Bumblebee Season - by Eileen Garvin (Hardcover)

About the Book

"From Eileen Garvin, nationally bestselling author of The Music of Bees and Crow Talk, a heartwarming new story that returns to the vibrant world of beekeeping"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

From Eileen Garvin, nationally bestselling author of The Music of Bees and Crow Talk, a heartwarming new story that returns to the vibrant world of beekeeping in a small Oregon town

Beekeeper Jake Stevenson should be celebrating. His fledgling honey farm has been inundated with orders. Instead, Jake is worried. He can't seem to hire anyone--with local teens more interested in jobs at Hood River's hip waterfront--and there's no way he can handle the approaching harvest all by himself, no matter how adept he's become at maneuvering among the beehives in his wheelchair.

Meanwhile Flaco López, a young migrant from Mexico, is lost on Mount Hood when he stumbles upon Jake's beehives in a high alpine meadow. As Flaco takes refuge on Jake's farm, they begin to form a tentative friendship. And the two soon cross paths with Abigail Plue, a scientist more interested in insects than people, who's on Mount Hood studying a threatened native bumblebee.

Then a local rabble rouser begins to rally support to build a commercial hunting camp that would destroy Mount Hood's pristine wilderness--the home of Jake's honeybees and Abigail's beloved bumblebees. And Jake, Abigail, and Flaco must come together to protect everything they hold dear. Full of warmth, big-hearted characters, and a celebration of nature in all its complexity, Bumblebee Season reminds us that human connection might just be the most powerful force there is.

Review Quotes

"Garvin is a master at creating hive-like communities vibrating with characters readers will enthusiastically embrace." --Booklist (Starred Review)

"There is such satisfaction in the interlocking outcomes: comeuppance for bullies, validation for nonconformists, balm for broken hearts. No sentimentality, just authenticity. Just a really good read." -- Oregon Arts Watch

"A heart-wrenching yet uplifting story...Readers will cheer on the heroes of this winning story."
--Publishers Weekly

"The characters' perspectives contrast sharply and shift in each chapter, making this a dynamic and engaging story. The writing is engaging and speeds along compellingly." --Library Journal

"Bumblebee Season will have you feeling all the feelings, and delivers on a readable, discussable book. This would be an excellent book club choice as there is so much to discuss but it remains very accessible. The author brings the characters to life quickly and makes you want to know more." --The Gloss Book Club

"Garvin is adept at painting characters who excel outside other's expectations. She does it again with "Bumblebee Season," introducing us to those who live exceptional lives, no matter how others may discount them. Kind of like the bumblebee, which keeps buzzing to beat the odds."
--Spokesman-Review

"Garvin's latest novel returns to the vibrant world of small-town beekeeping, weaving together themes of resilience, belonging, and the profound connections between people and the natural world." --Los Alamos Reporter

"The novel shines a ray of sun on the love of nature and on a multicultural community."
--Albuquerque Journal

"Not only does Garvin highlight environmental themes in her books, she also often includes characters that spotlight human-centric issues that are often politicized... Many different kinds of readers are drawn to Garvin's books, and her newest novel is no exception." --Vail Daily

About the Author

Eileen Garvin is the author of the nationally bestselling novels Crow Talk and The Music of Bees, as well as the acclaimed memoir How to Be a Sister. Born and raised in Washington State, she lives in Oregon.