Fusco,
Kimberly Newton. 2013. BEHOLDING BEE. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers.
ISBN 9780375868368 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-7]
REVIEW
Ten year old
Bee was orphaned at the age of four and has spent the last several years of her
life in the care of Pauline, a family friend. Together, they work the hot dog
cart in a traveling carnival in 1942 New York. Bee has a large, diamond-shaped
birthmark on her face, which results in frequent inquiry, teasing, and
sometimes bullying from carnival visitors and her carnival boss. Bee longs for
a normal life, living in a cozy home with Pauline in a quaint town. When the
owner of the carnival forces Pauline to relocate, leaving Bee to care for
herself and the hot dog cart, Bee runs away hoping to find a stable life and
acceptance. She is seemingly magically led to a home occupied by two peculiar
women. Bee moves into the house, enrolls in school for the first time in her
life, and begins to grow. She makes friends and enemies. She learns how to
cook, clean, and care for herself. She discovers mysteries from her past. And
she finds love and acceptance within herself and from others.
Fusco
presents a warm, heartfelt, and engrossing story about coming of age,
empowerment, acceptance, and self-reliance. Bee is a likeable character experiencing
realistic internal struggles in a slightly magical world.
CONNECTIONS
Beholding Bee lends itself to a large group a-chapter-a-day
read-aloud or a book club with discussions centering on similarities of the
human experience despite physical, emotional, and learning differences, on
individuality, and on accepting oneself.
RELATED
BOOKS
Other books for tweens on acceptance:
Golden, Laura. EVERY DAY AFTER. ISBN 9780385743266
Creech, Sharon. THE BOY ON THE PORCH. ISBN 9780061892356
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