Honeybees and Frenemies

The summer after sixth grade has barely started, but it’s already a disaster for Flor. Her best friend will be away, and Flor must dress in a mattress costume to help her father’s faltering store. As if that weren’t bad enough, their town of Honeydale, Ohio is celebrating its 50th Honey Festival with a competition of past winners of the Queen Bee pageant. Flor, who won in third grade, is teamed up with her former best friend and onetime runner-up Candice. Now, the frenemies will spend the summer practicing a talent and volunteering for Mr. Henry, the town’s hermit. When Flor learns that the pageant winner gets $2,000, she determines to find a talent, win the competition, and save her family’s store, and Mr. Henry, who works with bees, may hold the key. Bee facts preface every chapter, and information about their plight is woven seamlessly into the text. Flor’s mother is of South Asian descent, and Wientge (Karma Khullar’s Moustache) includes realistic portrayals of Flor’s experiences of racism (in third grade, Candice insisted about the pageant, “You only won because you’re mixed”) and questions about her identity. Flor’s struggles with the complexities of friendship and family are realistic and relatable in this engaging coming-of-age journey. Ages 8–12. [em](May) [/em]