"Today I buried my parents in the backyard. Neither of them
were beloved." So opens THE DEATH OF BEES and a story of how
two sisters struggle to hold onto the only thing they have
left in the world: each other.
The opening lines encapsulate the darkly, humorous plot of
THE DEATH OF BEES by Lisa O'Donnell. Marnie and her little
sister, Nelly have practically raised themselves. Their
parents, Izzy and Gene are alcoholics and drug users. They
live in Glasgow's Maryhill housing estates, a place riddled
with poverty and addictions of all sorts. It's a place no
one expects Marnie to be able to escape, but Nelly is
different. Nelly has nearly mastered the violin, she's
incredibly smart, speaks in an antiquated, stuffy fashion
that sets her apart, but Nelly doesn't deal well with
strangers. Marnie knows that if she and Nelly were to be
separated, Nelly would never recover and all her
intelligence and talent would mean nothing. All Marnie has
to do is keep their parents' deaths a secret until she turns
sixteen and is able to take care of Nelly on her own.
Marnie struggles to make money, stay in school, and care for
Nelly. When Lennie, the old man from next door, offers to
help, Marnie can't afford to say no. Lennie has his own
problems and sins to work through, but he's not about to let
two bright girls like Marnie and Nelly starve. But secrets
can't stay buried forever. School officials, social workers
and unexpected family start asking about the girls' parents.
Where are Gene and Lizzy? When are they coming back? Who is
Lennie and what right does he have to take care of the
girls?
THE DEATH OF BEES by Lisa O'Donnell is a heart-wrenching
look into what it means to be a family. At turns deeply
unsettling and darkly funny, O'Donnell paints a picture of
despair, poverty, and addiction as seen through the eyes of
two young girls. They struggle to survive, to live a life
they can call their own, but their choices are limited by
their poverty, by a system that is overworked and cynical,
and by their own lack of belief in themselves. Marnie is
definitely her own worst enemy, but this is a story about
more than these bleak circumstances. THE DEATH OF BEES is a
story of hope and family. It is a story about moving
forward, of finding forgiveness, and protecting those you
love.
THE DEATH OF BEES doesn't shy away from complicated actions.
There is frequent mention of drug-use, sex, and abuse, often
involving underage teens. Heartbreaking, hopeful, and darkly
humorous, THE DEATH OF BEES by Lisa O'Donnell is a fantastic
novel that explores family values in a unique and troubling
world. I highly recommend THE DEATH OF BEES.
Marnie and her little sister, Nelly, are on their own now. Only they know what happened to their parents, Izzy and Gene, and they aren't telling. While life in Glasgow's Maryhill housing estate isn't grand, the girls do have each other. Besides, it's only a year until Marnie will be considered an adult and can legally take care of them both. As the New Year comes and goes, Lennie, the old man next door, realizes that his young neighbors are alone and need his help. Or does he need theirs? Lennie takes them in— feeds them, clothes them, protects them—and something like a family forms. But soon enough, the sisters' friends, their teachers, and the authorities start asking tougher questions. As one lie leads to another, dark secrets about the girls' family surface, creating complications that threaten to tear them apart. Written with fierce sympathy and beautiful precision, told in alternating voices, The Death of Bees is an enchanting, grimly comic tale of three lost souls who, unable to answer for themselves, can answer only for one another.
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