Set in South Carolina in 1964, this heartfelt novel follows fourteen-year-old Lily Owens, who flees her troubled home with her nanny, Rosaleen. They find refuge with three Black sisters who are devoted beekeepers.
Against a backdrop of honeycombs and the constant hum of bees, Lily learns about the rhythms of the hive, which become a powerful metaphor for community, female empowerment, and the family she has always longed for. The lore and practice of beekeeping are woven deeply into the narrative, guiding Lily toward healing and forgiveness.
This poignant and timely novel centers on Nuri, a beekeeper from the Syrian city of Aleppo, and his wife, Afra. After war destroys their home and their hives, they are forced to flee and embark on a perilous journey to seek asylum in Great Britain.
Nuri’s memories of his life as a beekeeper—the harmony of the hives and his deep connection to the bees—serve as a powerful symbol of the peaceful, vibrant life that was stolen from him. The novel masterfully uses the theme of beekeeping to explore profound loss, trauma, and the enduring hope of finding a new place to belong.
This hopeful and charming novel brings together three lonely souls in rural Oregon, united by bees. Alice, a grieving widow and beekeeper on the verge of losing her family farm, Jake, a directionless teenager in a wheelchair, and Harry, a young man suffering from severe social anxiety, form an unlikely friendship.
Together, they embark on a mission to care for Alice’s hives and solve a local mystery. The novel celebrates the healing power of nature and demonstrates how the intricate, cooperative world of bees can teach humans about community, purpose, and renewal.
This imaginative and gripping novel plunges readers directly into the rigidly structured society of a beehive, told entirely from a bee’s point of view. The protagonist, Flora 717, is a sanitation worker, the lowest caste in the hive, but she is different—larger, darker, and possessing forbidden abilities.
Her defiance of the hive’s sacred laws puts her in mortal danger. Paull creates a mesmerizing and often brutal society governed by instinct, scent, and devotion to the Queen, crafting a unique thriller that is both a fascinating allegory of totalitarian societies and a stunning work of nature writing.
Set in Mexico during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic and the Mexican Revolution, this lyrical novel is a work of magical realism. A baby boy, Simonopio, is found abandoned under a bridge, covered by a living blanket of bees. The bees become his constant companions and protectors, and their mysterious humming guides him throughout his life.
As Simonopio grows, his uncanny connection to the bees allows him to foresee threats to his adoptive family and community. The bees are not just a metaphor but an active, magical force in this enchanting story about family, fate, and the deep connections between humans and nature.
Spanning three distinct timelines, this ambitious novel explores humanity’s complex and fragile relationship with bees.
It follows three narratives: William, a 19th-century biologist in England struggling to build a new type of beehive; George, a contemporary American beekeeper facing the devastating reality of Colony Collapse Disorder; and Tao, a woman in a bleak future China where bees are extinct and humans must pollinate crops by hand.
These interconnected stories powerfully illustrate our utter dependence on bees and serve as a sobering, emotional reminder of the environmental crisis we face.
In a near-future world where bees and most other pollinators are extinct, humanity is on the brink of collapse. Sasha Severn lives in the shadow of her father, the last known beekeeper, who was once celebrated but later vilified for his work.
When Sasha discovers a colony of bees that has miraculously survived, she must protect her secret from a society that is both desperate for and fearful of their return. This gripping dystopian novel is a powerful exploration of ecological disaster, corporate greed, and the fierce hope that one person can make a difference.
This clever mystery introduces Mary Russell, a brilliant and independent young woman who literally stumbles upon a retired Sherlock Holmes in 1915. Their friendship begins over their shared intellectual curiosity and Holmes's newfound passion: the quiet, methodical study of beekeeping on his Sussex farm.
The precise observation, patience, and logic required for beekeeping serve as a recurring parallel to the art of detection. While they team up to solve a dangerous case, the apiary remains a central touchstone, providing a rich backdrop for this celebrated detective series.
In the ninth installment of the epic "Outlander" series, the story of Claire and Jamie Fraser continues on their settlement in post-Revolutionary America.
Beekeeping is an integral part of life at Fraser’s Ridge, and the novel draws upon the ancient folk tradition of "telling the bees"—the practice of informing the hive of major life events like births, deaths, and departures.
This tradition is more than symbolic; it weaves through the narrative, underscoring themes of community, loss, and the cyclical nature of life, grounding the historical drama in the rhythms of the natural world.
Set against the rugged beauty of Kodiak Island, Alaska, this novel explores fractured family relationships and the healing power of the natural world. Protagonist Phyllis, a single mother, struggles to reconnect with her troubled daughter, who finds an unexpected interest in Phyllis's father's beekeeping hobby.
Through vivid descriptions of tending hives and collecting honey in the harsh Alaskan landscape, the novel profoundly portrays the bonds between the characters and the bees they care for. Here, the bees are a catalyst for communication, forgiveness, and finding sweetness in difficult circumstances.