This is a beautiful memoir by a woman who lived through much and became a beekeeper because of the love of her grandfather. It is sad, funny, moving, annoying, heartbreaking - you name it, Ms May has achieved it. There will be no spoilers here but the journey from mixed up 5 year old scared of bees to a knowledgeable adult woman with skills and a love of our most important pollinator, is one you will want to share. She writes beautifully and she is honest about her relationship with her mother which I appreciate given mine was no ideal figure either. Recommended if you love memoirs of lives different to your own or if you want to learn more about the importance of bees to our culture and food chain. I have highlighted many passages and I will reread at some stage.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Much more than just a memoir …


After her parents’ divorce, Meredith, aged 5 and her brother Matthew, aged 2 went with their mother to live with their grandmother and her second husband in Big Sur in California. Here their mother abandoned her parenting duties and retired to her darkened bedroom from where she refused to come out, sinking deeper and deeper over the years into a black tunnel of depression and self-pity.

Parenting duties were taken over by the grandmother, formidable, strict and unsmiling while protecting her daughter against all noise and disturbance and leaving the two bewildered children more or less to their own devices.

Fortunately, their step-grandfather was a completely different proposition. A countryman and a hillbilly through and through, he was a self-employed plumber by trade and a fourth generation bee-keeper with an uncanny and intimate knowledge of honey bees, their lifestyle and language. He was only too happy to share his passion with a fascinated 5-year old girl. With her, he shared his countryman's wisdom and understanding of nature and of the circle of life. As she watched him working with the bees, he told her about their dedication, hard work, loyalty and co-operation for the benefit and survival of the whole. She was endlessly fascinated by the ordered workings bee colonies where every single bee knows her place and her job and is prepared to die in defence of the queen.

This book is far more than a memoir. I defy any reader not to be in awe of the intricate workings of a bee colony. I never knew how many different jobs there were - nurse bees, guard bees, wax-producing bees, builder bees, pollen- and nectar-collecting bees and so on, and how each bee has an instinctive response to a threat to the whole. We, the human race, owe a huge debt of gratitude and respect to the humble honeybee whose hold on life is fragile and severely threatened - mainly because of our actions. The very least we owe them is to become aware of how just how much we depend on them for our very survival.

In spite of her severely bipolar mother and an almost loveless childhood with minimal parenting, Meredith, hungry for knowledge and with a fascination for bees, is now an award-winning journalist and a fifth-generation bee-keeper. In this memoir, she writes candidly and movingly about her unconventional upbringing and how with the help of her step-grandfather and the bees she discovers all she needs to know about family life. I feel enriched for having read it, and in my opinion, it thoroughly deserves its five stars.

Bennie Bookworm

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

I am in charge of our Senior School library and am looking for a diverse array of new books to furnish their shelves with and inspire our young people to read a wider and more diverse range of books as they move through the senior school. It is hard sometimes to find books that will grab the attention of young people as their time is short and we are competing against technology and online entertainments.
This was a thought-provoking and well-written read that will appeal to young readers across the board. It had a really strong voice and a compelling narrative that I think would capture their attention and draw them in. It kept me engrossed and I think that it's so important that the books that we purchase for both our young people and our staff are appealing to as broad a range of readers as possible - as well as providing them with something a little 'different' that they might not have come across in school libraries before.
This was a really enjoyable read and I will definitely be purchasing a copy for school so that our young people can enjoy it for themselves. A satisfying and well-crafted read that I keep thinking about long after closing its final page - and that definitely makes it a must-buy for me!

*** ARC provided by Netgalley via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ***

I loved this book, it was beautifully written and pulled me if quickly which I often find unusual in a memoir. In fact, the only reason I requested to read this book was due to the bee link as I'm always so interested in them and have previously enjoyed fiction with links to bees.

There were so many sweet moments between Meredith and her grandfather, I found myself choked up a few times. I would absolutely look out for books written by this author again as I enjoyed the language she used and imagery she created. Also, if others also enjoyed this bee theme, they should check out 'The Secret Life of Bees' & 'Tell it to the Bees' which I also rate highly!

Absolutely gorgeous book. I love books that not only tell an amazing story, but that also educate on a particular subject. I found learning about bees something I never knew I always wanted to learn! I found this book fascinating and couldn't put it down. Everyday I told my children new and amazing bee facts.
Besides my new found bee-knowledge I also thought the actual story was profoundly sad and a fabulous and heart-wrenching tale. And it was true!
When Meredith May was only five years old she moved with her brother and her mother. in with her Grandparents. Her Grandpa was a bee keeper and kept a honey bus. He taught her everything he knew- not only about bees but about life.
I recommend this book 100%. Can't wait to read more from this author in the future!

I am not always a fan of the personal memoir of someone who isn't well known, however this a beautifully written and poignant tale of a girl growing up in circumstances that are far from ideal. In addition you have the bonus of learning about bees, their life and activity so that it almost a dual biography.

Meredith May's mother absents herself from the lives of her children whilst sitting in the room or house next door. Her only interactions are fraught with terror / danger. Yet the book doesn't rail against the injustices but carries the sense of peace that her grandfather's presence and his bees give her.

A heaven and a heartbreak all in one. Meredith May's mother, unable to face taking care of her children following the end of her relationship with their father, retreats to her mother's home with the children in tow. There, they get to know their step grandfather, a man who keeps bees and sustains the environment through his own actions, teaching the children how to keep bees with kindness and cares. May drafts these moments of teaching into the wider lessons of her hard early life, and the tragedy of a broken family is shown with dexterity and with hope. I'm really glad I picked this up.

Simply a great book, where Meredith had to deal with the breaking apart of her family, and sought solace in the bee colonies her grandfather raised...this has real World implications on how functional and amazing honey bees are, and how families should aim to live as supportive a life as the bee colonies do...if you care about these irreplaceable insects you'll love this book! 🐝🐝🐝
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was an absolute masterpiece. I finished this in one sitting. I think I am biased as it has so many aspects of my upbringing. I felt a complete and utter personal connection to this book and physically couldn't stop reading. This book is heartfelt and unfair, yet hopeful and stubborn.
This is now one of my all-time favorite reads and one which I will never forget.

This is a lovely piece of modern classic fiction, the tale of young Meredith and her brother who move to stay with the grandparents after their parents marriage breaks down.

Their mother is troubled and Meredith finds comfort with her grandfather and his beloved bees.

This is also an homage to the humble bee, it’s lifestyle and why we need these little creatures.

A story of life in a dysfunctional family and how resilient children can be with a little help. Wonderfully descriptive and emotional writing.

I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review

Charming and intimate, The Honey Bus chronicled the formative years of Meredith, a 6 year old girl who moved from Rhode Island to her grandparents' house in California with her newly divorced mother and younger brother, Matthew. The 70s and 80s of Meredith's youth reminded me vividly of what was cool and how life was in this simpler time of Gremlin cars, Jordache jeans and colorful eye shadow. To say that Meredith had a rough time of it would be an understatement as the angst of the awkward teens were amplified by her mother, who refused to leave her depressive funk in bed, having no cares for either of her children. Luckily, Meredith's step-grandpa was all the role model she would need as he taught her about bees and many critical life lessons as well.

This is such a beautiful, touching story; it made a big impression on me. The difficulties faced by Meredith and Matthew were not the worst a child could face but certainly not conducive to healthy child rearing either. I felt every squeamish moment Meredith endured and cringed each time she had to venture out in the world with her horribly troubled mother. Grandpa was a real ray of sunshine with each story he shared and all the love he poured into these two foundling children. It wasn't an easy life, by far, but he proved a stabilizing force that would see them through to adulthood and a brighter future.

A really lovely, generously frank story that is well worth a read especially if you, too, grew up during the magically peculiar time of the 70s and 80s.

What a beautiful read, heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time, a wealth of lovely charecters interwoven in to a story that was so lovely, the bees were wonderful and I feel I know a little bit about these amazing creatures now

A beautifully written story which is a clever extended metaphor. As with bees, so with people, except that bees seem to have things better sorted!
I loved reading all about the bees and their fascinating way of life
Highly recommended
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

I’ve always been told that if bees were gone from the planet, then that would be the end of mankind too. After reading this lovely book, I now know why that could be. This book is beautifully written and gives us a real insight into the world of bees and beekeeping. I had no idea prior to reading this, of the intelligence imbued in these tiny little creatures and just how hard they work and the different roles they carry out. I’ve heard the terms; drone, Queen, worker but I had no idea there were nurses in there and ‘dancing’ bees too. It was truly a treat to read about Meredith and her grandad. The relationship they shared was almost tangible, it felt so deep.
There is also a story running in parallel, of a broken spirit in the shape of Meredith’s mother and how this creates problems for a young Meredith growing up and trying to fit in with her peers. Written with such feeling it tugged at my heart.
I was captivated by this book and awake well into the early hours because I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you for sharing your story.
A definite must read.

I don't usually read memoirs, so this book was out of my comfort zone but I was drawn in by the cover and the blurb and I am really glad I requested it from Netgalley (thanks Netgalley) because I ended up giving it FULL five stars and really enjoying it.

Firstly, I really like the author's writing style. It may have been a memoir, but it read like fiction, so I found myself transported back to Meredith's childhood.the instant I started reading. Not only was it a beautiful story about growing up around bees, but also very educational as I learnt things about bees and beekeeping that I didn't know! Beekeeping isn't something I've seen in books, so it was nice to read about it and the skill that it takes..

I can't say much about the plotline or characters in the book, being non-fiction, but there are definitely moments that will make you cry, and moments that will make you laugh. The love between a grandfather and his granddaughter is really heartfelt and I enjoyed reading all about it.

This was a brilliant book. Beautifully written and descriptive and an enjoyable storyline. I really enjoyed it.

Like a bee to honey, I could not stay away from this book.

The Honey Bus, Meredith May's beguiling childhood memoir tells us the story of her tumultuous childhood and how her grandfather and his hives became a guiding force throughout her life. I'm not usually a massive fan of memoirs but May's writing was so poetic that I found myself engrossed and enamored by her story. Not only is Honey Bus descriptive and emotive but also educational. - I found myself truly fascinated by the honey bees and their ecology.

This book really blew me away and is potentially my favourite read of the year thus far!

5/5 star rating

Thank you to HQ for providing an e-ARC copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book in one greedy gulp whilst on holiday in Greece, surrounded by wildflowers and bees and beehives. I have learned so much about these remarkable creatures.

What can a troubled child with dysfunctional parents learn from bees? How does this help her understand- and accept- her own family's mistakes? In Meredith May, we have a central character whose learning accompanies our own. This is not prose wrapped in layers of complicated, hard-to-unearth meaning and you won't have to reach to grasp its central metaphor but this is not a bad thing at all. Some books take you by the hand; this is one of them.

The Honey Bus is the wonderful and timely story of Meredith May's childhood and her relationship with her beekeeper Grandpa, an alliance that both saves and shapes her. It's a fantastic book that not only explores what it means to be a family but also highlights such an important issue; the plight of the honeybee.

Pulled from her family home following the breakdown of her parents' marriage, Meredith, along with her Mother and younger brother, goes to live with her Grandparents in Carmel Valley, California. Her Mother, depressed and unable to face her demons, retreats to her childhood bedroom and rarely interacts with her children, effectively having 'checked out of motherhood' as Meredith puts it. Their Granny assumes the role of carer but she's set in her ways and her primary concern is her daughter rather than her grandchildren. Lonely and unable to fit in at school, Meredith turns to her Grandpa after taking an interest in 'The Honey Bus' he keeps in their backyard, bonding with him on trips to his beehives across the Big Sur. He teaches her all he knows about bees and she becomes fascinated by the little world within the hives, losing herself and escaping the troubles of her day to day life.

This book is beautifully written and having been to this part of California myself I could picture it exactly, the description of the landscape and scenery is so vivid and real. As you turn the pages it's almost as though you can smell the honey and the wildflowers, feel the sea air and hear the buzz of the bees; I lost myself to a different time and place while reading this. The characters are all well developed too and I adored both Meredith and her Grandpa; they're both such likeable characters with so much wisdom to share. You really feel for Meredith and her brother having to live with a mother like that; I'm so glad they had their Grandpa, I just wanted to reach in and hug them. The bees are personified to the point of being characters in their own right and I really enjoyed following along as Meredith watched them all in their different roles. I learned so much about bees that I didn't know from reading this and everything Grandpa teaches Meredith about the life of bees is always poignant; life lessons that clearly stayed with her and will stay with readers too.

The way May is able to conjure this image of their life back then makes it all the more upsetting as you near the end of the novel and begin to consider the plight of the honeybees, and the catastrophic effect this will have upon us all. I'd known a little about this prior to reading but the epilogue really opened my eyes to how pressing a problem it really is, and how devastating the loss of the honey bee would be. With the world the way it currently is at the moment it's difficult to pick one problem to focus on as there are so many environmental issues crying out for our attention, but the decline of bees is one we can each do something about. This book has inspired me to do my bit and I hope more people read it so that they too find the drive to help; I'll be recommending this wonderful work to anyone who'll listen, it's a fabulous and important story that should be shared far and wide.

Thank you to HQ for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

My thanks to HQ for an eARC via NetGalley of Meredith May’s ‘The Honey Bus’, in exchange for an honest review.

When Meredith May was five years old her mother dramatically left her husband and moved Meredith and her younger brother Matthew across the country to Big Sur, California to live with their grandparents.

Meredith’s mother retreated into herself and her grandmother was initially rather unsympathetic to the idea of both children interfering with her retirement. However, her grandfather was very different and was welcoming. He was a fourth generation beekeeper who made honey in a rusty old military bus in the yard. Meredith was fascinated by the bees and became increasingly involved with her grandfather’s vocation.

It was very well written and could have easily been a coming-of-age novel but was made more poignant by it being true.

I am not a big reader of memoirs and it was mainly the focus on bees and their role in nature that drew me to request this. However, I was moved by Meredith’s story and the emotional neglect that both children experienced from their extremely self-absorbed mother was quite upsetting to read in places.

In her Author’s Note May writes of the threats facing the honeybee and includes suggestions for further reading on bees.