Due to a mysterious illness, every bee on the Bell estate has perished. Not only does this mean that no honey will be produced this year but the fruits and vegetables in the Bell orchard will not be pollinated. Those who read Darius Bell’s previous adventure will know that the Bell family has a large house with huge grounds, but very little money. They depend on the bounty from their garden for food and trade. Darius’ father doesn’t grasp how serious the situation is, while the mayor hates the Bell family and is actively working against them. Once again it is up to Darius to find a solution to the problem. Odo Hirsh writes great problem-stories where the kids are resourceful and the grown-ups are mostly incompetent and easily outwitted by Darius. Woven through the story is the science behind pollination, but it fits in well with the narrative and doesn’t seem like a science lesson has been dropped in the middle of a story. This book references Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool, but it is not essential to have read book one to understand this story. This is a very enjoyable read for a thoughtful upper-primary reader.
Amelia Vahtrick is the children’s book buyer at Better Read Than Dead and was awarded the Australian Booksellers Association’s Young Bookseller of the Year in 2011. This review first appeared in the October issue of Bookseller+Publisher magazine.
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Tags: Allen & Unwin, Darius Bell and the Crystal Bees, Odo Hirsch
