Customer Reviews

BUMBLEBEE FLIES ANYWAY

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Robert Cormier does it again in The Bumblebee Flies Anyway! It's a dark and sometimes confusing story (according to my mother, I understood it perfectly), with believable and complex characters and a twist you would never suspect. This is the first Cormier novel I've read, and since then I now own all his books and have read most of them. I was inspired to read it when I actually *met* Mr. Cormier at an awards convention for young writers (I had won an award for a short story I wrote based on the same quote The Bumblebee Flies Anyway was based on). I'm very glad I met such a womnderful man and a fantastic author. This book, so far, is my favourite of all his work, but if you don't know what to read next, pick up a Cormier novel. I guarantee you won't regret it.

Darkly poignant and sweetly done, this novel is a must-read for anyone who's ever been a teen...ANYONE. "The Bumblebee Flies Anyway" explores the deep psychologies involved in young Barney's confused and complex life, and shows what happens when life's "expectations" aren't met. As a full-fledged Robert Cormier fan (I've read some six-seven Cormier-penned tales), I can tell you that this is the one to get if you want to get a feel for Mr. Cormier's writing style and unique wordsmithing. It's the type of book to read even IF you aren't assigned it in class...even though none of my high school classes ever assigned any Cormier, I still found his stuff worthwhile reading--and still do.

This story was about following our dreams and helping others to find theirs. The main character, Barney Snow, lives in an experimental clinic, where everyone one around him is terminally ill. He helps his friends to build the bumblebee. A bumblebee is not supposed to be able to fly, but it does; therefore, a bumblebee is a miracle. In this Barney made us realize that we can never give up, on life or anything else. It was not important of where Barney lived or who his friends were; he made us realize that we should open up to the people around us and that sometimes people need to some help in pursuing their flight of the bumblebee. The part I liked most about this story was the plot. There was not much action or adventure, but the story always had an unexpected surprise waiting around the corner. This story was not what I would call fast paced, but for some reason, it always kept me on my toes and wanting more.

I was required to read this book for my seventh grade reading class. We were doing a unit on Identity which means learning about one's self. I thought that this book was an excellent choice. During the final chapters, I felt like I was part of the book. This book is about a special complex built for terminally ill patients that were being experimented on for new drugs. This book made me think about how friends can help one another. An example of this is that Barney did not stay in his "compartment". By staying in his compartment, he would not have helped out Mazzo, which means not getting involved. This book shows that it can be good when "you get involved". - Justin Z.

I've was in school for 28 years and I've read a LOT of books. Nevertheless, I seem to remember this book quite frequently and often tell people about it just because the premise alone is a perfectly fascinating tale. If you are a Cormier fan and haven't read this one, buy it right away! If you haven't read Cormier, this is the one to start with. (I'm buying a copy for myself now, even though it's young adult fiction!) Enjoy!

The Bumblebee Flies Anyway by Robert Cormier is an excellent book for teen readers. While the setting and situations of an experimental medicine clinic may be unusual, teens can easily identify with the patients and how they are a society of outcasts. Barney, along with his friends Billy, Ali, and Mazzo, have become ostracized due to their illnesses and each identifies their predicament in an independent manor. The intrusion of Cassie into their society brings a sense of the real world into the Clinic. The result ends in a rather unusual ending that might confuse some readers, but the basic premise will still remain appealing. The adolescent readers of this novel will find Barney's medication and Cassie's special relationship to her twin brother Mazzo conversation worthy thus making the novel an excellent choice for middle school and high school classes in which the teacher is wanting to provoke discussion. The Bumblebee Flies Anyway is also an excellent book that any age will enjoy.

a bittersweet story about young adult misfits in a strange laboratory....wonderfully written, as always from Mr. C.....if you've only read The Chocolate War books, boy, you've got a lot of great stuff ahead of you.....similar to "I Am the Cheese," but more uplifting.....the ending is transcendent.....not just for young adults--buy this book & pass it around to everyone you know...

Barney is a teenager at a special clinic for experimental drugs and treatments, and mostly only adults are there. In one ward, though, are teenagers who are terminally ill. Barney is the only one who isn't extremely sick. All of those here have chosen to come and take experimental drugs, in the hopes that the research done on them will someday make new medications possible. The ones here will not be saved by the research, though. It is certain they will all die.

Barney isn't sure why he is here. He is not terminal and he can't remember where he came from. Some of the other patients don't like him at first because he isn't dying like them. But he is eventually able to make friends. From time to time Barney has a strange and frightening dream of driving a car, going out of control and being about to hit a girl stepping off of the curb. He can't remember any more than that, but is horrified by the dream.

Then the doctors at the clinic begin doing some experiments with Barney's memory, and things get very strange for him. There are only a couple of things he does know for sure. One is that he wants to help his peers, whether that means finding a way for Billy to use a telephone, making Allie feel a part of things, or getting Mazzo his one last ride in a car. The other thing he knows is that he is in love with Mazzo's twin sister Cassie, who comes to visit him in the clinic. Despite knowing these things, though, Barney knows very little about himself. Will he be able to find out more about his past and his identity? Does he even want to know?

I liked watching Barney in his journey to help others and to find out about himself. I thought Barney's secret was interesting and unexpected, and I also liked reading about Cassie and her problem. However, at the end of this book I was still a little foggy on what exactly had happened with Barney, and why.

This is one of my favourite books ever. It makes one think and leaves one feeling more knowledgable after reading. I was pleasantly surprised upon realizing that I enjoyed this tale. Barney goes through so much and the ending leaves you breathless. If ever you want to be proud of reading a book and understanding it, try this one!

This book is an excellent book for beginners starting off on Robert Cormier books. The way Mr. Cormier writes is very descriptive and may even attract older readers as well as younger ones. I highly recommend this book and at it's price I think you should buy it.