THE BEES

Narrator Orlagh Cassidy's enchanting performance enriches this debut novel about how Flora, a lowly sanitation bee, is able to rise through the caste system to help her hive survive attack, starvation, and destruction to meet a bright new future. Cassidy's vivid, engaging characterizations quickly transport listeners into the busy world of the bees, in which the queen rules and the priestesses maintain the hive mindset. As Flora transcends her destiny, moving up through the ranks to forager, Cassidy expertly conveys the bee's astonishment at each new discovery, curiosity about the outside world, and bravery when defending her sisters against attack. The success of this audiobook lies in Cassidy's respectful yet lively narration, which enables listeners to connect with the story on a number of levels. C.B.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2014]