Rachelle Delaney

Among middle-grade mysteries, this is a gem. The mystery is important (Grandma's beehives are missing! Bees and all!) but not dangerously high-stakes. The investigation involves bakery visits, minor trespassing (Grandpa is old, eccentric, and occasionally disrespectful of boundaries) and some hiking up steep hills, which poses more problem for video-game adapted children than for their elderly grandfather. The clues are not blatantly obvious, but we get enough hints so the denouement is not show more a total surprise. The character of young Leo is well depicted. He's very invested in his video games and highly disappointed that there's no wifi at Grandpa's place, but able to apply his gaming experience to the real world - his favourite games are a series of farm-themed adventures. His sister is just a kid, a bit more of a risk taker and outdoor type than Leo (good match for Grandpa).

The adults are a little more problematic. Not Grandpa, he's lived in British Columbia's Gulf islands for his entire adult life -- which puts him squarely in the aging hippie demographic. Eccentricity and beehives are definitely part of the lifestyle. The bees were his deceased wife's pride and joy, and Grandpa is determined to learn all about beekeeping -- by reading a compendium of Everything To Know about bees and applying its advice, one chapter at a time, in order from beginning to end. It's heartwarmingly hilarious. The kids' parents, on the other hand, are a bit disturbing. Mom is the daughter of Grandpa and she's brought everyone home purportedly to be a comfort to her father. But then she can't wait to ditch the kids with a grieving, elderly relative they scarcely know and take off for a ritzy spa. we get that she didn't like growing up in the counterculture of a remote island, but still, this sort of thing is inconsiderate and unkind. The father is unhealthily devoted to a website that classifies people and he's sorted everyone in his family into ironclad little boxes with titles. Leo feels especially constricted by his father's insistence that Leo is an Armchair Adventurer, with the implication "and nothing more". Frankly, the parents' disregard for the children's well-being verges on neglect -- but of course this is all the better for middle-grade fiction because how else could the kids get off on their own and have adventures to advance the plot? show less

What a delightful book about taking charge of your own path (present and future) and overcoming perceptions (about yourself and others) and realizing your parents and grandparents are people with their own histories.

11-year-old Leo's younger sister, Lizzie, is optimistic and fun, while Leo's character develops slowly and carefully, like Leo himself—an auditor. (According to Fatefinder.com, his dad's favorite site, an "auditor" is someone who enjoys reading about or watching other people show more have adventures, perhaps joining virtually, safely. It also means a worrisome, boring adulthood for Leo at a desk job).

When Mom and Dad leave them in grouchy Grandpa's care for a few days on Heron Island, Lizzie is excited about the possibilities for adventure. Leo is nervous about the possibilities for disaster.

But Leo begins to understand his grandpa's complex personality and his own potential. I caught myself smiling more than once as I watched him break free from his parents' limited views of what he's capable of doing and surprising himself in the process.

There were too many coincidences, especially after Leo, Lizzie, and Grandpa ferry to neighboring Porpoise Island to solve a mystery. And I was perplexed as to why they never brought water with them on their extended outdoor treks. Grandpa, after all, was an avid camper and logger who would certainly know better.

But when you toss in a dozen stolen beehives that belonged to their recently deceased grandmother, an endless number of puns, some feral kittens, and a mean, feral pig named Penelope, those minor quibbles don't get in the way of the story.

Perfect for grades 3 through 6. I'm adding it to our school library, of course! show less

Rachelle Delaney’s The Big Sting offers a heartfelt exploration of family, grief, and self-discovery, set against the backdrop of a farm and a mystery involving disappearing bee hives. The story begins with a city kid, familiar with farms only through video games, being thrust into the real-life challenges and beauty of rural life.
One of the book’s strengths lies in its portrayal of the protagonist’s relationship with his grandfather, a grumpy man still working through the grief of show more losing his wife. While grief is only mentioned briefly, it adds depth to the grandfather’s character and their interactions. The mystery of the vanishing bee hives is intriguing and serves as a vehicle for the protagonist’s growth, as he learns to break free of expectations and understand the complexities of life beyond black-and-white thinking.
However, the journey itself lacks excitement at times, with some parts feeling slow or uneventful. While the themes are meaningful, the pacing and execution could have been more engaging.
Overall, The Big Sting is a solid read for those who enjoy family-centered stories with a touch of mystery, but it may not captivate readers looking for a fast-paced or thrilling narrative. show less

This is a short and sweet young middle grade adventure. I thought the grandpa had a tendency to make things that should have been fun a lot less fun, unfortunately. It was also a little boring because as much as it wants to talk about adventure, not much actually happens. Still, it was adorable in many places, with a nice, simple mystery and some sweet takeaway messages.