Beholding Bee

Beholding Bee written by Kimberly Newton Fusco is about orphaned “Bee” who lives and works in a traveling carnival.  She was born with a birthmark on her face in the shape of a diamond and is often faced with the taunts and jeers of the children (and adults) who come to the carnival when it pulls into town.  Pauline, Bee’s guardian is one of a only a few people who truly see Bee as she is, but when Pauline is sent to work at another carnival, Bee decides to leave the only world she have ever known to find a home that she has only dreamed about.

I liked the story itself, Bee is a very believable character and the supporting characters are well-thought out and full of life.  After her parents died, Bee began seeing a woman in an orange, floppy hat, but later finds that she is the only one who can see her.  When Bee sets up house in an abandoned home she meets another mysterious old woman who looks as though she belongs in another era.  I think I would have preferred the story to have remained a little more historical/realistic fiction.  I didn’t care these characters as much as the other people Bee encounters throughout the story.  But, these characters eventually help to show Bee that she matters to the world and her existence is important to the people around her.  This story reminded me a lot of Patricia Reilly Giff’s new novel Gingersnap about the same time period that also involves an unexplained character.  These two novels together could create a very interesting book discussion.

The story is beautifully written with fully developed characters and a voice all its own.  For more information about the author, check out her website!

Title: Beholding Bee
Author: Kimberly Newton Fusco
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 2013
Page Number: 336 pgs.