choice. Being gay isn’t a choice.
The Little Prince reference was top notch since this stories themes are so similar as well.
It’s extremely harrowing, the idea that in this society once you get your period you are immediately wed. I got my period when I had just turned 10. Not even a month after. The horror I feel that that could’ve been me in such a world,, terrifying. Sorry if this review is a little disjointed, I wrote it all while I was reading it, watching the story unfold. I believe books like this should be taught in schools, similar to how Speak is taught (or at least was taught in my school)
Overall a 10/10 book that I loved reading.
That being said, this book clearly has multiple meanings, especially towards sexism and the inherent idea that our own disinterest in things that don’t bother us could cause cataclysmic events to happen. We ignore the bee because we’ve always had them, we don’t think about losing them because we think “oh someone will fix that issue, there’s plenty of people who care” but the more people think this way, the more people who do NOTHING to solve the problem grows.
This story depicts a dystopia in a way we don’t often think about, similar to the Hunger Games.
We’ve already seen themes in this book multiple times in history. We’ve already had book burnings before, already had food rationing, already had children in camps.
Charmian is a perfect representation of how we will turn in eachother rather than the real people we should be against. Division of numbers makes for a weaker enemy. Charmian being scared, trying to manipulate her way out, but getting blindsided, is the truest form of how people in power don’t care.
Also, I will readily admit when they said they married off girls at age 16 based on fertility,,, Eugh. That was particularly haunting.
I really REALLY loved the inclusion of LGBT+ in this society, the whole “after they banned the books, anyone who loved the same sex were jailed” because that’s exactly what happened in the holocaust too. It’s happening today even. I’m gay myself, and it was incredibly nice to see homophobia depicted in a dystopia novel. Not many do. And I really like how C (letters to avoid spoilers) loves D, that it’s not a choice. That it was never a choice. Being gay isn’t a choice.
The Little Prince reference was top notch since this stories themes are so similar as well.
It’s extremely harrowing, the idea that in this society once you get your period you are immediately wed. I got my period when I had just turned 10. Not even a month after. The horror I feel that that could’ve been me in such a world,, terrifying. Sorry if this review is a little disjointed, I wrote it all while I was reading it, watching the story unfold. I believe books like this should be taught in schools, similar to how Speak is taught (or at least was taught in my school)
Overall a 10/10 book that I loved reading.
April 12, 2026
This story is set in a dystopian future where pollinators have become extinct, making food scarce and creating new forms of societal control and exploitation. Young girls are now occupied with pollinating crops, until they are old enough to be married off to “biologically selected” candidates to bear children. In the compound where the girls are kept, Jess is a rare one who can read — and draw. By chance, getting her hands on some paint, she starts an artistic protest that casts doubt on the others’ belief in the propaganda messages.
The first thing that should be mentioned is that this book reads more as upper middle grade (~12-14) than YA proper (~14-18). Yes, the prospect of being married off (as well as the briefly, non-graphically mentioned notion of sexual abuse by an adult and teen pregnancy) seems more appropriate for YA than for the middle-grade category, but the characters are around 13, and the tone and the complexity of the world-building rather suit readers of the same age than older teens. (Says someone who is decades past both age categories and enjoyed the text quite a lot: I hope it’s clear that I am talking more about conventions and expectations associated with these categories, not that it mustn’t be read outside those age ranges.)
I liked how many important topics were intertwined here: environmental degradation, state violence, forced labor and economic exploitation, art as a sphere of alternative values and a means of protest. “The small things” of the title are also more than something singular, neatly pinpointed to a single interpretation, thus avoiding a clearly moralistic reading. My only concern is that the general understanding of how the dystopian society functions in the background is a bit insufficient, but that might be attributable to the desire to keep it to just a few details for the sake of accessibility for the target age group.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eARC through NetGalley. The opinion above is my own.
The first thing that should be mentioned is that this book reads more as upper middle grade (~12-14) than YA proper (~14-18). Yes, the prospect of being married off (as well as the briefly, non-graphically mentioned notion of sexual abuse by an adult and teen pregnancy) seems more appropriate for YA than for the middle-grade category, but the characters are around 13, and the tone and the complexity of the world-building rather suit readers of the same age than older teens. (Says someone who is decades past both age categories and enjoyed the text quite a lot: I hope it’s clear that I am talking more about conventions and expectations associated with these categories, not that it mustn’t be read outside those age ranges.)
I liked how many important topics were intertwined here: environmental degradation, state violence, forced labor and economic exploitation, art as a sphere of alternative values and a means of protest. “The small things” of the title are also more than something singular, neatly pinpointed to a single interpretation, thus avoiding a clearly moralistic reading. My only concern is that the general understanding of how the dystopian society functions in the background is a bit insufficient, but that might be attributable to the desire to keep it to just a few details for the sake of accessibility for the target age group.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eARC through NetGalley. The opinion above is my own.
April 6, 2026
The Danger of Small Things is a YA dystopian novel that focuses on Jess, a teen who is forced to work in a young women’s camp to help pollinate plants. The world was thrown into collapse from a singular event: the extinction of bees. From there, author Caryl Lewis takes us down the inevitable path that followed…with bees no longer able to pollinate, plants began to wither and die, food became scarce, and wars and political strife ensued, resulting in a militaristic rule by each nation. The world Jess lives in now is void of art, education, history, and music…and only focused on securing food and maintaining military power. She works daily to pollinate plants, and dreams of a different life for her and her friends, one that reunites her with her mother and brother.
When she receives a long-forgotten paint set one day, she begins to secretly illustrate murals at the camp…ones that depict freedom and hope, which spark something deep in the girls who surround her - a sense that they deserve more in life. A revolution is coming, and those in power know that their hold on the girls has cracked…and Jess must continue to fan the flames.
I think that the most compelling element of this story is the realistic nature of it. This novel truly opened my eyes to the dependence we have globally on the existence of bees, and how their extinction could massively impact everything we know about our world’s sustainability. And from there, seeing how society crumbled in various ways, this novel serves as a cautionary tale that our younger generations must read. And yet, through it all…there’s hope. Hope found through art, music, knowledge, and community. Hope that lingers even after everything seems stripped away, but something that we must fight for.
Overall, I highly recommend adding this to your TBR! It’s a book that should definitely be read.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this eARC!
When she receives a long-forgotten paint set one day, she begins to secretly illustrate murals at the camp…ones that depict freedom and hope, which spark something deep in the girls who surround her - a sense that they deserve more in life. A revolution is coming, and those in power know that their hold on the girls has cracked…and Jess must continue to fan the flames.
I think that the most compelling element of this story is the realistic nature of it. This novel truly opened my eyes to the dependence we have globally on the existence of bees, and how their extinction could massively impact everything we know about our world’s sustainability. And from there, seeing how society crumbled in various ways, this novel serves as a cautionary tale that our younger generations must read. And yet, through it all…there’s hope. Hope found through art, music, knowledge, and community. Hope that lingers even after everything seems stripped away, but something that we must fight for.
Overall, I highly recommend adding this to your TBR! It’s a book that should definitely be read.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this eARC!
May 8, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a free online ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review!!! I'm very grateful <3
One concept that continuously came to mind as I read this is the distinction between being apart from nature vs. being a part of nature. While it seems small, it changes our entire mindset and, therefore, our actions. Everything is very interconnected, and even small changes can have vast ripple effects, which is something this book did a remarkable job illustrating.
Rebelling through art is something that has always made an impact on me, especially the idea of creativity being resistance. I recently read a phenomenal essay (I think it was called "Being an Artist in Times of War" on Substack) that talked about how the freedom of creation and expression aids in the fight against oppression.
While I think it could have flowed better, this was a really good dystopian book that really matters.
Again, thank you to NetGalley!
One concept that continuously came to mind as I read this is the distinction between being apart from nature vs. being a part of nature. While it seems small, it changes our entire mindset and, therefore, our actions. Everything is very interconnected, and even small changes can have vast ripple effects, which is something this book did a remarkable job illustrating.
Rebelling through art is something that has always made an impact on me, especially the idea of creativity being resistance. I recently read a phenomenal essay (I think it was called "Being an Artist in Times of War" on Substack) that talked about how the freedom of creation and expression aids in the fight against oppression.
While I think it could have flowed better, this was a really good dystopian book that really matters.
Again, thank you to NetGalley!
April 13, 2026
This book had good bones but it wasn’t executed the way I had hoped. The world building is non existent. This is a YA version of the handmaids tale. The premise sounded great and unique but there wasn’t really anything new or exciting about the book once you start reading. I didn’t care for the characters and was very bored throughout. I wish the world and characters were more fleshed out. I just wanted MORE from this
Read
March 27, 2026Graded By: Regina
Cover Story: Bee-ware
BFF Charm: Heck Yes
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: The Colors of Love
Bonus Factors: Art, Solidarity
Anti-Bonus Factors: Mean Girls, That’s Not How Dictatorships Work
Relationship Status: Fly Free
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Bee-ware
BFF Charm: Heck Yes
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: The Colors of Love
Bonus Factors: Art, Solidarity
Anti-Bonus Factors: Mean Girls, That’s Not How Dictatorships Work
Relationship Status: Fly Free
Read the full book report here.
May 4, 2026
So I’m fucking crying.
Did Not Finish
January 25, 2026DNF at 36%.
I love dystopian books so the premise of this one intrigued me. However, there was little to no world building and I was bored while reading this one (even with the fact that it’s a relatively short book). Also, this one is almost a middle grade book considering the characters very young ages, but I think it’s the slightly darker themes that probably pushed it to the YA category. I’m just not in the age range anymore to read books with super young characters.
Thank you to Simon Teen for the advanced copy!
I love dystopian books so the premise of this one intrigued me. However, there was little to no world building and I was bored while reading this one (even with the fact that it’s a relatively short book). Also, this one is almost a middle grade book considering the characters very young ages, but I think it’s the slightly darker themes that probably pushed it to the YA category. I’m just not in the age range anymore to read books with super young characters.
Thank you to Simon Teen for the advanced copy!
March 26, 2026
2.5 stars
A young woman forced to live in a government facility after society collapses learns that she and the others in the compound are being used as pawns. With her head full of memories of her family and her hands itching to pursue her art, she decides to take a chance to set off a revolution. Author Caryl Lewis returns with a book that closes itself off to readers by using the wrong narrative point of view in The Danger of Small Things.
In a future where climate change has irrevocably changed the world, Jess has been taken to a compound where she and other girls are forced to hand pollinate fruit trees for hours every single day. The younger girls work all year round to keep the trees alive; the older girls who have reached puberty are carted off to be paired with young men to have babies. Jess arrives in this place after being separated from her brother and mother, frightened for her brother’s safety and worried about where her mother might end up.
At the compound, Jess befriends Cass who sleeps in the bunk above hers. Day after day, Jess, Cass, and the other girls follow the same routines of getting dressed in the morning, partaking in the meager meal the government has allotted them, and then going to work. Every effort of everyone goes toward food cultivation and production. No one is allowed to enjoy any leisure activities, like reading or art.
Yet Jess had art, before. She sketched and painted, giving her small family artworks to marvel at. Now she still has brushes, but they’re used to make sure the apple trees and the peach trees and all the other trees are cared for so they will produce the fruit the government uses as trade goods. The girls’ efforts, declares compound head Father Renatus, keeps everyone alive and safe.
Jess suspects otherwise. When a chance encounter with a friendly guard yields illegal access to paint and proper paintbrushes, Jess uses them to show the girls what a different life might be like. Suddenly murmurs begin crossing the compound. No one knows who put up the painting, but everyone wants to know what the artist will do next—if they decide to do anything at all.
The act of expressing herself with her art again brings a part of Jess to life that she’d forgotten existed. With the handful of friends she can trust in her bunkhouse and the guard who has proven to be trustworthy, Jess knows it’s only a matter of time before they begin to fight back. The only question is when will the revolution begin.
Author Caryl Lewis states in her author’s note that her background as a beekeeper set her on the path to write this climate fiction novel. She sees it as her form of protest against those who are careless with the environment. While Lewis’s careful detailing of pollination and trees and natural resources are well on display, the rest of the book feels severely limited by the narrative choice to tell the story through Jess in first person.
Without access to anything more than Jess’s memories or descriptions of the day-to-day workings of the larger world at hand, readers may come away with the sense that Jess’s world feels controlled but not nearly as bad as it might actually get. Wide gaps exist in this supposedly totalitarian government’s mandates and their actual enforcement. Many story questions are raised with no acknowledgement.
For instance, it’s clear that young girls are being used as manual labor in their early years and as breeding machines when they reach maturity. How are boys being treated in this story world? What about children with disabilities? What about the adults who are able to work? If the government’s restrictions are forcing the girls to stay in this particular way of life, why don’t the Mothers and the ancillary staff at the compound keep a much closer eye on everyone? If the girls are performing all the manual labor all day, what are the Mothers and Father Renatus doing?
These questions and many, many more interrupt the reading process of what is, at times, a compelling character portrait. Some readers in the target audience may stick with the book all the way to the end, only to feel, quite possibly, that the climax was anticlimactic. Lewis’s facility with the language is clear and obvious, but Jess’s passivity in many places where other characters are clearly taking charge is somewhat of a letdown. Readers interested in climate fiction may want to consider picking this up; others may want to skip.
A young woman forced to live in a government facility after society collapses learns that she and the others in the compound are being used as pawns. With her head full of memories of her family and her hands itching to pursue her art, she decides to take a chance to set off a revolution. Author Caryl Lewis returns with a book that closes itself off to readers by using the wrong narrative point of view in The Danger of Small Things.
In a future where climate change has irrevocably changed the world, Jess has been taken to a compound where she and other girls are forced to hand pollinate fruit trees for hours every single day. The younger girls work all year round to keep the trees alive; the older girls who have reached puberty are carted off to be paired with young men to have babies. Jess arrives in this place after being separated from her brother and mother, frightened for her brother’s safety and worried about where her mother might end up.
At the compound, Jess befriends Cass who sleeps in the bunk above hers. Day after day, Jess, Cass, and the other girls follow the same routines of getting dressed in the morning, partaking in the meager meal the government has allotted them, and then going to work. Every effort of everyone goes toward food cultivation and production. No one is allowed to enjoy any leisure activities, like reading or art.
Yet Jess had art, before. She sketched and painted, giving her small family artworks to marvel at. Now she still has brushes, but they’re used to make sure the apple trees and the peach trees and all the other trees are cared for so they will produce the fruit the government uses as trade goods. The girls’ efforts, declares compound head Father Renatus, keeps everyone alive and safe.
Jess suspects otherwise. When a chance encounter with a friendly guard yields illegal access to paint and proper paintbrushes, Jess uses them to show the girls what a different life might be like. Suddenly murmurs begin crossing the compound. No one knows who put up the painting, but everyone wants to know what the artist will do next—if they decide to do anything at all.
The act of expressing herself with her art again brings a part of Jess to life that she’d forgotten existed. With the handful of friends she can trust in her bunkhouse and the guard who has proven to be trustworthy, Jess knows it’s only a matter of time before they begin to fight back. The only question is when will the revolution begin.
Author Caryl Lewis states in her author’s note that her background as a beekeeper set her on the path to write this climate fiction novel. She sees it as her form of protest against those who are careless with the environment. While Lewis’s careful detailing of pollination and trees and natural resources are well on display, the rest of the book feels severely limited by the narrative choice to tell the story through Jess in first person.
Without access to anything more than Jess’s memories or descriptions of the day-to-day workings of the larger world at hand, readers may come away with the sense that Jess’s world feels controlled but not nearly as bad as it might actually get. Wide gaps exist in this supposedly totalitarian government’s mandates and their actual enforcement. Many story questions are raised with no acknowledgement.
For instance, it’s clear that young girls are being used as manual labor in their early years and as breeding machines when they reach maturity. How are boys being treated in this story world? What about children with disabilities? What about the adults who are able to work? If the government’s restrictions are forcing the girls to stay in this particular way of life, why don’t the Mothers and the ancillary staff at the compound keep a much closer eye on everyone? If the girls are performing all the manual labor all day, what are the Mothers and Father Renatus doing?
These questions and many, many more interrupt the reading process of what is, at times, a compelling character portrait. Some readers in the target audience may stick with the book all the way to the end, only to feel, quite possibly, that the climax was anticlimactic. Lewis’s facility with the language is clear and obvious, but Jess’s passivity in many places where other characters are clearly taking charge is somewhat of a letdown. Readers interested in climate fiction may want to consider picking this up; others may want to skip.
April 24, 2026
“It’s okay to get scared, but we don’t let fear win.”
Jess is a thirteen-year-old girl living in a near-future dystopia where all the honeybees have gone extinct, resulting in a world of chaos and hunger. She, and every other young girl, are taken from their homes and forced to work in labor camps where they pollinate flowers by hand with brushes so the government can grow food for trade. Once they reach a certain age, they are then forced to marry and have children with their new husbands. Jess is tired of the corruption and lies of this new world and starts using her art to protest the injustices brought upon girls in this society. With a brush and stolen paint, she opens the eyes of those around her and spurs others to resist with her.
This story was captivating from the very beginning. Jess is a remarkable character, and she possesses a strength not many would have in such hard times. Her acts of rebellion were subtle but done in a way that made those around her think deeper about what they were enduring and why. Her painted murals were what made the story so impactful, especially since she used the brushes made for pollinating crops. Jess’ friendships, especially with Cass and Eliot, were the driving forces behind this story and ultimately what pushed her to act in the first place. The relationships built were so heartwarming; Jess and Cass deserve the world! Their friendship displayed the great strength women can possess when they learn to trust and work together. This story was moving in that its circumstances are not difficult to imagine, and they make you think about what future we want to create for not only ourselves but for those after us as well. Lewis did a wonderful job of portraying the dystopian worldview as dismal and bleak while also giving room for the possibility of hope for a better future. I would describe this book as the young adult version of The Handmaid's Tale, a very real and terrifying possibility of the future of women and girls, as well as the collapse of society and extinction of vital resources. Though there were some hard parts, this story’s message is important and should be shared amongst all young women who need a reminder that they are powerful not only individually but also together. Wonderful read!
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Jess is a thirteen-year-old girl living in a near-future dystopia where all the honeybees have gone extinct, resulting in a world of chaos and hunger. She, and every other young girl, are taken from their homes and forced to work in labor camps where they pollinate flowers by hand with brushes so the government can grow food for trade. Once they reach a certain age, they are then forced to marry and have children with their new husbands. Jess is tired of the corruption and lies of this new world and starts using her art to protest the injustices brought upon girls in this society. With a brush and stolen paint, she opens the eyes of those around her and spurs others to resist with her.
This story was captivating from the very beginning. Jess is a remarkable character, and she possesses a strength not many would have in such hard times. Her acts of rebellion were subtle but done in a way that made those around her think deeper about what they were enduring and why. Her painted murals were what made the story so impactful, especially since she used the brushes made for pollinating crops. Jess’ friendships, especially with Cass and Eliot, were the driving forces behind this story and ultimately what pushed her to act in the first place. The relationships built were so heartwarming; Jess and Cass deserve the world! Their friendship displayed the great strength women can possess when they learn to trust and work together. This story was moving in that its circumstances are not difficult to imagine, and they make you think about what future we want to create for not only ourselves but for those after us as well. Lewis did a wonderful job of portraying the dystopian worldview as dismal and bleak while also giving room for the possibility of hope for a better future. I would describe this book as the young adult version of The Handmaid's Tale, a very real and terrifying possibility of the future of women and girls, as well as the collapse of society and extinction of vital resources. Though there were some hard parts, this story’s message is important and should be shared amongst all young women who need a reminder that they are powerful not only individually but also together. Wonderful read!
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
October 20, 2025
Rounded up from 4.5 stars on Storygraph
~*ARC Reader*~
Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and, of course, Caryl Lewis for letting me access this ARC of The Danger of Small Things! I love a dystopian story, especially one with girl power, and the inciting incident to the downfall being the extinction of bees was a great concept to me. The Danger of Small Things follows Jess, who lives in a future where resources have depleted in the wake of the extinction of honeybees. Without our primary pollinators, the world has turned to its young girls to keep plants going, using them as a workforce to hand pollinate fruit trees and other flowering plants until they reach childbearing age. Jess' mother, however, still held on to the way things were before, and a hope that the world could heal itself back to a better time again; and so she taught her children about art, and how to read, and how to have hope. After all, they cannot take away what they cannot see.
The Danger of Small Things was a great quick read. This is being published as a YA and as such doesn't dive in super deeply on some of the more complex elements of the extinction event of the honeybees, or the time between the now and the "present" of the book, so if you're expecting some of those harder-sci-fi elements, please temper those expectations before diving into this one. The focus, instead, is on emotional turmoil and the strength of spirit in the face of an omnipresent force that wants to disempower you. The girls in this book - and do not be mistaken, they are children - are facing circumstances that should have never been brought to bear on them. It is presented as the consequences of a selfish world before them, and their participation in the pollination program, and eventually in repopulating, is evidence of how they are now being selfless to make the world better. It is clear early on, however, that there is not as much camaraderie between the girls and their superiors as they would like the girls to believe - and Jess uses her rare artistic ability to water that seed of dissent.
While the concepts here are not light, by any means, the approach to them is also not so heavy that it makes the book hard to read. We are given difficult concepts, but are able to digest them pretty palatably within the text, without having to be faced with too much gruesome detail. This would be a great recommendation for a younger reader who is looking for an early start into dystopian lit - ready to examine government overreach and gender issues - but maybe isn't ready for something with too much gritty detail.
~*ARC Reader*~
Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and, of course, Caryl Lewis for letting me access this ARC of The Danger of Small Things! I love a dystopian story, especially one with girl power, and the inciting incident to the downfall being the extinction of bees was a great concept to me. The Danger of Small Things follows Jess, who lives in a future where resources have depleted in the wake of the extinction of honeybees. Without our primary pollinators, the world has turned to its young girls to keep plants going, using them as a workforce to hand pollinate fruit trees and other flowering plants until they reach childbearing age. Jess' mother, however, still held on to the way things were before, and a hope that the world could heal itself back to a better time again; and so she taught her children about art, and how to read, and how to have hope. After all, they cannot take away what they cannot see.
The Danger of Small Things was a great quick read. This is being published as a YA and as such doesn't dive in super deeply on some of the more complex elements of the extinction event of the honeybees, or the time between the now and the "present" of the book, so if you're expecting some of those harder-sci-fi elements, please temper those expectations before diving into this one. The focus, instead, is on emotional turmoil and the strength of spirit in the face of an omnipresent force that wants to disempower you. The girls in this book - and do not be mistaken, they are children - are facing circumstances that should have never been brought to bear on them. It is presented as the consequences of a selfish world before them, and their participation in the pollination program, and eventually in repopulating, is evidence of how they are now being selfless to make the world better. It is clear early on, however, that there is not as much camaraderie between the girls and their superiors as they would like the girls to believe - and Jess uses her rare artistic ability to water that seed of dissent.
While the concepts here are not light, by any means, the approach to them is also not so heavy that it makes the book hard to read. We are given difficult concepts, but are able to digest them pretty palatably within the text, without having to be faced with too much gruesome detail. This would be a great recommendation for a younger reader who is looking for an early start into dystopian lit - ready to examine government overreach and gender issues - but maybe isn't ready for something with too much gritty detail.
April 25, 2026
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I had thought I was getting this book earlier, but just got it a week before I posted my review, even though it came out in March I think. I did even see a copy of it at my library conference this past weekend as well, and almost grabbed it!
I haven’t read a ton of dystopia lately, but this was a pretty good one. I wouldn’t say it was anything out of the ordinary or that unique, but it did have some interesting aspects to the story. In this world girls were taken to “brush” the trees, or basically they were doing the pollinating work now that bees were gone. Boys were taken to be soldiers. Once a girl became a woman by having her first period basically, she would be married off to a soldier or someone to start reproducing. Unless there was something wrong with the girl, such as one at the camp, Deva, who had epilepsy I think.
Jess and her brother were kept by her mom as long as she could, and she even tried to send them on, dressing her daughter up in a wedding dress and trying to have her brother lie about who he was, and that they were getting married, so they could get past the border and into a safer area up north. But her brother was not a good liar, and when they asked him, he broke and ran. Then she got taken away to the camp. Cass became her best friend there, along with other girls who were mean, one in particular who was a bully.
Jess finds a way to spark some rebellion with her art, a talent her mother had encouraged. There is one of the guards who also wants things to change and helps her with finding paint. Of course the first paintings lead to some set backs, the girls won’t do any more rebelling as they are soon placated by their captors that things can get better. The bully even is able to help herself, she thinks, and cause problems for those who even think of protesting. In the end, when those who think they have worked a deal find out they are not going to be treated any differently, the rebellion becomes real.
I would call this a good dystopian book for someone who enjoys that or is looking for a quick read. There were obviously some things that felt quite a bit like The Handmaid’s Tale, but it wasn’t really graphic like that. I will be sharing this book with my school library and students.This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
I haven’t read a ton of dystopia lately, but this was a pretty good one. I wouldn’t say it was anything out of the ordinary or that unique, but it did have some interesting aspects to the story. In this world girls were taken to “brush” the trees, or basically they were doing the pollinating work now that bees were gone. Boys were taken to be soldiers. Once a girl became a woman by having her first period basically, she would be married off to a soldier or someone to start reproducing. Unless there was something wrong with the girl, such as one at the camp, Deva, who had epilepsy I think.
Jess and her brother were kept by her mom as long as she could, and she even tried to send them on, dressing her daughter up in a wedding dress and trying to have her brother lie about who he was, and that they were getting married, so they could get past the border and into a safer area up north. But her brother was not a good liar, and when they asked him, he broke and ran. Then she got taken away to the camp. Cass became her best friend there, along with other girls who were mean, one in particular who was a bully.
Jess finds a way to spark some rebellion with her art, a talent her mother had encouraged. There is one of the guards who also wants things to change and helps her with finding paint. Of course the first paintings lead to some set backs, the girls won’t do any more rebelling as they are soon placated by their captors that things can get better. The bully even is able to help herself, she thinks, and cause problems for those who even think of protesting. In the end, when those who think they have worked a deal find out they are not going to be treated any differently, the rebellion becomes real.
I would call this a good dystopian book for someone who enjoys that or is looking for a quick read. There were obviously some things that felt quite a bit like The Handmaid’s Tale, but it wasn’t really graphic like that. I will be sharing this book with my school library and students.This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
March 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing | Atheneum Books for Young Readers for the ARC.
📝 Short Summary
The Danger of Small Things is set in a dystopian world where honeybees have gone extinct, and society has collapsed into something harsh and controlled. Girls are sent away to manually pollinate crops and are expected to follow strict roles in a world stripped of creativity and freedom. At the center is Jess, a young girl who begins to question everything around her and wonders if something as small as a thought or an idea could spark change.
Review
This one hit close to home in a way I was not expecting. The idea of bees dying off is already something that feels very real and possible, so reading a story built around that was honestly chilling. It made the whole world feel believable in a way that just sits with you.
I will say, I usually struggle with YA. It can be hard for me to fully connect sometimes, but this book surprised me. The writing and the way the characters were portrayed made it really easy to get pulled in. I ended up reading this in one sitting because I just wanted to see where it was going.
Jess and the other girls were written in a way that made you care about them quickly. There is something powerful about watching someone start to question the world they have been raised in, especially in a place where questioning anything feels dangerous. That quiet resistance and curiosity really stood out to me.
The message in this book is strong. It touches on so many important things like the environment, control, and the role of women in society. It does not feel heavy handed, but it is definitely there, and it makes you think. I kept coming back to how relevant it feels, which made the story even more impactful.
I do wish the world was explained a little more. There were moments where I wanted more detail about how everything got to this point and how the system fully works. I think that would have made the story even stronger for me. Even with that, I was still really engaged and invested in what was happening.
Overall, this was a really solid read. It was emotional, thought provoking, and had a message that sticks with you. It is one of those books that feels important, and I honestly think we need more stories like this right now.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Yes, especially if you enjoy dystopian stories with strong messages, emotional depth, and characters you can connect with.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing | Atheneum Books for Young Readers for the ARC.
📝 Short Summary
The Danger of Small Things is set in a dystopian world where honeybees have gone extinct, and society has collapsed into something harsh and controlled. Girls are sent away to manually pollinate crops and are expected to follow strict roles in a world stripped of creativity and freedom. At the center is Jess, a young girl who begins to question everything around her and wonders if something as small as a thought or an idea could spark change.
Review
This one hit close to home in a way I was not expecting. The idea of bees dying off is already something that feels very real and possible, so reading a story built around that was honestly chilling. It made the whole world feel believable in a way that just sits with you.
I will say, I usually struggle with YA. It can be hard for me to fully connect sometimes, but this book surprised me. The writing and the way the characters were portrayed made it really easy to get pulled in. I ended up reading this in one sitting because I just wanted to see where it was going.
Jess and the other girls were written in a way that made you care about them quickly. There is something powerful about watching someone start to question the world they have been raised in, especially in a place where questioning anything feels dangerous. That quiet resistance and curiosity really stood out to me.
The message in this book is strong. It touches on so many important things like the environment, control, and the role of women in society. It does not feel heavy handed, but it is definitely there, and it makes you think. I kept coming back to how relevant it feels, which made the story even more impactful.
I do wish the world was explained a little more. There were moments where I wanted more detail about how everything got to this point and how the system fully works. I think that would have made the story even stronger for me. Even with that, I was still really engaged and invested in what was happening.
Overall, this was a really solid read. It was emotional, thought provoking, and had a message that sticks with you. It is one of those books that feels important, and I honestly think we need more stories like this right now.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Yes, especially if you enjoy dystopian stories with strong messages, emotional depth, and characters you can connect with.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Danger of Small Things
by Caryl Lewis
Pub Date: Mar 24 2026
Whew...where to start?? Loved it while simultaneously hating that this could very well be our future. I would describe this as a Handmaid's Tale for teens.
This dystopian novel takes place in the not-so-distant future (maybe a couple of generations). The rich have gotten richer while leading the government and making decisions that solely benefit them. As a result climate change goes full tilt and the bees have all died. No bees, no pollination. Without pollination, certain plants die out and the world's food chain goes off the rails.
But the powers that be have a solution...the children in our society are pulled from their houses and put to work around age 12. Boys are sent to be trained as soldiers and girls are put to work using paint brushes and pollinating fruit trees (for fruit they never get to taste). Once a girl becomes a woman (gets her period), she is paired with a soldier to start having babies (because that's all women are good for). They are not allowed to be educated or hold jobs of their own (until after they have left baby-making age (because we need to keep creating pollinators/baby makers and soldiers).
Jess's mom is a rebel; she knows the value of education and hide her children while also teaching them how to read as well as encourage Jess's talent for art. They are found out and Jess is sent to girls camp to pollinate while her brother becomes a soldier. The barracks are bare minimum and the food is just enough to ensure the girls are healthy enough to work & one day get their cycle.
Jess knows paintbrushes are used for so much more. One night she sneaks out and in her own act of rebellion, uses her brushes to paint a mural depicting a door to all the opportunities that they should be able to experience in this world. This mural stokes the fire for a rebellion to start spreading through the camp.
Reading this I had to keep checking the news to make sure we weren't there yet. The scale would be so easy to tip in this direction.
This is one of those books that sticks with you and really makes you think. Would be a great book club book for YA
#thedangerofsmallthings
#netgalley
by Caryl Lewis
Pub Date: Mar 24 2026
Whew...where to start?? Loved it while simultaneously hating that this could very well be our future. I would describe this as a Handmaid's Tale for teens.
This dystopian novel takes place in the not-so-distant future (maybe a couple of generations). The rich have gotten richer while leading the government and making decisions that solely benefit them. As a result climate change goes full tilt and the bees have all died. No bees, no pollination. Without pollination, certain plants die out and the world's food chain goes off the rails.
But the powers that be have a solution...the children in our society are pulled from their houses and put to work around age 12. Boys are sent to be trained as soldiers and girls are put to work using paint brushes and pollinating fruit trees (for fruit they never get to taste). Once a girl becomes a woman (gets her period), she is paired with a soldier to start having babies (because that's all women are good for). They are not allowed to be educated or hold jobs of their own (until after they have left baby-making age (because we need to keep creating pollinators/baby makers and soldiers).
Jess's mom is a rebel; she knows the value of education and hide her children while also teaching them how to read as well as encourage Jess's talent for art. They are found out and Jess is sent to girls camp to pollinate while her brother becomes a soldier. The barracks are bare minimum and the food is just enough to ensure the girls are healthy enough to work & one day get their cycle.
Jess knows paintbrushes are used for so much more. One night she sneaks out and in her own act of rebellion, uses her brushes to paint a mural depicting a door to all the opportunities that they should be able to experience in this world. This mural stokes the fire for a rebellion to start spreading through the camp.
Reading this I had to keep checking the news to make sure we weren't there yet. The scale would be so easy to tip in this direction.
This is one of those books that sticks with you and really makes you think. Would be a great book club book for YA
#thedangerofsmallthings
#netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The danger of small things has good bones, a strong potential plot but gets lost.
Basically it’s about bees dying and civilization going to hell. To replenish the pollination the country takes young girls and makes them “paint” pollen on plants. They are treated poorly, gave little food and once they start their period married off and expected to have babies. One girl Jess knows how to paint and decides to make a statement and somewhat starts a rebellion.
What I didn’t like is the world building is non existent. Where are we? What time frame? Are we in the US? UK? Are we in 2040? 2100? Is it just this little area that is doing this or is this a nationwide thing?
Also even with the interesting plot it moves at a snail’s pace. We get it rebellion in the small things but it just moves so slow. The only action we get is at 90%.
I am also unsure who this is marketed towards? The main characters are 13-14 years old. I would 100% not want them reading this book. It has abuse, mental and physical torture, rape, pedophilia, murder and more. Also the girls in this book do not act like 13-14 year olds. They act like 18 year olds, so I’m assuming this is upper YA but the young age has me side eyeing it.
In the story most of the girls rebel but only a few selected friends get the rewards? The rest get stuck with the fallout? I was really hoping for a whole on rebellion and fight but nope it’s an escape for the few. The rest are just screwed.
Also the mother. Let me send my kids off unprepared and ope they got caught, well let me just take my happy butt off to utopia without them. Eventually they’ll find me. Like wtf? If my children were taken you know I’d be blowing up buildings to get to my kids.
If the author had taken the premise and shortened the 80% of the book and expanded on the last 5% and then wrote about maybe the journey ahead and the revolution this could have been a lot higher of a read but for me this was a swing and a miss.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the arc.
Basically it’s about bees dying and civilization going to hell. To replenish the pollination the country takes young girls and makes them “paint” pollen on plants. They are treated poorly, gave little food and once they start their period married off and expected to have babies. One girl Jess knows how to paint and decides to make a statement and somewhat starts a rebellion.
What I didn’t like is the world building is non existent. Where are we? What time frame? Are we in the US? UK? Are we in 2040? 2100? Is it just this little area that is doing this or is this a nationwide thing?
Also even with the interesting plot it moves at a snail’s pace. We get it rebellion in the small things but it just moves so slow. The only action we get is at 90%.
I am also unsure who this is marketed towards? The main characters are 13-14 years old. I would 100% not want them reading this book. It has abuse, mental and physical torture, rape, pedophilia, murder and more. Also the girls in this book do not act like 13-14 year olds. They act like 18 year olds, so I’m assuming this is upper YA but the young age has me side eyeing it.
In the story most of the girls rebel but only a few selected friends get the rewards? The rest get stuck with the fallout? I was really hoping for a whole on rebellion and fight but nope it’s an escape for the few. The rest are just screwed.
Also the mother. Let me send my kids off unprepared and ope they got caught, well let me just take my happy butt off to utopia without them. Eventually they’ll find me. Like wtf? If my children were taken you know I’d be blowing up buildings to get to my kids.
If the author had taken the premise and shortened the 80% of the book and expanded on the last 5% and then wrote about maybe the journey ahead and the revolution this could have been a lot higher of a read but for me this was a swing and a miss.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the arc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2026
The Danger of Small Things is a quietly dystopian novel, overtly focused on the loss of the bees, and the need to pollinate plants to maintain the food supply. As such, it reviews the climate changes that led to the loss of the bees, and the societal changes that led to recruiting all children at the age of 11 to provide necessary services - the boys in the military to support the regime, and the girls spreading pollen to propagate crops. In addition to the loss of plant fertility, humans have lost fertility as well, to the extent that teens are genetically tested for compatibility and matched based on those tests, married by the will of the state, shortly after the girls reach physical maturity and begin menstruating, and no later than 16. They have no say in their matches.
The novel is told by Jess, daughter of a climate activist who taught her more than most of her peers know about what is truly going on with the world, a 14 year-old who was not taken to the brushing facility until she was 13; when she and her brother were finally caught, the two were separated and Jess placed with girls her age as a brusher - a girl who uses a small brush to pollinate plants. As a relative outsider, she describes her experiences in the facility, and her perceptions of her society - a patriarchal society that share commonalities with fascist dystopias ranging from 1984 to The Handmaid's Tale. Determined to find her mother and avoid marriage to some genetically-compatible random stranger, Jess embarks on a quest to escape the brushing facility and travel to the free lands of the north she heard rumors of from her mother. This is a deceptively simple story, one which presents complicated ideas via the words of a young teen. Recommended for readers ages middle school to adult.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The novel is told by Jess, daughter of a climate activist who taught her more than most of her peers know about what is truly going on with the world, a 14 year-old who was not taken to the brushing facility until she was 13; when she and her brother were finally caught, the two were separated and Jess placed with girls her age as a brusher - a girl who uses a small brush to pollinate plants. As a relative outsider, she describes her experiences in the facility, and her perceptions of her society - a patriarchal society that share commonalities with fascist dystopias ranging from 1984 to The Handmaid's Tale. Determined to find her mother and avoid marriage to some genetically-compatible random stranger, Jess embarks on a quest to escape the brushing facility and travel to the free lands of the north she heard rumors of from her mother. This is a deceptively simple story, one which presents complicated ideas via the words of a young teen. Recommended for readers ages middle school to adult.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was just thinking to myself that I haven’t read a good dystopian book in a while and then I started this book. This is a powerful, haunting and ultimately hopeful dystopian novel that completely sucked me in from the very first page.
Set in a near future with a very real possibility of happening (as is describe by the author in the authors note of the book), where the extinction of bees has cause the environment to collapse. Jess, a young girl, is forced into an all girls camp to hand pollinate crops in order to keep society functioning. Books, art, their families, and any hope for real love is quickly taken away from everyone, and the girls are forced into labor until they become of age for child bearing and are forced to marry. Jess was taught to read by her mother, she remembers reading the beautiful stories her mom showed her and she also learned about art, and through her art she begins to imagine that a change is possible. And maybe Jess is the person to make that happen.
The writing of this book is almost poetic, which gives it a hazy dreamlike quality. This makes the emotional hard moments even harder to read about. You really feel a connection with these characters and you are rooting for these girls so incredibly hard. These girls are all so brave and I felt myself holding my breath multiple times and was completely invested in their journey!
This is a stunning book that really makes you think about how not far out this future is. A perfect time to read this, right now. And a perfect message for everyone that we need to consider the immediate future of our planet. It has left an incredibly strong impression on me, this is the kind of book that lingers long after you finish it. I will be going out to buy pollinator plants right now.
I was just thinking to myself that I haven’t read a good dystopian book in a while and then I started this book. This is a powerful, haunting and ultimately hopeful dystopian novel that completely sucked me in from the very first page.
Set in a near future with a very real possibility of happening (as is describe by the author in the authors note of the book), where the extinction of bees has cause the environment to collapse. Jess, a young girl, is forced into an all girls camp to hand pollinate crops in order to keep society functioning. Books, art, their families, and any hope for real love is quickly taken away from everyone, and the girls are forced into labor until they become of age for child bearing and are forced to marry. Jess was taught to read by her mother, she remembers reading the beautiful stories her mom showed her and she also learned about art, and through her art she begins to imagine that a change is possible. And maybe Jess is the person to make that happen.
The writing of this book is almost poetic, which gives it a hazy dreamlike quality. This makes the emotional hard moments even harder to read about. You really feel a connection with these characters and you are rooting for these girls so incredibly hard. These girls are all so brave and I felt myself holding my breath multiple times and was completely invested in their journey!
This is a stunning book that really makes you think about how not far out this future is. A perfect time to read this, right now. And a perfect message for everyone that we need to consider the immediate future of our planet. It has left an incredibly strong impression on me, this is the kind of book that lingers long after you finish it. I will be going out to buy pollinator plants right now.
March 24, 2026
Set in a near future world where the bees are gone (terrifying already) and girls are literally forced to hand pollinate crops like they’re disposable tools, this story felt hauntingly real. Like… uncomfortably real.
Jess is scared. She’s grieving. She’s angry. And most importantly she refuses to completely give up hope. Her rebellion isn’t loud or explosive at first… it starts small.
With art. With color.
With imagination. And honestly that concept alone was really powerful.
I loved how the story shows that resistance doesn’t always look like war but sometimes it looks like creating something beautiful in a place designed to crush you. Watching Jess use her hidden ability to read and paint as an act of protest gave the book this emotional, almost poetic layer that really stuck with me.
The atmosphere is bleak. Girls are stripped of education, freedom, and choice. Families are torn apart. Love itself is treated like a dangerous idea. And yet there’s still this quiet thread of hope running through the story... through friendship, community, and the belief that change can start with the smallest spark.
I will say I wanted a bit more worldbuilding and clarity on the wider scope of this society. I also wished some side characters and plot developments had more space to breathe because the premise is SO strong. But emotionally? This book absolutely lands.
It’s unsettling. Thought provoking.
Sometimes slow and heavy. But also deeply meaningful.
If you like dystopians that feel reflective rather than action packed...stories about voice, autonomy, climate fear, censorship, and the power of small rebellions then this is definitely worth picking up.
This is one of those reads that doesn’t just entertain… it makes you sit with your discomfort.
And honestly? We need more books like that.
Jess is scared. She’s grieving. She’s angry. And most importantly she refuses to completely give up hope. Her rebellion isn’t loud or explosive at first… it starts small.
With art. With color.
With imagination. And honestly that concept alone was really powerful.
I loved how the story shows that resistance doesn’t always look like war but sometimes it looks like creating something beautiful in a place designed to crush you. Watching Jess use her hidden ability to read and paint as an act of protest gave the book this emotional, almost poetic layer that really stuck with me.
The atmosphere is bleak. Girls are stripped of education, freedom, and choice. Families are torn apart. Love itself is treated like a dangerous idea. And yet there’s still this quiet thread of hope running through the story... through friendship, community, and the belief that change can start with the smallest spark.
I will say I wanted a bit more worldbuilding and clarity on the wider scope of this society. I also wished some side characters and plot developments had more space to breathe because the premise is SO strong. But emotionally? This book absolutely lands.
It’s unsettling. Thought provoking.
Sometimes slow and heavy. But also deeply meaningful.
If you like dystopians that feel reflective rather than action packed...stories about voice, autonomy, climate fear, censorship, and the power of small rebellions then this is definitely worth picking up.
This is one of those reads that doesn’t just entertain… it makes you sit with your discomfort.
And honestly? We need more books like that.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Welcome to a young adult dystopia echoing of The Handsmaid Tale, with young girls being enslaved and manipulated by dominating men.
In a dystopian future, the bees have died out thanks to human neglect and climate collapse ensued as the crops and plants all die with no more pollinators. A male run dicatatorship has been established in which young girls have to hand pollinate the plants and young men get trained as heartless soldiers guarding them. The girls, taken from their homes, live in bare bones dorms, are not taught to read or write, and are overseen by “Mothers” who would be better entitled jailors and “Fathers” who serve as prison wardens. They’re fed little and constantly brainwashed to be grateful for serving the greater good of society. Once they start menstruating, their hair is traumatically chopped off and they’re sent off to become a breeder with a husband chosen by the government. Oh, and the brushes used to pollinate the trees are disgustingly made from this chopped off hair.
Enter our heroine Jess, who has been raised off by a fiercely independent Mom who taught her to read and to think for herself, as well as nurtured Jess’ passion and talent as a painter. In the prison, Jess is appalled by the terrible conditions and the bullying of girls trying to win favor with the Mothers and Fathers. Ultimately Jess risks everything and uses her artistic skills to foment a rebellion by the girls.
The continuous suspense keeps you hooked and the society’s treatment of girls leaves you appalled. You spend much time pondering whether you would be brave enough to rebel as Jess does and risk of death in doing so.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and Netgalley for an advance reader’s copy.
In a dystopian future, the bees have died out thanks to human neglect and climate collapse ensued as the crops and plants all die with no more pollinators. A male run dicatatorship has been established in which young girls have to hand pollinate the plants and young men get trained as heartless soldiers guarding them. The girls, taken from their homes, live in bare bones dorms, are not taught to read or write, and are overseen by “Mothers” who would be better entitled jailors and “Fathers” who serve as prison wardens. They’re fed little and constantly brainwashed to be grateful for serving the greater good of society. Once they start menstruating, their hair is traumatically chopped off and they’re sent off to become a breeder with a husband chosen by the government. Oh, and the brushes used to pollinate the trees are disgustingly made from this chopped off hair.
Enter our heroine Jess, who has been raised off by a fiercely independent Mom who taught her to read and to think for herself, as well as nurtured Jess’ passion and talent as a painter. In the prison, Jess is appalled by the terrible conditions and the bullying of girls trying to win favor with the Mothers and Fathers. Ultimately Jess risks everything and uses her artistic skills to foment a rebellion by the girls.
The continuous suspense keeps you hooked and the society’s treatment of girls leaves you appalled. You spend much time pondering whether you would be brave enough to rebel as Jess does and risk of death in doing so.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and Netgalley for an advance reader’s copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Although this was a very slow paced book, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
It took it's time building the story and enough of the background to the world and characters, but without filling it with unnecessary tripe. I often find in these kinds of books (post-apocalyptic, post-society break down etc), that they are took focused on telling you everything that led up to what happened, everything that is going on all over the world and so much more. But this book bypassed this, and stuck to a very simple message. The bees are gone and society is a mess. There are a few moments where the outside world is mentioned, but mainly it just focuses of Jess, a girl who, along with many others, is forced to pollinate trees by hand with small brushes, because there are no bees, insects or birds to do so. The girls are forced to do this until they have their first period, after which they are taken away and married off to produce the next generation.
Again, the book doesn't go into too many details here, keeping it vague. The author seems to be content to let the reader understand things for themselves and just how dark this world really is.
The main story centres around Jess and her friends slowly coming together, growing, and eventually trying to find a way to escape this hellish life they are subjected to.
I would say, normally a slow paced book with this kind of story wouldn't be for me...but there was something about how the author never over did things, never pushed a huge agenda, but also let your imagination explore the world in and outside the compound where the girls were kept. And I appreciated this greatly.
It makes you think, and also is very relevant to current times. Definitely worth a read.
It took it's time building the story and enough of the background to the world and characters, but without filling it with unnecessary tripe. I often find in these kinds of books (post-apocalyptic, post-society break down etc), that they are took focused on telling you everything that led up to what happened, everything that is going on all over the world and so much more. But this book bypassed this, and stuck to a very simple message. The bees are gone and society is a mess. There are a few moments where the outside world is mentioned, but mainly it just focuses of Jess, a girl who, along with many others, is forced to pollinate trees by hand with small brushes, because there are no bees, insects or birds to do so. The girls are forced to do this until they have their first period, after which they are taken away and married off to produce the next generation.
Again, the book doesn't go into too many details here, keeping it vague. The author seems to be content to let the reader understand things for themselves and just how dark this world really is.
The main story centres around Jess and her friends slowly coming together, growing, and eventually trying to find a way to escape this hellish life they are subjected to.
I would say, normally a slow paced book with this kind of story wouldn't be for me...but there was something about how the author never over did things, never pushed a huge agenda, but also let your imagination explore the world in and outside the compound where the girls were kept. And I appreciated this greatly.
It makes you think, and also is very relevant to current times. Definitely worth a read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Characters: 4.25⭐️
Setting: 4.00⭐️
Plot: 4.50⭐️
Themes: 4.50⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 4.25⭐️
Emotional Impact: 4.00⭐️
Overall rating: 4.25⭐️
The bee population has died off and the world fell into disarray and left in the hands of a brutal patriarchy. Boys are sent away as soldiers and girls are forced to hand pollinate plants with brushes until they come of age to be married off to men to bare children to continue the population of the world. Jess and her finds are living this brutal life and there are talks of revolution and escape beyond the encampment where they could be free.
A short book overall, Caryl Lewis gets right to the point of the story. These is very familiar feeling to The Handmaid's Tale and The Grace Year. I enjoyed the overall tone of the book and how when society collapses it falls into this disgusting patriarchal world where women are only good for breeding and that they are told love is just a chemical reaction and not real. It was hard to read at times when the girls would try to hide their periods who they wouldn't be married off to strange men. Unfortunately, there are a lot of parallels in this book.
The message and the theming of this book is very important, and I think this is something everyone should be reading. The only thing negative about this book I could say is that I wanted way more of the story. I wanted to follow Jess and her friends as they try to find freedom and rebellion. I really enjoyed Caryl's writing.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
Thank you to Simon Teen for a finished copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Setting: 4.00⭐️
Plot: 4.50⭐️
Themes: 4.50⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 4.25⭐️
Emotional Impact: 4.00⭐️
Overall rating: 4.25⭐️
The bee population has died off and the world fell into disarray and left in the hands of a brutal patriarchy. Boys are sent away as soldiers and girls are forced to hand pollinate plants with brushes until they come of age to be married off to men to bare children to continue the population of the world. Jess and her finds are living this brutal life and there are talks of revolution and escape beyond the encampment where they could be free.
A short book overall, Caryl Lewis gets right to the point of the story. These is very familiar feeling to The Handmaid's Tale and The Grace Year. I enjoyed the overall tone of the book and how when society collapses it falls into this disgusting patriarchal world where women are only good for breeding and that they are told love is just a chemical reaction and not real. It was hard to read at times when the girls would try to hide their periods who they wouldn't be married off to strange men. Unfortunately, there are a lot of parallels in this book.
The message and the theming of this book is very important, and I think this is something everyone should be reading. The only thing negative about this book I could say is that I wanted way more of the story. I wanted to follow Jess and her friends as they try to find freedom and rebellion. I really enjoyed Caryl's writing.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
Thank you to Simon Teen for a finished copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2026
Originally posted on You Have Your Hands Full
Dystopian fiction was all the rage in YA-lit around twenty years ago, but it seems to be less popular in recent years, although the continuing saga of the most famous series in the genre helps maintain its popularity.
But we’re not here to talk about that today.
This book has clearly been influenced by The Handmaid’s Tale, and I don’t mean that as an insult. There’s a climate change angle to the plot wherein the young women have to pollinate flowers by hand (well, brush) because all the bees are dead. When they become fertile, they are married off. It should be noted that malnutrition has delayed well past the current average age, although still not over the age of majority. It should also be noted that this is a YA book, so nothing is too overtly explicit.
Over the course of the book, protagonist Jess finds the courage to overcome the oppressive system under which she lives. It is incredibly dangerous and the stakes are high, but the alternative is unimaginable. Some plot elements were a bit predictable, but that may have been because I’m older than the target demographic. I did find one particular part of the denouement to be unexpectedly satisfying, however.
I would recommend The Danger of Small Things. Chef’s kiss for the absolute gem of a title. I think this book will appeal mostly to the target demographic but also to fans of the dystopian genre. I’m going to keep an eye out for more from Lewis in the future.
I received a digital ARC of this book from Simon and Schuster/NetGalley.
Dystopian fiction was all the rage in YA-lit around twenty years ago, but it seems to be less popular in recent years, although the continuing saga of the most famous series in the genre helps maintain its popularity.
But we’re not here to talk about that today.
This book has clearly been influenced by The Handmaid’s Tale, and I don’t mean that as an insult. There’s a climate change angle to the plot wherein the young women have to pollinate flowers by hand (well, brush) because all the bees are dead. When they become fertile, they are married off. It should be noted that malnutrition has delayed well past the current average age, although still not over the age of majority. It should also be noted that this is a YA book, so nothing is too overtly explicit.
Over the course of the book, protagonist Jess finds the courage to overcome the oppressive system under which she lives. It is incredibly dangerous and the stakes are high, but the alternative is unimaginable. Some plot elements were a bit predictable, but that may have been because I’m older than the target demographic. I did find one particular part of the denouement to be unexpectedly satisfying, however.
I would recommend The Danger of Small Things. Chef’s kiss for the absolute gem of a title. I think this book will appeal mostly to the target demographic but also to fans of the dystopian genre. I’m going to keep an eye out for more from Lewis in the future.
I received a digital ARC of this book from Simon and Schuster/NetGalley.
March 27, 2026
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is an interesting YA Dystopian book that will remind you of a less complex version of The Handmaid's Tale. Honeybees have died out and the patriarch has taken control of the world. There is no art, no books, no joy. Girls are ripped from their homes and put into concentration-like camps and forced to pollinate crops by hand until their get their period, when they are matched with a man and forced into marriage and mandatory breeding. Jess's mother protects her from the camps longer than most girls, but eventually she is torn from home and locked away. She makes friends with Cass, Deva, and Ruth, but stays clear of almost everyone else. When an unexpected kindness puts a few tubes of paint into her hand, she risks it all just to be able to paint again. She didn't expect it could possibly spark a revolution.
This is a quick and easy book that can be read in one sitting. There isn't much worldbuilding and the story is focused mostly on Jess, her feelings, and her despair in ever escaping to be with her mother again. I liked her fierce loyalty to Cass and the fact that she puts herself in danger to protect her. Jess is smart, brave, and daring despite being terrified of her situation. While this is basically The Handmaid Tale-lite, it's a good introductory into this type of dystopian storytelling for YA readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing/Atheneum Books for Young Readers. All opinions are my own.
This is an interesting YA Dystopian book that will remind you of a less complex version of The Handmaid's Tale. Honeybees have died out and the patriarch has taken control of the world. There is no art, no books, no joy. Girls are ripped from their homes and put into concentration-like camps and forced to pollinate crops by hand until their get their period, when they are matched with a man and forced into marriage and mandatory breeding. Jess's mother protects her from the camps longer than most girls, but eventually she is torn from home and locked away. She makes friends with Cass, Deva, and Ruth, but stays clear of almost everyone else. When an unexpected kindness puts a few tubes of paint into her hand, she risks it all just to be able to paint again. She didn't expect it could possibly spark a revolution.
This is a quick and easy book that can be read in one sitting. There isn't much worldbuilding and the story is focused mostly on Jess, her feelings, and her despair in ever escaping to be with her mother again. I liked her fierce loyalty to Cass and the fact that she puts herself in danger to protect her. Jess is smart, brave, and daring despite being terrified of her situation. While this is basically The Handmaid Tale-lite, it's a good introductory into this type of dystopian storytelling for YA readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing/Atheneum Books for Young Readers. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Caryl Lewis’s The Danger of Small Things is the kind of dystopian YA that pulls you in with atmosphere and emotion more than nonstop action. The premise is unsettling. After the extinction of bees, society has reorganized into something harsh and authoritarian, with girls forced into labor camps and stripped of control over their futures. It is a chilling backdrop, and Lewis uses it to explore environmental collapse, oppression, and the quiet power of creativity.
What really stands out is the writing. It is lyrical, reflective, and often quietly heartbreaking. The story stays close to Jess’s inner world, especially how she clings to storytelling and imagination as a way to survive. The tone is serious and thoughtful, and the social commentary feels intentional and layered.
The pacing, though, is very slow. The plot unfolds gradually, spending a lot of time on daily routines, small interactions, and Jess’s thoughts. Even when the tension begins to build, it does so carefully rather than dramatically. At times I found myself wishing for more momentum. Readers who expect fast twists and big action scenes might struggle with how measured everything feels.
That said, the slow pace also adds to the emotional weight. The drawn out rhythm mirrors the suffocating control of the camp, and when things finally shift, it feels earned. Overall, it is a beautifully written and thought provoking dystopian novel that may test your patience but rewards readers who are willing to settle into its quiet intensity.
What really stands out is the writing. It is lyrical, reflective, and often quietly heartbreaking. The story stays close to Jess’s inner world, especially how she clings to storytelling and imagination as a way to survive. The tone is serious and thoughtful, and the social commentary feels intentional and layered.
The pacing, though, is very slow. The plot unfolds gradually, spending a lot of time on daily routines, small interactions, and Jess’s thoughts. Even when the tension begins to build, it does so carefully rather than dramatically. At times I found myself wishing for more momentum. Readers who expect fast twists and big action scenes might struggle with how measured everything feels.
That said, the slow pace also adds to the emotional weight. The drawn out rhythm mirrors the suffocating control of the camp, and when things finally shift, it feels earned. Overall, it is a beautifully written and thought provoking dystopian novel that may test your patience but rewards readers who are willing to settle into its quiet intensity.
October 28, 2025
On a whim I chose this book because it was available to read on Netgalley.
I am like most book lovers and have a TBR pile that goes forever. However because of time constrants this book claimed my time. I am so glad I read this. I didn't know it but I needed the message this book holds.
I've known the danger of losing our bees for a long time now, but had never sat and thought about what it would be like to live without bees. It was a hard stop in my mind just knowing without bees there would not be enough food. Not just not enough food for some people, but not enough period - famine. I know what that means so I stopped thinking about it.
The author, who no surprise is a bee keeper, who clearly had the time to love her bees enough to tell their story of why they cannot go extinct. The catastrophic possibilities surround you and threaten to break you as the story unfolds. I'm not saying that to deter anyone from reading the book. I believe strongly that this book needed to be written, and it is masterfully told.
If you like post apocalyptic / dystopia books that make you feel like a fly on the wall as the action occurs, and then takes you deep into the depths of what it means to be human, then you will love this book.
I really hope this story goes far and wide. I wish it had been a choice to read 20+ years ago when I was in high-school.
I know I'm not giving you the story in this review, you really must experience it for yourself. It's time well spent.
I am like most book lovers and have a TBR pile that goes forever. However because of time constrants this book claimed my time. I am so glad I read this. I didn't know it but I needed the message this book holds.
I've known the danger of losing our bees for a long time now, but had never sat and thought about what it would be like to live without bees. It was a hard stop in my mind just knowing without bees there would not be enough food. Not just not enough food for some people, but not enough period - famine. I know what that means so I stopped thinking about it.
The author, who no surprise is a bee keeper, who clearly had the time to love her bees enough to tell their story of why they cannot go extinct. The catastrophic possibilities surround you and threaten to break you as the story unfolds. I'm not saying that to deter anyone from reading the book. I believe strongly that this book needed to be written, and it is masterfully told.
If you like post apocalyptic / dystopia books that make you feel like a fly on the wall as the action occurs, and then takes you deep into the depths of what it means to be human, then you will love this book.
I really hope this story goes far and wide. I wish it had been a choice to read 20+ years ago when I was in high-school.
I know I'm not giving you the story in this review, you really must experience it for yourself. It's time well spent.
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