Honey Bea (Jump at the Sun) [Hardcover]

Kim L. Siegelson (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Jump at the Sun

On a Louisiana plantation during the heart of slavery, young Beatrice grows up in the care of her protective aunt Abeille. As Bea nears her thirteenth birthday, strange things begin to happen around her. Her master, Monsieur Reynard, seems to have taken a special interest in her, and she has no idea why. Soon secrets held for generations are revealed and Bea feels betrayed. Who is her ally? Her master or her family? And who can help her understand her power, the power that will win her freedom?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 7-10. Weaving strands of fairy tales, voudon, slave stories, and African myth, Siegelson crafts a mesmerizing tale heavy with the scent of honey and flowers and rooted in Louisiana soil. Beatrice is a slave born with the green eyes of her mother and raised by her grandmother's twin, Tante Abeille, who knows secrets about the girl's past and future. At 13, Beatrice rebels against her aunt's wishes (and her own troubling dreams) and enters the master's house, where Monsieur Reynard's books entrance her. Her broken silver locket with a bee clasp signifies both the blood ties between Beatrice and Reynard and the lore of the bees, whose honey-laced magic averts disaster in an explosive climax. An unusual, lush new voice in the tradition of magic realism, Siegelson blends ancestral voices; elements of fairy lore, including Briar Rose and Cinderella; and intoxicating language: "Beatrice knew true sweetness. On her tongue, it tasted like freedom." GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Kim L. Siegelson, a native of Georgia, was the first recipient of the Center for Multicultural Children's Literature Writing Award. Her most recent book,In the Time of the Drums,won the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her family.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Jump At The Sun; First Edition, First Printing edition (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786808535
• ISBN-13: 978-0786808533
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,742,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A warm story of slave days evolves with a fine personal touch and supernatural twist, April 10, 2006

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Honey Bea (Jump at the Sun) (Hardcover)

Beatrice is growing up on a Louisiana sugar plantation in the time of slavery and enjoys the protection of a great-aunt who can communicate with the spirits. While their favored position keeps them from contact with those who consider them witches, Beatrice can find no refuge against her own blossoming powers - and her master is taking a special interest in her. Is she sole heir to a power that really will change her life? Honey Bea is a warm story of slave days evolves with a fine personal touch and supernatural twist.