Regarding the Bees: A Lesson, in Letters, on Honey, Dating, and Other Sticky Subjects
Grade 4–6—This addition to the series follows the Geyser Creek Middle School kids to seventh grade where they have to take the dreaded BEEs—Basic Education Evaluation. If the students do not pass, they must repeat all of middle school. And to make matters worse, their teacher, Sam N., is filling in for Mr. Russ as principal. But not to worry—he has enlisted the help of Florence Waters, fountain designer, as substitute teacher. She teaches the class via correspondence, sending assignments to the children while she's off gathering more information about bees to share with them. The story follows the series format of using letters, notes, faxes, and other correspondence to relate the goings-on. As the events progress, the students share their concerns about boyfriends/girlfriends and the upcoming dance. They also learn to have some compassion for a class whose teacher is using some underhanded methods to insure her students win the coveted Show Me Spelling Bee. Fans of the series will appreciate this installment, reluctant readers will be drawn to the format, and more advanced readers will appreciate the wordplay and puns sprinkled throughout.—Diana Pierce, Running Brushy Middle School, Cedar Park, TXCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.