Jackson T. Reading Blog
The Death of Bees By: Lisa O' Donnell
The Death of Bees is a chilling novel about two orphans in Glasgow, Scotland (Marnie and Nelly) who must avoid alerting the authorities of the truth behind their (dead) parents. In the beginning of the novel, Marnie talks about how their parents died. Their mother Isabell killed her husband Eugene by smothering him with a pillow, and committing suicide the next morning by hanging herself in the backyard shed.
Marnie and Nelly realize that they must bury their parents in the backyard instead of going to the social services for help, to avoid separation. So the two sisters must come up with a lie to disguise why their parents are gone until Marnie turns 16 and becomes old enough to take care of Nelly as a legal guardian. If anyone asks Marnie or Nelly will them that they are on vacation in central Europe.
The girls neighbor, Lennie notices that they are alone. And Lennie being the kind old man he is, takes them under his wing, where he clothes, feeds, and loves them as if they were his children.
Marnie and Nelly believe they are safe and both continue with their usually daily lives. Nelly with her schoolwork and Marnie with her boyfriend. Also Eugene's drug dealer Mick who is expecting a large amount of cash from Eugene, but Eugene can't pay if he's dead. Thus leading us to conflict; Mick wants the money, Marnie knows where it is, and she's running out of excuses. But not even Lennie can protect the girls from Mick or the police, who are also breathing down their necks. While all of this happening, Marnie and Nellie's (Severly abusive and Christian) grandfather Robert T. Macdonald, wants to claim custody if their parents come back from their "Vacation" soon.
I enjoyed reading this review because it gave me a grasp of what the story was about.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post because it gives a detailed description of what is happening in the story
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds really good. I wonder who will get the custody of them? Your description of the beginning of the book leaves me hanging and wanting to read it right now to see what happens!
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