BEHOLDING BEE

Set during WWII, this story features Bee, an orphan with a diamond-shaped birthmark on her face who lives and works with a traveling circus. When her caregiver leaves, Bee and her dog, Peabody, run away to find a home of their own. Ariadne Meyers delivers Bee's first-person point of view with a matter-of-fact tone that reflects Bee's detachment and wariness as she tries to avoid strangers who might stare at her or taunt her. Meyers's voice becomes more animated when Bee meets two elderly ladies who take her in, and she blends in skepticism, courage, and resolve as Bee begins to see the world more clearly. A gentle and moving coming-of-age story. A.F. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2013]