What a wonderful time meeting young people and parents/teachers/librarians at The Rhode Island Festival of Children's Books and Authors!  With authors Adam Gidwitz, Daniel Handler aka Lemony Snicket and his editor Susan Rich, Avi, Sharon Creech, Kate Messner, Dan Santat , me, and Gregory Mone. Not pictured, Bill Harley, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Chris Van Allsburg and Laurie Keller.

I spoke about BEHOLDING BEE and how I found the idea for a character like BEE -- at a traveling carnival, of course!

Questions for Bee

Children's Librarian Wendy Walker of the Payette Public Library in Payette, Idaho, wrote to me asking for BEHOLDING BEE discussion questions for her young readers' book club.

 I loved thinking deeply about the novel and coming up with questions that I thought were important to the book.  I also enjoyed looking up how far Payette is from my little town of Foster, RI.  It would take 39 hours to drive the 2,679 miles.  As soon as I finish the draft for my newest novel, I will be ready to go!

Until then, here are the discussion questions for BEE.

Discussion Prompts for BEHOLDING BEE

BEHOLDING BEE is essentially a book about courage and learning to believe in yourself.  How does Bee become self-reliant and resilient?

Why does Bee spend so much time hiding behind her hair?

Why does Pauline think it will be impossible to leave the carnival and find a new home?  Why does Bee think it can be done?  Why is a home so important to Bee?

Why can’t Pauline look past the pig smell and see inside to Bobby’s heart?  Why is this easy for Bee?

Why is Bobby so important to the book?

Pauline says everyone has troubles, so Bee is not alone.  “Some folks have troubles on the outside for everyone to see, and some have troubles on the inside where they hide and fester. “But everyone has something, Bee. So you are not alone.”  But Bee responds, “I think it must be way easier to have troubles on the inside where no one can see.”  What does Bee mean by this?  Is she correct?

Why is resilience such an important theme in the book?

Why is Bee the only person who can see Mrs. Swift and Mrs. Potter?  Do you believe they are really present, or are they figments of Bee’s imagination?  Is there any evidence that they may, in fact, be living in the house with Bee?

Are Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Swift ghosts, angels or something else?

During the 1940s, “freak shows" were common on the carnival circuit.  Bee’s birthmark isolates her in many ways from regular society.  What are some examples of other characters in the book who face isolation/discrimination?

Did Mrs. Swift and Mrs. Potter face discrimination in their times?  What do they try and teach Bee about being strong?   

Is there something of a fairy tale in Beholding Bee?  How?

Mrs. Swift’s background as a suffragette gives her special knowledge of the things Bee needs in her life if she is to stand on her own two feet.  Explain.

Special education classes have changed since the 1940s.  Are children “set aside” today?  Why did school officials in Bee’s time think that it was important for children with special needs to be separate?

British Bee!

I'm so excited to introduce my novel to British readers, thanks to the wonderful publisher Faber and Faber, London.

The first review of the British Bee is in!  Thank you to Luna's Little Library who named the novel one of her Top 10 Reads of 2013.

"Bee is an orphan who lives with a traveling carnival. Every day she endures taunts for the birthmark on her cheek – though her beloved Pauline, the only person who has ever cared for her, tells her it is a precious diamond. When Pauline is sent to work for another carnival, Bee is lost.

Then a scruffy dog shows up, as unwanted as she, and Bee realizes that she must find a home for them both. She runs away to a house with gingerbread trim where two mysterious women, Mrs Swift and Mrs Potter, take her in. They clothe her, though their clothes are strangely out of date. They feed her, though there is nothing in their house to eat. They help her go to school, though they won’t enter the building themselves. And only Bee seems able to see them…

Whoever these women are, they matter. They matter to Bee. And they are helping Bee realize that she, too, matters to the world – if only she will let herself be a part of it.

The story is narrated by Bee, who at the beginning of the book is only 11. She’s grown up with a travelling carnival and works at the hot dog stand with Pauline, a young woman who has been Bee’s family since her parents died when Bee was 4.

The story starts with Bee’s life at the carnival. One of the things that I loved so much about Kimberly Newton Fusco's writing was that everything is so vivid. Bee is an amazing little girl that I can’t imagine anyone not loving.

When Pauline is sent to another carnival Bee has escapes in search of a home, taking her dog (Peabody) and piglet (Cordelia) with her. She finds a house “the colour of buttercups with blueberry shutters and a front porch with rocking chairs still rocking”. Inside she is welcomed by Mrs Swift and Mrs Potter, two elderly ladies.

I could quite happily tell you about how fantastic and touching the story is but I don’t want to spoil the joy of reading it. I loved the language, the imagery, the characters and of course the names. The Daring Escape of Beatrice and Peabody is magical – enjoy!"

BEHOLDING BEE gets ALA attention!

I am thrilled that BEHOLDING BEE is one of 15 novels nominated today to the list of Notable Children's Books that will be discussed at the ALA conference in Chicago!

The ALSC committee writes that “notable is defined as: Worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding. As applied to children’s books, notable should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children’s interests in exemplary ways."


For a list of all the wonderful books nominated, visit:


http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2013/06/notable-childrens-books-nominees-summer-2013/

A Home Run!

A lovely review can splash sun all over a rainy Friday, as this one did today!
Thank you to Sprout's Bookshelf:

"Summer is right around the corner, and that can only mean one thing - Summer Reading! If you've followed this blog for very long, you know that I was a very bookish child who has become a bookish adult with a serious soft spot for Summer Reading. It was my favorite time of year: curling up in a sunny spot with my dog and a good book, or making a pilgrimage to the bookmobile (later the library) only to emerge with a bag of books I could barely carry. I read everything that caught my fancy in those years, and many things that I never would have otherwise tried, but for the fact that I suddenly had plenty of leisure time to explore new literary worlds. Heaven, for me, is books, no question.

And today's pick is one that the young me would have devoured, and then gone right back to for a second read-through. Kimberly Newton Fusco's previous books have garnered starred reviews and awards, and no wonder, because they are just amazing. But in her latest book, Beholding Bee, a WWII-era novel, Fusco has scored a home run - a character whose voice is so indelible and unforgettable that she draws you right into her story, and you never look back.

Bee has lived with Pauline ever since her parents died when she was three, and the traveling carnival where Pauline works is the only world Bee's ever known. It's not an easy life, and it's made tougher by the presence of Bee's "diamond", a prominent birthmark that draws the attention of everyone who comes to buy hot dogs from Pauline. Bee knows her diamond makes her special, but it sometimes seems too much to bear. And then things get even tougher: Pauline takes up with a boyfriend and leaves Bee behind to manage the hot dog cart all by herself. Bee takes as much as she can stand from unpleasant carnival boss Ellis. But finally she's had enough, so Bee and her dog Peabody, plus a piglet named Cordelia take off at a run, literally. And eventually Bee finds herself at a house that looks like gingerbread, where two quirky old ladies seem to have been expecting her. It's not what Bee bargained for, but it might just be everything she needs.

Beholding Bee is a historical novel for all kinds of kids, but especially for those who know what it's like to be an outsider. As an orphan and an outcast, Bee's developed a unique perspective on the world, and that informs her every decision in a way that makes her a character you can't help but root for. She reminds me so much of other strong girls in literature: Gilly Hopkins, for one, or Hollis Woods, even a younger Dicey Tillerman. She's got heart, but she's not fragile - Bee's a girl who has taken what life dishes out to her and keeps going, because she must. I love the complexity of this character, and Fusco never takes the easy way out for Bee, which makes me love her all the more.

Older readers will likely suss out some of the more mysterious elements a little sooner, but that doesn't take away from the pure enjoyment of the story. And believe me when I tell you that Bee's voice will linger in your mind: I finished this novel over a week ago, and I can't stop replaying Bee's story, thinking about her and the other characters in this vivid, unforgettable tale. With this effort, Fusco confirms her place on my list of writers I'll continue to look out for -- and I hope the Newbery committee feels the same.

Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco, published by Alfred A. Knopf

Ages 9-12

Source: Library

Sample: "I hear one lady tell her girl I must have done something horrid to be stained all over my face like that. Or maybe my mama is the one who did something awful, or maybe my daddy, and I am the one being punished. . . . But Pauline holds me and whispers they are not right. Otherwise, why would I have a beautiful jewel on my cheek the color of a rose at dusk and they do not? / I do so like Pauline's way of looking at things."

Highly recommended"

http://www.sproutsbookshelf.com/2013/05/beholding-bee-by-kimberly-newton-fusco.html

A PERFECT BOOK!

Thank you to the Lawrence, Kansas, Public Library for this lovely review!

"A perfect book


Looking for that perfect book, one you can’t put down? Now add carnival life, ghosts, a dog, a pig and an amazing young girl named Bee. Now you have the making of such a book. Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco is that title. Beatrice, known as Bee, is an orphan living in a traveling carnival show. She and her caretaker, Pauline, live in the back of one of the trucks. Bee was born with a large, diamond shaped birthmark on her face which she tries to hide with her hair. Bee is also the object of cruel remarks and actions by both children and adults. All the while, Bee is helped through these horrible events by a kind, older woman in an orange, floppy hat. The interesting thing is, only Bee and her dog, Peabody, can see this woman. When Pauline is assigned to a new carnival the owner is setting up, Bee is left on her own. When the time comes for her to escape, she and Peabody rescue a lovely, little pig named Cordelia. The three set off on an amazing journey. This book is truly a page turner. With chilling moments throughout, two worlds come together. This book is one for an older reader, grades 5 & up, in my opinion. I loved this book. Beholding Bee truly left me wanting more. I hope you’ll feel the same. "

http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/05/a-perfect-book/

COMPELLING AND TENDER

Thank you for this lovely review from Sarah Rachel Egelman
at KidsReads!

"Ever since Bee’s parents died when she was quite young, she has lived with the traveling carnival, sleeping in the back of a truck and serving hot dogs to those who stare at her and mock her. The birthmark, covering much of one side of her face, may be a “diamond” to Bee but to others it is an ugly curse and an excuse for cruelty. Bee’s only protector is Pauline, another carnival employee, who was entrusted with Bee’s care. Bee and Pauline, young and lacking resources, dream of a home of their own, far from the mean ways of their boss Ellis and those who would hurt Bee because of how she looks. When Pauline leaves the carnival, and leaves Bee behind, Bee sets off in search of the home she longs for and maybe even a family who will love her as she is.

BEHOLDING BEE is a compelling and tender examination of identity and belonging by Kimberly Newton Fusco. It is also an enigmatic novel that packs an emotional wallop but remains ever hopeful.

"Set against the bleak landscape of World War II America, BEHOLDING BEE is an amazing and tender story with fascinating characters and a few wonderful twists and turns."

Though Pauline is devoted to Bee --- watching out for her, teaching her, loving her --- the pull of romance is too strong for Pauline to resist. In her mid-twenties, and never having had a boyfriend, she is charmed by Arthur, the flirtatious newcomer to the carnival. And, even though it breaks Bee’s heart (not to mention that of Bobby, the shy pig keeper who is quietly in love with Pauline) and leaves her vulnerable, Ellis sends Pauline away with Arthur. With Pauline’s departure, Bee comes to rely on the stray dog, Peabody, she has adopted and Bobby, who, in the weeks before he himself leaves the carnival looking for work, teaches her how to run fast. Running fast, Bobby believes, may save Bee from danger.

But the running that Bee does is both away from danger and toward security. After she leaves the carnival (with Peabody and also a piglet named Cordelia,) Bee finds her way to the curious house of Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Swift. Mrs. Potter is a kindly old woman who had been appearing to Bee for years, but who no one else could ever see. Mrs. Swift is a slightly more stern old woman who, along with Mrs. Potter, seems to have been expecting Bee to arrive at their doorstep. Living with Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Swift is strange, but Bee feels safe and happy. She enrolls in school, where she has to face a new set of challenges, finds new friends and meets new enemies. Life with Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Swift is almost magical, bittersweet and full of emotional surprises. Still, Bee never gives up hope for a reunion with Pauline and creating with her the life they had always wished for.

Set against the bleak landscape of World War II America, BEHOLDING BEE is an amazing and tender story with fascinating characters and a few wonderful twists and turns. There is much heartbreak and loss in these pages but it is realistically optimistic. This is a delightful novel with a good balance of tension and whimsy. Its exploration of family, friendship and self is set in a beautiful tale following a powerful and unique protagonist.

Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman on February 25, 2013