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Zinnia and the Bees (Capstone Young Readers) (Middle-Grade Novels) Hardcover – Illustrated, August 1, 2017

by Danielle Davis (Author), Laura K Horton (Illustrator)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 52 ratings
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Talk about having a lousy day. While Zinnia's seventh grade classmates are celebrating the last day of school, she's cooped up in the vice principal's office, serving detention. Her offense? Yarn bombing a statue of the school mascot. And when Zinnia rushes home to commiserate with her older brother, Adam, who also happens to be her best friend, she's devastated to discover that he's left home with no explanation. Just when it looks like Zinnia's day can't possibly get any worse, a colony of frantic honeybees mistakes her hair for a hive and lands on her head! Told from the alternating perspectives of Zinnia a humorous young loner and knitter and an unintentionally comical hive of honeybees, this quirky, heartfelt novel will strike a chord with anyone who has ever felt alone, betrayed, or misunderstood as it explores the challenges that come with learning to trust yourself and the often messy process of discovering the true meaning to home.
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  1. Reading age
    9 - 12 years
  2. Part of series
    Middle-grade Novels
  3. Print length
    240 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    Preschool - 2
  6. Lexile measure
    710L
  7. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.9 x 7.6 inches
  8. Publisher
    Capstone Young Readers
  9. Publication date
    August 1, 2017
  10. ISBN-10
    1623708672
  11. ISBN-13
    978-1623708672
  12. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–7—They had trusted bee 641, had thought she would find them a new home when they escaped from their hive to become wild and free. They did not plan on living their days out in the curly mess of hair on this human's head, but here they were. Meanwhile, said human, Zinnia, hadn't anticipated spending the summer wearing a hoodie to cover a buzzing mess of bees. In fact, she is not having the summer she expected at all. Her yarn bomb on the last day of school had, well, bombed, and she came home to find that her older brother and most important person in her life, Adam, had left without an explanation. Then Birch, the odd nephew of Zinnia's neighbor, comes to stay for the summer. Zinnia starts to understand what friendship and family really mean and in the process loses and gains some things (the bees, friends). Alternating between Zinnia's and the bees' perspective, this novel forces readers to suspend disbelief, though it does not quite verge into magical realism. Despite the outlandish premise, Davis does an excellent job crafting human characters who are varied in their emotions and grow in awareness. The solution to Zinnia's problems is believable and clever yet still leaves room for change. VERDICT A good fit for a larger collection looking for unusual books on friendship and growing up.—Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA

Review

Davis' debut demands that readers check their disbelief at the door. . . .But she manages to keep it together, embedding readers in Zinnia's believable, often funny perspective with occasional cutaways to the bees, who narrate their side of the misadventure in a wry collective voice that combines snippets of bee biology with fancy (they break dance to "combat despair"). Bee cognoscenti will scoff at the sheer ridiculousness of the premise, but its extreme silliness works its own magic to mitigate this. . . .decidedly offbeat and emotionally true.-- "Kirkus Reviews"

This middle grade novel dabbles in magical realism, as a girl's troubles are made worse when a honeybee hive makes a home in her hair.-- "Publishers Weekly, "Buzzworthy Books About Bees""

Adding a dollop of magic realism, Davis alternates between Zinnia's story and the bees' predicament, both atop their disappointingly pollen-free host and as a species struggling in the world at large. Readers will empathize with Zinnia as she wonders about her missing brother, deals with her mother, and renews fractured friendships. As they follow the bees' activities, they'll learn apian facts and gain insight into what is happening to bees in the U.S. This fascinating and unusual look at family, friendships, and insects is a good match for Robin Stevenson's The Summer We Saved the Bees (2015).-- "Booklist"

Bee-infested hair makes a strange premise, but it works reasonably well, with chapters narrated by Bee providing absurd humor but also speaking to Zinnia's feelings of confusion and powerlessness, feelings that she can't always articulate in her own narration. Her frustration comes through loud and clear, though, until she realizes that it might be her own anger and selfishness that is driving people away. . . .it's pleasing there's a happy ending for Zinnia, and it's an added bonus that the bees relocate to a more fruitful home.-- "Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"

Despite the outlandish premise, Davis does an excellent job crafting human characters who are varied in their emotions and grow in awareness. The solution to Zinnia's problems is believable and clever yet still leaves room for change. A good fit for a larger collection looking for unusual books on friendship and growing up.-- "School Library Journal"

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Capstone Young Readers; Illustrated edition (August 1, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1623708672
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1623708672
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 710L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 2
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.9 x 7.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 52 ratings

About the author

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Danielle Davis

Danielle Davis

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Danielle Davis grew up in Singapore and Hong Kong and currently

lives in Los Angeles. She has an M.A. in literature and creative writing

and has had the privilege of teaching English to middle school and

community college students. Now, she reads and writes and roller skates.

ZINNIA AND THE BEES is her first novel. Her picture book, TO MAKE, illustrated by Mags DeRoma, will be published in 2022.

You can visit her online at www.danielledavisreadsandwrites.com.

Or at her picture book blog: www.thispicturebooklife.com

Or her YouTube channel for young writers: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZxYISAt8Opcql7i7QEKqOA?sub-confirmation=1

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
52 global ratings
Yarn-bombing, annoying honeybees and a dog named Milkshake--lots to love in this book!!!
5 Stars
Yarn-bombing, annoying honeybees and a dog named Milkshake--lots to love in this book!!!
I picked this up one afternoon and couldn't put it down until I had read it cover to cover. What I love most about this book is how relatable the main character is. You get to follow her through some of the most common challenges that we all face when growing up--feeling misunderstood, abandoned and just plain over it. The interludes of bee activity in Zinnia's hair are especially clever. This is a charming read for adults and middle schoolers alike. Yarn-bombing, annoying honeybees and a dog named Milkshake--lots to love in this book!!!
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Top reviews from the United States

Meghann
5.0 out of 5 stars Yarn bombs and a legit beehive hair-do set the stage for a charming coming of age story.
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2018
Verified Purchase
It's not always easy to find ones place in the world - friends come and go, family members let you down, teachers serve detention instead of seeing your true intentions. Young and misunderstood, twelve year old Zinnia is having a rough go at life. A hive of bees makes a new home IN. HER. HAIR! And, to her initial chagrin, a new neighbor decides to befriend her. But sometimes, growth happens in the uncomfortable moments. Between the pages of buzzing bees, a dog named Milkshake, yarn bombs and flora bombs, Zinnia discovers her true self and a true friend.
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Andrea Cefaloni
5.0 out of 5 stars I was particularly drawn to Davis' imaginative and excellent rendering of the bees and their "hive mind"
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2017
Verified Purchase
I agree with other reviewers - Zinnia, Birch and other secondary characters are expertly developed and woven into this satisfying and charming story! I was particularly drawn to Davis' imaginative and excellent rendering of the bees and their "hive mind". I was really pulling for Bee 641, and applauded her redemption in finally finding her hive a perfect home! In addition to the other positive messages in this book, I found this message of trying again after making a mistake - and communities supporting one another in the face of a mistake - to be timely and important for middle schoolers to hear. Five stars!
One person found this helpful
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Hobbesmom
5.0 out of 5 stars and yet easy to grasp
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2017
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This debut novel is so dear. It's nuanced, and yet easy to grasp. Readers will relate to the "unfairness" of being a tween, and of the world being thrown at Zinnia in unexpected ways. I loved reading it. Each chapter ends with the reader wanting to turn the page. And I loved that you hear from the bees as well! I particularly liked the relationship between Zinnia and Birch, her neighbor's nephew visiting for the summer, and each of their quirks. I highly recommend this book to tweens, teens, and even adults for a fun quick read. My 7 year old daughter loves it as well!
2 people found this helpful
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Afoma
4.0 out of 5 stars Quirky middle-grade debut
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2019
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this quirky, unique middle-grade novel. Zinnia’s life does a quick 180 when her big brother leaves home without telling anyone (not even her!). As if that isn’t bad enough, a colony of bees moves into her hair.

I was a bit skeptical of this book at first, because I tend to balk at unrealistic storylines, but somehow this worked. Told from alternating perspectives of Zinnia and the bees, this book offers fresh insight into nature, art, friendship, and of course, growing up.

I wish Dr. Flossdrop’s character was more developed, but this is definitely a book worth reading!
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C. Levasheff
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesomeness!!!!!!
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2017
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Reviewed by Jessie (age 11): "Zinnia and the Bees is a spectacular book! From emotional to interesting to exciting, it always kept me on my toes. I never wanted to stop reading! It's very different from many other books I like which is why I think most anybody my age will like this book. It's really cool how Zinnia likes to knit, it adds a lot to the story. I hope the author writes several sequels to this book."
2 people found this helpful
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Jean R. Howard
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt middle school angst story, very creative and entertaining!
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
I love reading middle school books and this new author didn't disappoint! What I really liked was how she perfectly created the feeling of middle school angst from her main character and all that that entails, while telling a creative story that's quirky, heartfelt yet amusing and entertaining (I mean, breakdancing bees! C'mon! Sooooo cute). I'm interested in following this new writer's career. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
One person found this helpful
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Deborah Petty
5.0 out of 5 stars Super engaging read for kids...thoughtful and complex too. LOVE!
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2017
Verified Purchase
My nine year old just finished this one and really loved it. It's such a departure from a lot of the really simplistic offerings for that age group. Great for kids who are thinkers or worriers. Beautifully written and very charming.
2 people found this helpful
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Matt vallis
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved that the author gave Zinnia's perspective
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2017
Verified Purchase
It's a very cute and original story. I loved that the author gave Zinnia's perspective, and also the bees perspective- while throwing in some information about bees. Very well written. My kids loved it as well.
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