Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this middle grade novel.

I truly enjoyed this book, and think it does a great job with so many issues. Grief, friendship, precarious adult relationships, and children's perceptions are all handled so wonderfully. I can't wait for students to read this one.

Thank you Crown Books for Young Readers/Random House for an early copy of this book and the invitation to participate in a blog tour!

This is a great book for young middle grade readers who are ready for deeper emotions in books, but not mature content. The father in this book has suffered a loss in his job-a preemie baby died on his watch-and he is devastated. Everyone in the family is trying to help him and eventually, him and the kids decide to go to his hometown. There, the main character Harvard, finds new friends and finds a way to help his dad-but also learns it is not up to him to help his dad.

I loved the ant farm in this book and the little brother!

A great coming of age story.

This is such a fun summer title. Fast paced and of heart students are sure to love this in their air conditioning hoping for an escape or by the pool soaking in the sunshine.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Kids for the gifted book!

Whew, this book has a heavy premise. Harvard's dad is a NICU doctor who is crippled by the guilt of a fatal mistake at work. To try and re-center, Harvard, his brother Roger, and his dad go to his dad's hometown of Kettle Hole, Maine for the summer. There Harvard befriends Neveah, whose mom just died, and her and her dad are struggling to stay afloat. When Harvard's dad decides they need a project for the summer, but the ants for their ant farm arrive dead, Harvard and Neveah come up with a plan of subbing the ants in the house. These ants don't fit the instructions provided and as the kids learn more about ants they also have to learn about forgiveness, promises, and friendship.

This book could have felt burdensome to read, but instead it was infused with hope and excitement.

I loved the narration of this one. Each character was perfectly personified from the 5 year old Roger, to the dads.

Dad made a mistake and it was a BIG one. The mistake is the reason a baby died. Dad cannot forgive himself and no longer is practicing medicine and he was a really good doctor. Now, Dad has been quieter than usual and is home all the time. He decides to take Harvard and his little brother, Roger, to Kettle Hole, Maine, for the summer. This is dad’s small hometown. Harvard hopes this trip isn’t another mistake.

In the small town where dad grew up, he seems more himself. Then the family decides to start an ant farm, just like Dad had as a kid. Then bummer, the mail-order ants seem very sluggish, no the ants are just dead. Harvard has a tender heart and doesn’t want Dad to experience any more sadness. Luckily, his new friend Neveah has the brilliant idea to use the ants crawling around the kitchen instead. But these ants are a different species from the ones intended for the enclosed directions. Well, the kids have a lot to learn, about the ants, each other, and how to forgive ourselves when things go wrong.
.

Main character, Harvard, is such a likeable character and just wants to make sure his dad gets better. I’m sure there will be readers who will relate to having a parent experiencing sadness/depression. A child shouldn’t be in this,position, but it happens,
A truly positive message is that grown-ups make mistakes, too, and that the consequences are not always simple.

The Natural Genius of Ants is a heartfelt novel that combines science into daily life. The book sent me to google to learn more about the hatching of the pupae.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC of this!

This was a cute story, while tackling some really heavy topics. After a mistake causes Harvard’s Dad to lose an infant patient at work, he takes his two children to his home town to try to heal, leaving his wife at home. Harvard definitely tries to take on the job of fixing his father, whilst making friends with neighbor Heaven-spelled-backwards Nevaeh. She’s dealing with her own father after the loss of her mother leaves them with a large amount of medical debt, and she keeps dangerous secrets from him to try to save money. The children and their father decide to get an ant farm, but when the ants arrive dead, Harvard takes it upon himself to find new ants so his father won’t be retraumatized. The rest of the book tackles their healing process, and was really readable. I zoomed right through it and enjoyed the whole thing.

I loved Betty Culley’s Down to Earth and was excited to read The Natural Genius of Ants. Culley’s writing is smooth and accessible. She knows her audience and tells her story with a gentle touch.

Culley’s own experiences a pediatric nurse in Maine, and from keeping her own ant farm and caring for a carpenter ant queen helped shape The Natural Genius of Ants, lending an authenticity that might otherwise be missing.

At the center of the story is Harvard, a likeable character who just wants to make sure his dad gets better. Many readers will relate to having a parent experiencing sadness/depression. And Harvard’s doggedness to make things better should resonate beyond his particular situation.

I love the message that grown-ups make mistakes, too, and that the consequences are not always cut and dry.

The Natural Genius of Ants is a heartfelt novel that weaves science into daily life.

Harvard's father is a doctor and he made a mistake and a baby died and now he isn't a doctor any more. Not because he was fired but because he can't get over the mistake. It's affecting the whole family so Marshall decides to take his two boys to a small town he grew up in called Kettle Hole. Harvard's mom can't come because of her work but thinks it's a great think for Marshall to do.

While there Harvard meets Neveah who is the daughter of one of Marshall's old friends. They are actually renting out her house as they need the money. Her mother recently died of cancer and they have a lot of bills and so her father is renting his house out to make money. They are living in the barn that her father converted into a living quarters.

While there their father decides they should build an ant farm because he use to have one as a kid. When the ants arrive that Harvard's father orders they are dead. He doesn't want his father to deal with more death so him and Neveah decide to replace them with regular house ants they find.

It's basically a story about learning to deal with mistakes, that things sometimes take time but you have to move on. The reader learns a lot about ants and how the ants work together to do everything, even taking care of the queen's eggs.

Harvard learns that he can't fix his father even though he tries with hiding the dead ants, talking to someone else who has went through a tragedy, but those don't really help as much as he hoped. He makes a great friend and even helps Neveah and her father.

It's a sweet story about how a family spent their summer and over all it was a good one. My one problem was Harvards attitude sometimes and the fact that he keep asking if a word was one word or two. For example, his hailstorm one word or two (hail storm), this happened throughout the book and became very annoying.  Other than that I thought it was a sweet book.

The Natural Genius of Ants is a well illustrated and engaging coming of age novel aimed at middle grade readers written by Betty Culley. Released 10th May 2022 from Penguin Random House on their Children's imprint, it's 240 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

Despite the heavy nature of the subject matter (death of an infant, medical malpractice, family grief, depression, forgiveness, and friendship) this is a very well written and ultimately uplifting book written from a child's perspective and with age-appropriate content. It's a chapter book and written in an unadorned direct first person point of view in the voice of young Harvard, a precocious ten year old, son of a medical doctor whose loss of an infant patient has led to a professional and personal crisis of faith.

There's a lot of humor in the writing and from the protagonist, Harvard, and his younger brother Roger. They're often genuinely funny and the story has a lot of honesty and compassion. It's not a central theme of the book, but I liked that Harvard and Roger are multicultural, with their mom's family hailing from the Dominican Republic. Representation is important.

Four stars, this would make a good selection for public or school library acquisition and for home use. Recommended for ages 8-12.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This was a really sweet book about making mistakes and learning how to move on from them, even when they are very big mistakes. I think that this is a really excellent topic for a children's book. After all, everyone does make mistakes and it can sometimes be extremely difficult for people to give themselves grace and room for error. The author handled the topic in a gentle way. I loved the relationships between the characters in this book. The "ant project" was a fun addition as well. It was interesting learning about the ants right alongside the characters. Readers that enjoy science would likely enjoy this book as well.

Ten-year-old Harvard narrates this gentle, engaging story. His medical doctor dad made a huge mistake at work which cost the life of a baby. Dad quits being a doctor to try and recover from the tragedy.

He takes Harvard and younger brother Roger to spend the summer at Kettle Hole, Maine where he grew up. Mom stays home for her work and the boys miss her a lot.

It helps to have a summer project like making an ant farm. Harvard with the help of his maybe new friend, Nevaeh, do most of the work to get it started. Questions about ants are posted on a white board and they use a non-fiction book called THE NATURAL GENIUS OF ANTS to help with their research.

Answers are found not only about the ants, but about each other and forgiveness.

Harvard has a fun sense of humor that often plays off words and their meaning. His emotions are all over the place worrying about if Dad is getting better and taking care of the ants. He also has to be the big brother to the very talkative Roger.

The 38 chapters are short and always have you turning the page for more. In our current world it’s nice to have a story where you just feel good after being with this family. They are kind and respectful and I already miss them. A great read aloud full of heart and hope.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

Admittedly, the book was a bit of a slow start for me, but once I got in to the story, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I liked the ant farm element of the book and think kids will really enjoy getting to hear about the stages of development from egg to ant, and the book could be really interesting to read while also having an ant farm. Harvard is a great friend and brother and I think kids can relate to trying to fix what's happening for their parents.

There are zero graphic details, but the book does have two infant deaths that are talked about, so that might be something to keep in mind when recommending the book.

I loved this book. The main character, Harvard, finds himself home schooled by his depressed father in a small Maine town one summer. Like Betty Culley's book Down To Earth, this book too is full of interesting science, some "magical" science and a heartwarming story about a family overcoming loss.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Harvard's father is a doctor whose mistake has led to the death of an infant. Unable to deal with the guilt, he has decided to take Harvard and his five year old brother Roger back to his hometown, where he rents a house from a friend who is struggling with debt after the death of his wife to cancer. The friend's daughter, Nevaeh, befriends Harvard. The father wants Harvard to have a project, so sends for an ants for a farm via mail order. All of the ants arrive dead, but Harvard gets ants from the outside and places them in the farm that he and his father build, only to find that they have a queen ant as well. Roger misses his mother, who works in a lab studying parasites and can't get away, and they try to get play dates for him, but he often just follows Harvard around. Harvard is worried about his father, especially after he realizes that his father is trying to write letters to the mother of the baby who died. Harvard finds the mother's address and sends her a letter saying that his father feels sorry, but doesn't know how to apologize properly, even though his mother has told him that it is a complicated legal issue. There is a women in town who feels a similar guilt, since she forgot her son in the car and he perished, and Harvard approaches her and asks if she could talk to his father about how to deal with a mistake like this. Eventually, Harvard's mother comes to visit and takes Roger back with her, and Harvard and his father try to help Nevaeh, who has run out of asthma medication. When a storm downs many trees on the property, this help is especially appreciated. Will Harvard's father be able to heal and move on from his mistake?
Strengths: The idea of a summer away from home is always appealing, especially when it is in the country and in a location where a parent was raised. Harvard takes good care of his brother, even when he is annoying, and looks out for his father as well. He's a great character, and his friendship with Nevaeh is well developed. I especially liked the inclusion of her asthma. Harvard knows a bit about the condition because his mother also has it. The ant farm is something I haven't seen much in middle grade literature, and this gets bonus points for never having the farm destroyed and ants everywhere, which seems almost necessary in a middle grade book! This was a quick and interesting read.
Weaknesses: I found it hard to believe that Harvard didn't get in big trouble for writing to the mother of the baby, and that he was kept in the dark about an issue that clearly made it difficult for his father to function while he had sole care of Harvard and his brother.
What I really think: Harvard is ten, and this reads very young. It would be a good purchase for an elementary library where ant farms are popular, as long as young readers can deal with the two infant deaths, which are not described in much detail but definitely play a large role in the story.

What a wonderful book about family, friends, and forgiveness. When Harvard’s doctor dad makes a mistake, he takes Harvard and his younger brother up to Maine for a break. There Harvard makes a new friend, Nevaeh, and they build an art farm. Harvard knows his dad is grappling with the mistake he made and wishes his dad realizes that mistakes happen and that one can learn from their mistakes. Harvard has an idea that may help his dad forgive himself. Will it work?

What worked:
Grief is a major issue, although Harvard’s father is responsible for the death of an infant. Harvard and his younger brother Roger spend the summer in their father’s remote, small hometown. The hope is that his father will be able to forgive himself for a fatal mistake and finally return to his job as a pediatric doctor. The plot follows Harvard, as he tries to protect his father from sadness that includes the drama found inside an ant farm. It’s not a child’s job to save an adult, but the slow-moving lifestyle of Kettle Hole is a big help.
The serious aspect of the plot is tempered by the humor of Harvard and Roger. Harvard has a quick wit and can’t stop himself from cracking jokes and making funny comments. Wondering if terms are compound words or two separate words is an ongoing question throughout the book. Roger is the real treat, as his innocence and excitement result in amusing moments. Harvard soon realizes he needs to watch what he shares about the ant farm when Roger imitates ants by donning a bike helmet with antennas, crawling around on the floor, searching for food. Roger also believes a young girl named Nevaeh can control the weather, and he’s amazed when she makes it “snow”. His character adds cuteness to the plot.
Nevaeh becomes Harvard’s best friend, and her positive attitude amid a challenging life is admirable. She recently lost her mother to cancer, she suffers from asthma without medication, her father is struggling with money issues, and they’re living in a barn while Harvard’s family rents their house. She has a special talent for writing poetry that creatively expresses her feelings about events and people in her life. She helps Harvard care for the ant farm, and he ends up saving her family in a big way. Together, Harvard and Nevaeh make a charming, entertaining pair of loyal friends.
What didn’t work as well:
The thread holding the story together is the ant farm, and while interesting, it doesn’t exactly create anticipation of a captivating story. However, you can’t judge a book by its cover! I especially enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of the story, and the grieving doesn’t take it in a depressing direction. The overall story is charming, amusing, and entertaining.
The Final Verdict:
A story of healing, family, and love. This book may surprise readers, but it’s truly captivating and inspiring. It doesn’t have any unusual twists or complications and simply shares an emotional, realistic story about two families with serious problems. I highly recommend you give it a shot!

y. Although this is the first time this has happened, or perhaps because it is the first time, he can’t forgive himself. He can’t work, and he decides to go back to his hometown in Kettle Hole, Main, and take his two kids with him, Harvard and Roger his five year old brother.

Harvard is narrating the story, and wants to have his old dad back, the dad who was a great baby doctor. But he doesn’t know how to help. The ant farm is not so much the solution, but part of what the family does while up in Main.

I love how this story is told by the 11 year old narrator. How he isn’t quite sure what is going on, but gets bits and pieces. How people talk about his father in his hometown, and how he hides the ants that have died, in the ant farm, from his father, so his father will be happy.

It is one of those stories where you miss the characters when you are done with the book. Great middle grade fiction.

I love how the author says she kept an ant farm during the writing of this book.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. </em>