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Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · July 6, 2020

Review | The Queen Bee and Me

Book Review | The Queen Bee and Me

Summary: The Queen Bee and Me

In The Queen Bee and Me, Beatrix and Meg have always been a package deal — best friends since kindergarten! Lately though, things have changed between the girls. Meg can’t forget the time Beatrix froze her out when she annoyed her and she’s also noticed that Beatrix can’t stand it when she disagrees with any of her opinions. Still, Meg loves science and when she’s invited to join a special advanced science class, she can’t say no.

Things start to shift when Meg meets a quirky girl named Hazel. Hazel is new to the neighborhood and ends up being in Meg’s science class. However, because Beatrix thinks Hazel is “weird,” Meg is afraid to befriend Hazel, despite Hazel being kind and passionate about science. Matters come to a head when Hazel and her mother mention that they keep bees for fun and Hazel suggests the girls study bees for a class project. Beatrix and her mother start a petition to get the bees out of the neighborhood and Meg must decide whether Beatrix will be her “Queen Bee” forever or whether she’ll stand up for her new friend.

The Good

This book is so well-written. Meg and Beatrix are sharply drawn characters and Meg’s voice draws you in from the first page. The friendship dynamics are complex and Hazel’s eccentricity is heartwarming, but also challenging because just like Meg, you almost wish she would try to blend in a bit more. However, her persistence in being herself is what I love most about Hazel. Just deciding to keep wearing quirky outfits and being kind was a quiet revolution and I love the way the author writes about Hazel through Meg’s eyes.

Besides the girls’ friendship drama, the moms also have a similar dynamic brewing. I found Meg’s mother to be an interesting character. She moved a lot as a child and thinks Meg and Beatrix’s friendship is a gift from heaven (one she never had as a child) despite the unhealthy patterns visible in the girls’ relationship. I also enjoyed reading about Meg’s family and much like in What Happens Next and Ava Andrews, a lot of this book’s plot is family-centered, which I loved.

Finally, I really liked all the bee trivia! I had no idea bees were such fascinating creatures and I found all the parallels the authors draws between bee living and friendship clever and insightful. It’s always fun when an author can connect science to life in their books. One of my favorites with a science-y twist is Tae Keller’s The Science of Breakable Things (read this book!).

Overall: The Queen Bee and Me

If you’re looking for an immersive, complex book about middle-school (and adult) female friendships with a side of science and teaching kindness and empathy, this is for you. The Queen and Bee and Me is an engaging, realistic portrayal of how toxic a friendship can become (much like in Keiko Carter) and how important it is for young girls to recognize and remove themselves from such situations. This one will take you all the way back to middle-school. Love, love, and highly recommend. The audiobook (which I listened to) is fantastic.


Buy This Book

the queen bee and me
read my review

Have you read this book or anything by Gillian Dunn? I started reading her debut, Caterpillar Summer, and so far I think The Queen Bee and Me is more my speed, but I’ll see it through anyway! What are your favorite friendship middle-grade books? How about science-y middle-grade books? I’m always looking for recs!

More Friendship Books Like The Queen Bee and Me

  • Keep It Together, Keiko Carter by Debbi Michiko Florence
  • So Done by Paula Chase
  • Well, That Was Awkward by Rachel Vail

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Posted In: Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · Tagged: family, Female friendships, science, toxic friendships

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Comments

  1. Alice Pierce says

    July 6, 2020 at 4:14 pm

    Great review! I really loved Caterpillar Summer, especially Cat’s relationship with her brother and later, with her grandfather.

    Reply
    • Afoma Umesi says

      July 6, 2020 at 4:41 pm

      Oooh, then I’ll keep going! I’m only at the point where they’re headed to see their grandfather! Thanks for the heads up, Alice 🙂

      Reply
  2. Carol (Reading Ladies) says

    July 7, 2020 at 3:13 am

    Re science MG books, have you read Finding Wonders? It’s fictionalized biographies of the childhoods of 3 women scIentists and how they first became interested in science and their chosen fields. It’s written in free verse.

    Reply
    • Afoma Umesi says

      July 8, 2020 at 9:09 am

      Oooh, I haven’t! I have to check that out. Thanks for the rec, Carol. For some reason this comment was in my spam folder :/

      Reply

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✨how ‘bout a little virtual reality?✨

☀️ Addie has reluctantly moved across the country with her dad for his summer job in the virtual reality industry. He's working on research to use VR for therapeutic purposes, such as helping people cultivate empathy. Addie is not into VR, but that starts to change when she meets Matteo another kid on campus, and tries out VR on her own. Eventually, the two find a helpful use for VR that helps other people.

🥽 I loved the illustration style in this one and while I found the VR setting a bit disorienting, I appreciated the unique lens of the story. The graphic novel format works brilliantly for helping readers appreciate the power of VR. I think with text, it would have just been too much “world-building.” This is more engaging and exciting for kids.

🐢 Lo and Behold is a clever middle grade graphic novel about virtual reality, grief, and parental addiction. Readers who enjoy VR will love this one, but as the Author's Note mentions, it will also be a fantastic introduction for those who, like me, aren't familiar with it. A fun summer read with hints of serious themes.

#mglit #middlegrade #bookstagram
✨surprisingly heartwarming middle grade✨ 🗺 ✨surprisingly heartwarming middle grade✨

🗺️ Ginny’s summer is thrown off when her dad gets a surprise redeployment in the middle of their family’s moving to another city. Then, her geography camp gets canceled. Her sister seems to be making new friends, but no one appears to like Ginny–even when she starts her own geography camp. 

❤️ I loved this book way more than I thought I would (from the synopsis). Ginny has such a great voice and she isn’t always the most likable character but she’s always real. I loved watching her grow throughout the story.

📍This sweet, unique young middle grade book made my heart grow and ache for Ginny and her family as they navigated a season of change. Features illustrations and a new geography fact in each chapter.

#amreading #mglit #middlegrade
My current adult reads! HAPPY TRAVELER is a non- My current adult reads! 

HAPPY TRAVELER is a non-fiction title about making travel work for you and creating enjoyable, memorable experiences. So far, I’m enjoying the author’s musings on travel.

HELLO BEAUTIFUL is a bookstagram darling (need I say more?) and I already know I’ll be reading it for a while. It’s one of those books that really forces you to slow down. The writing is so tender; it feels like the author loves her characters ❤️

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✨growing up is full of bumps on the way✨ 🤓 ✨growing up is full of bumps on the way✨

🤓 Sixth grade is off to a rocky start for Rex. His district moved most of his elementary school to another middle school, his best friend ditches him for the popular crew, and his blurry vision means he has to get clunky new glasses–the only kind his family can afford. 

❤️ This sweet graphic novel for fans of Telgemeier is an ode to middle school, family, and finding your people.

#graphicnovel #middleschoolbooks #kidlit
Do you like to hop on the “buzz train”? I find Do you like to hop on the “buzz train”? I find that buzzy books are often worth the hype. Even the few people who dislike them tend to have STRONG feelings about them 👀 which to me is a sign that the story got to you somehow. Of course, not every book is for every reader — hype or not. I share my tip for finding a hyped book that matches your reading tastes.

Which hyped books did you love? And which ones missed the mark for you?

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✨a different kind of sunshine✨ I loved this g ✨a different kind of sunshine✨

I loved this graphic memoir about the author’s time as a counselor at a camp for kids with cancer. It was my first time reading anything by this author and I totally get the appeal.

This one didn’t end up being as sad as I thought it would be but it was very moving, especially because Krosoczka shares newspaper clippings and pictures of one the families with whom he forged a particularly close relationship even until his college years.

If you’re looking for an engaging graphic memoir for older kids ages 11+ this is a great choice.

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✨a devastating debut✨ This book! Brilliantly ✨a devastating debut✨

This book! Brilliantly written, impressive characterization, and a plot so unexpected. It left me physically shaken (it's not feel-good), but it feels so necessary, so timely. A solid debut about the search for the great American Dream, familial sacrifices, and confronting our ugly inner selves -- all in less than 300 pages. 

You'll like this if you like:

Multiple perspectives (3 perspectives, 3rd person POV)
Character-driven stories
Time-jumping plots
Devastating endings

If you prefer straightforward, plot-rich, fast-paced stories, you might struggle a bit with this one at the start. But it's worth it!

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☀️ Meet the Bookstagrammer ☀️ Hi, new fol ☀️ Meet the Bookstagrammer ☀️

Hi, new followers! It’s such a pleasure to have a few new faces around. I love finding new readers to follow on the gram. 

My name is Afoma and I run a book blog called Reading Middle Grade. I also run a Facebook Group and newsletter related to my blog. In my day job, I’m a freelance writer and editor, with a degree in medicine.

I’ve lived in three continents (born in Nigeria, med school in Ukraine and the Caribbean). I live in Nigeria now with my husband and many, many books 🤭 I love to cook and travel and run. This year, one of my goals is to become a better runner. I’m currently able to run 2K without stopping. 

Even though we don’t have traditional four seasons in Nigeria, the summer months are my favorite. From childhood, they were the one time when my overachieving, perfectionistic self could RELAX. And do nothing! And even now, I try to take time off in the summer to do nothing.

Some of favorite books this year have been LASAGNA MEANS I LOVE YOU, THE LOST YEAR (I lived in Ukraine for 3 years, so this resonated with me!), and MAAME. 

Thank you so much for following my reading journey! Tell me something about yourself — hobbies, favorite books, anything! ❤️
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