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Beholding Bee

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By Lauren
Beholding Bee
By Kimberly Newton Fusco
Alfred A. Knopf, 2013. 329 pages. Fiction.

Young orphan Beatrice ("Bee") lives in the back of a truck with her guardian, Pauline, and the two travel from town to town as carnival workers. Bee has a large birthmark on her face, which opens her up to a lot of teasing and prevents her from getting close to people. When Pauline is forced by the evil carnival owner to find work elsewhere, Bee decides to run away and try to start a life of her own, accompanied by a stray dog and a piglet. She is welcomed into the odd little home of two old women named Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Swift. Without revealing too much- Bee's new life is touched by a little bit of magic and imagination. I think girls will like this book, and find themselves relating to Bee's struggles with bullies and trying to find her place in life. It's set during WWII and has some interesting historical touches, but at heart this is a unique novel that doesn't fit into any one genre.
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