by Jodi Picoult
Wow! A powerful, important, and extraordinary book. I’ve always been a fan of Jodi Picoult, and this book delivers. It is such an interesting mix of legal thriller and family drama. You get completely engrossed in the small town characters, their journeys, their heartbreak and sorrows and loss, and their love and hope. There are two point of view characters, one an adult mother who is a beekeeper, and one a teenage girl who is dating the mother’s son. In true Jodi Picoult style, she weaves in fascinating facts about bees and beekeeping that are connected to the story.
One thing that’s unique about this book is that Jodi has a co-author, Jennifer Finney Boylan. They reveal how this came about in the author’s note, along with a lot of other interesting background about the story. I highly recommend saving that until the end so that there aren’t any spoilers!
I won’t say anything in detail about the plot, because I really think going in without knowing too much will make for the best reading experience. This book is riveting, heartbreaking, beautiful, sad, and hopeful. It gave me all the feels. The story will stay with me. I think it is an important story that will be considered controversial in some circles. I hope it helps build understanding and empathy.
