The Honey Bus: A Memoir of Loss, Courage and a Girl Saved by Bees

I was hesitant to read this book because there are so many dysfunctional family stories they lose distinction in my reading. But, this story promised more than the usual blinkered human bubble perspective, and I was curious to see how the author framed her memoir in a more natural world vein.

In essence, the author improves her mental well-being gradually as she grows to womanhood with the help of a beekeeper grandfather. That in helping this grandfather with his beekeeping activities, learning the intricacies of bees' lives, and seeing how dependent we are on them her perspective broadens to better appreciate all life forms.

"The bees showed me that I had a choice how to live. I could collapse under the sadness of losing my parents, or I show more could keep going."

". . . bees live for a purpose far grander than themselves, each of their small contributions combining to create collective strength. Rather than withdrawing from the daunting task of living, as our mother had done, honeybees make themselves essential through their generosity. By giving more than they took, bees ensured their survival and reached what might be considered a state of grace."

The Honey Bus title relates to an old bus in the grandfather's back yard that was a workspace for extracting and bottling honey.

The characters are well-fleshed which might lead readers to be judgmental, but to the book's credit the reader also learns of past influences that shape characters' behavior. Even so, my favorite character was the beekeeper grandfather.

In my long-in-the-tooth stage of life I seem to be getting soft. The latter parts of this story caused a bit of leakage at both ends. show less

I enjoyed this memoir about how her beekeeping Grandpa saved the author (and her brother) from the effects of divorce, a emotionally disturbed mother and neglect. The book shows the importance of having someone -- especially at home -- who cares about you.

The book is very much reflective of its time: kids are mixing cocktails for adults and playing outside for hours with no supervision. More seriously, in this case, is that their mother (Sally) has no treatment opportunities to deal with her mental health issues.

The book also provides a glimpse into beekeeping and the plight of honeybees today.

The author has written in a way that makes both childhood memories and experiences and her adult wisdom blend together very well. A sold read.

There is no doubt that a book one identifies with has more meaning, but I had no clue how close this book would come to mine. Like Meredith, I was five, and though I did not have a you get brother, I did have a you get sister, when my parents divorced. Like Meredith's mother, mine too took us to live with my grandparents, but luckily my mother was nothing like Meredith's. She did leave us during the week, taking a train into the city to work, returning only on weekends, but she was a loving mother when she was there. I too became close to my grandfather, and though he didn't keep bees , he was a great woodworker, building two lonely little girls, there own playhouse. This close relationship we forged with my grandparents lasted show more throughout their lives.

Meredith, learns early she must take care of herself and her younger brother. Her mother lost in grief and pity, would of could not be the mother they needed. It was their grandfather that showed them love and introduced them to the world of bees. This world is one the reader also learns a great deal about, and a world that saves two lonely little children. It is touching, stirring, frustrating and reaches right into the readers heart. It is wonderfully told, without pity, but evoking emotional responses, all the same.

It is a warning about the plight of the honey bee, these bees that provide a third of the worlds food. How quickly they are disappearing, giving various reasons why this is so, and what can be done. I loved both the story and the information imparted. It is important, another example of how we are abusing this planet and it's inhabitants, human or not. It is also an ode to grandparents, an example how one loving relationship can change a life, blood relationship or not. I loved it and sent a silent thank you to my long gone grandparents, a simple thank you will never be enough. show less

When her parents divorce, Meredith is transplanted from her Rhode Island home to her grandparents’ in California. Her mother is deep in the thralls of depression and so her strict granny becomes her care giver. But it’s her step-grandpa, that truly connects with her. He teaches her how to care for bees and all about his hive colonies. Their relationship is sweet and wonderful. The memoir reminds me of The Glass Castle, but the addition of hive culture adds a fascinating layer.

Had a tough time rating this book. I had wanted to read it (listen to it) for a long time and I knew it was highly rated so I had high expectations. I did enjoy the relationship between Meredith and her grandfather and the life lessons he taught her with the help of his bees. I really liked the ending and how she tied it all up.
What I did not like was the overly specific and descriptive scenes all throughout the book. It made it feel like a novel rather than a memoir, as it was hard to believe any person could remember all those specific details from their life. (A minor note - I also did not like the narrator of the audio version).
Like I said, I really liked the ending and that left me with a good feeling and 3.5 rating rather than a 3

A gem of a story about a young girl going through a traumatic experience and a difficult parental relationship and finding love and sweetness through bees and a fantastic step grandfather. I occasionally found myself distracted by things like …. A five year old was analyzing all this behavior so deeply and remembers it so well. Then I realized memory is like that, we project later thoughts and reactions into our past.All in all… a great reader for bee lovers and survivors of traumatic hildhoofs as well as the general populace

When Meredith's parents split, she finds herself living with her grandparents, mother, and little brother in California. Her mother spends her life in bed, depressed and anxious about her life. Her grandmother's focus is the mother, and easing her own guilt. The grandfather, a bee keeper, has infinite patience with Meredith and her brother, teaching them through bee's.

This was a well written, and engaging book. I loved the relationship Meredith had with her grandfather, and the subtle ways that he took her under his wing. I loved how the bee's were woven throughout the story, and how Meredith learned through them. Overall, highly recommended.