Honey Bea by Kim L. Siegelson

Product Details

Synopsis

On a Louisiana plantation during the heart of slavery, young Beatrice grows up in the care of her protective aunt Abeille. As Bea nears her thirteenth birthday, strange things begin to happen around her. Her master, Monsieur Reynard, seems to have taken a special interest in her, and she has no idea why. Soon secrets held for generations are revealed and Bea feels betrayed. Who is her ally? Her master or her family? And who can help her understand her power, the power that will win her freedom?

Annotation

On a Louisiana sugar plantation, a young slave girl struggles with the magical powers that have been passed down from her grandmother and mother to her, unsure of the responsibilities and consequences that accompany this power.

Kathryn Erskine - Children's Literature

A mystical fantasy grounded in realism, this novel helps us visualize and understand life on a Louisiana plantation from the slaves' points of view. There is mystery, intrigue, and a fair amount of the supernatural, much of it stemming from "Afrik" and the strong lingering powers of ancestors. Young Bea realizes she has such a power, the ability to see things from other people's points of view—often people who are long dead. With her great aunt's help, she eventually is able to connect with her grandmother's spirit. That is the only way she can escape her grandfather the plantation owner, and escape slavery itself. Her great aunt's power is the ability to talk with animals, particularly bees, and throughout the novel, bees feature prominently. They carry secrets, they bring danger to some and safety to others. They even encompass the old great aunt herself. And the bee clasp locket that Bea's grandfather gave her grandmother has a power all its own. 2006, Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, Ages 10 up.