Hour of the Bees

Eager seamlessly blends a 12-year-old girl's summer of change with a hefty dose of magical realism in this accomplished debut. A past family rift means that Carol first meets her grandfather Serge when her family arrives from Albuquerque to sell his sheep ranch before settling him in a nursing home. Serge's question to Carol, who uses an Anglicized version of her name, Carolina-- "Why do you spit on your roots, chiquita?"--makes her ponder her heritage. Unexpectedly drawn to her grandfather, Carol finds that her woes (an obnoxious older sister, absent friends, endless chores, stressed-out parents) pale next to the questions and fears raised in Serge's entrancing stories, which all begin, "Once upon a time, there was a tree." Fairytale motifs ("No rain for a hundred years") emphasize the stark physicality of the New Mexican mesa, with its oppressive heat, spindly sheep, and numerous dangers. Through this atmospheric setting, Eager sustains a sense of wonder and longing for small things (bees, seeds, stories) to respond to big human needs. Ages 10-14. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary. (Mar.)

Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 4-6—Eagar's debut novel follows 12-year-old Carol (not Carolina, she insists) as she and her family relocate for the summer to her grandfather's ranch in New Mexico, where Serge, the ailing patriarch, has been slowly progressing into dementia. As the family cleans, mends, and preps the property for sale, Carol gets to know her grandfather and family history for the first time, all while suffering through the identity crises that tend to accompany adolescence. Eagar makes expressive use of the hot, dusty, isolated setting, while Carol's struggles with her changing self-perception yield a few moments that anyone who's had to navigate middle school will find relatable ("the clothes fit fine. I just don't fit the clothes."). Readers who enjoy Pam Munoz Ryan's novels or Jennifer Cervantes's Tortilla Sun (Chronicle, 2010) will find Carol's angst compelling and her wide-eyed brushes with the likes of magical bees and life-giving trees amusing, but Eagar's depictions of magic in the everyday often feel as dry as the New Mexico desert. A recurring storytelling motif adds technical interest, but the characters' relationships never quite reach the level of intimacy needed to justify it. VERDICT A sentimental but undistinguished coming-of-age story with touches of magical realism.—Abigail Garnett, Brooklyn Public Library

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Eagar seamlessly blends a 12-year-old girl's summer of change with a hefty dose of magical realism in this accomplished debut...Fairytale motifs ("No rain for a hundred years") emphasize the stark physicality of the New Mexican mesa, with its oppressive heat, spindly sheep, and numerous dangers. Through this atmospheric setting, Eagar sustains a sense of wonder and longing for small things (bees, seeds, stories) to respond to big human needs.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Tightly plotted and elegantly characterized, this is a striking debut. Both Carol's journey and Serge's stories seem inherently true, and the juxtaposition of the two results in a moving, atmospheric novel of family, heritage, and fairy tales that are more real than not.
—Booklist (starred review)

The delicate magic of Serge's story ties present and past together in a beautifully written, affecting story of forgiveness and understanding that enables Carol to move forward in her own life, resetting her values and claiming her own place in her grandfather's story. Her sulks, fears, and desires render her credibly twelve, and the storytelling ably prepares readers for her less predictable decisions. Offering a compelling introduction to Latin American magic realism, this will have appeal for middle-school lovers of literary fiction.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

Serge and Carolina's story is a touching reminder to "squeeze the juice out of every day" and remember where (and who) you call home. A poignant intergenerational story about finding and honoring your roots.
—Kirkus Reviews

Readers who enjoy Pam Muñoz Ryan's novels or Jennifer Cervantes's Tortilla Sun (Chronicle, 2010) will find Carol's angst compelling and her wide-eyed brushes with the likes of magical bees and life-giving trees amusing.
—School Library Journal

Hour of the Bees is as grand as the landscape it springs from, an ode to family and heritage but also to living fearlessly. Forget about the middle-grade designation; everyone who reads this will be touched, and quite possibly moved to re—secure their family ties. Dreamlike while also gritty and real, this is a gorgeous work of art.
—BookPage

Lindsay Eagar has said that her novel "Hour of the Bees" first came to her as a title without a story, involving elements—bees approaching a man named Serge—whose meanings she did not know. Only after she had finished writing did it all make sense to her, which is a nice echo of what the reader will experience in this mystical, memorable riddle of a book.
—The Wall Street Journal

This is a deeply moving story on so many levels. The family dynamics are so real that readers will be drawn to the emotions and actions of each of the characters...The author does an excellent job of offering character struggles that most readers can relate to—Carolina with her sister Alta, and Carolina's dad with Grandpa Serge. Bordering on magical realism, this book will leave its readers spellbound and is destined to be a favorite enjoyed by readers of all ages.
—School Library Connection