#beekeeping – kindread spirits

Each morning when Jacob awakes, he feels it all over again – the shock of not being able to use the legs he once took for granted. He has relived that moment over and over in his mind of going from a normal, if rebellious, adolescent to one who cannot go anywhere without his damned wheelchair. And while his friends have tried to reach out, he has recoiled from their attempts, because, well, what’s the point? And then there is Alice, fairly paralyzed herself, but by the grief she’s felt since the death of her husband. And although she goes to work and cares for her beloved bees, she is really just going through the motions, isn’t she? At the same time, Harry is not far away, despondent since his uncle has been dragged away from their home, trying desperately to figure out where his next meal might come from. It is these three very disparate characters who will, by unforeseen circumstances come together, join forces, and in fact, perhaps even save each other.

This is a truly poignant story. Each character has suffered deep pain and is swimming in his/her trauma, trying desperately not to drown. None can see any sort of hope. It is only when they are together that they are able to bolster each other, to embolden each other. Much like the bees that they come together to care for.

In this novel, we are told much about how the community of bees works constantly for the benefit of the whole hive; how each member has a specific mission, how interdependent they are. How essentially, if a few fail, they all fail. What a lesson for us all, right? In this moment when so many of us are so isolated, so intent on working from home, so avid to avoid communal spaces, we may, actually, be hurting ourselves. When we’re connected with others, we improve our mental health and we improve societal health as well.

Another stunning lesson from nature beautifully transposed through this story.

Olivia has done what she can to protect her son, Asher. Raising him as a single mom, providing him a safe home even when money was tight – she has given him all that she could. And he has seemed to flourish, excelling privately in art and more outwardly both socially and in hockey, a sport quite popular among his peers in his New Hampshire high school. When attractive, somewhat shy, newcomer to the school, Lily, arrived, he was in the right place at the right time, introduced to her by his closest, oldest friend and they immediately hit it off. Little did anyone know how it would lead to a fatal incident and a court case that would upend all of their lives.

Out of a literal dream of Boylan’s, grew the coming together of two talents to compose a powerful and insightful work of literature. In this novel, we find every important element: complex character development, the spinning of a suspenseful plot that is constructed both backwards and forwards – and actually works! – and an opportunity to learn. We learn about beekeeping – which is interesting at times but does get perhaps a bit too detailed at other times, in my opinion – and we learn about the experience of being trans, which is, also in my opinion, invaluable.

I find it fascinating how two authors can come together and write a novel that reads so seamlessly. It demonstrates collaboration at its finest. Clearly they have each edited each other’s work such that there is a united style that is woven throughout and it gives the novel a single tone and clear voice.

I also deeply appreciate what we learn from the perspective of the trans voice. While I have personally worked some in this area, I feel I always have more to learn and I always appreciate when I am helped by those who are generous enough to share their experience with those of us cis folks who have had the privilege to have not struggled with these issues. It is not their responsibility to do the work for me, and at the same time, I am grateful to be able to benefit from their thoughts and experience so that I may become better.

This is an important story in so many ways, not the least of which is that it’s a gripping, powerful, and enlightening read. Highly recommend this one!!