As a beekeeper I say, this is the best memoir of beekeeping I've yet to read. As an avid memoir-reader, I say this is the best memoir I've ever read. Interesting from first page to last, it not only covers beekeeping, but child-keeping, soul-saving, and without a whit of whining. Something so unusual in a memoir. Told through the eyes of the child of a schizophrenic, it has humor and love, brings to mind the writing of Haven Kimmel and her Zippy books. Whether you are interested in honey bees or not, you should really enjoy this read. Everyone I've recommended it to has loved it.

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When author Meredith May was very young, her mother left their family home in a fit of rage at her father and relocated Meredith and her younger brother Matthew to California to live with their grandmother and step-grandfather. Her mother is clearly mentally ill, as she holes up in her bedroom and basically stops parenting Meredith and Matthew. Though she cares for them dutifully, Meredith's Granny is not exactly the picture of maternal warmth either.

Meredith's Grandpa is an eccentric plumber and beekeeper. The children and Meredith in particular are drawn to his humor and openness, and he becomes the surrogate parent in their lives. In teaching Meredith to care about bees, her Grandpa teaches her about compassion and gently nudges her life in a better direction.

This is a wonderful book. The details about bees and beekeeping are fascinating. At times my heart ached for young Meredith, as some of the things she went through were truly horrible. The author does an excellent job of conveying what a kind soul her grandfather was, and her story is ultimately uplifting because it shows what a difference one person can make in the life of a child.

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This is a beautiful story one cannot help but enjoy about a woman who grew up in the seventies, living primarily with her grandparents. Meredith and her younger brother, Matt, lived with their parents in Rhode Island until their mother's violent anger led to divorce. Sally, the mother, takes them to California to live with their grandparents. She moves into her childhood bedroom where she stays, sleeping and smoking while grandparents take over parenting.

Granny is a schoolteacher and more formal but grandfather, F. Franklin Peace, feels he is lucky to have grandchildren. Having married late in life, he feels lucky to have grandchildren and loves them without reserve. When Meredith endures mental and physical abuse from her mother she seeks the his comfort and love. When things go wrong with her mother, it is her grandfather who suggests how to survive her erratic behavior.

The story hinges on her grandfather's passion for bees. He has converted an old military bus in a honey bottling room. One learns many beekeeping details from this fourth generation beekeeper. As time passes he shares and shows how bees live, work and care for each other. Meredith is enchanted and soon both she and Matt learn to care for and love them.

Different types of bees have specific jobs. Bees use wings, bodies and antennae in convey information to keep the colony going. They may share what they know by dancing or wiggling their butts, moving antennae, putting heads certain ways and by forming special groups.

As the book progresses the reader learns that honey bees everywhere are vanishing and why. The grandfather further explains in detail what can be done to slow and halt this phenomenon. The memoir covers Meredith's life from ages five to fifteen, with a final closing chapter.

It's a lovely story with messages focusing on love and bees. I adored this read.

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