By Ariana Carpentieri:
Spring has officially sprung, and we have the most perfect and timely book for you to dive into. Nothing screams ‘springtime’ more than a book about bees! Julie Carrick Dalton’s The Last Beekeeper is a celebration of found family, an exploration of truth versus power, and the triumph of hope in the face of despair.
It’s been more than a decade since the world has come undone, and Sasha Severn has returned to her childhood home with one goal in mind—find the mythic research her father, the infamous Last Beekeeper, hid before he was incarcerated. There, Sasha is confronted with a group of squatters who have claimed the quiet, idyllic farm as their own. While she initially feels threatened, the group soon becomes her newfound family, offering what she hasn’t felt since her father was imprisoned: security and hope. Maybe it’s time to forget the family secrets buried on the farm and focus on her future.
But just as she settles into her new life, Sasha witnesses the impossible. She sees a honey bee, presumed extinct. People who claim to see bees are ridiculed and silenced for reasons Sasha doesn’t understand, but she can’t shake the feeling that this impossible bee is connected to her father’s missing research. Fighting to uncover the truth could shatter Sasha’s fragile security and threaten the lives of her newfound family—or it could save them all.
The Last Beekeeper is the an excellent choice for your next book club discussion. Here’s a breakdown on what to watch, what to eat, what to drink, what to listen to, and what to discuss while you read it!
What to Watch:
The Last Beekeeper is is a meditation on forgiveness and redemption and a reminder to cherish the beauty that still exists in this fragile world. A movie I think would be an excellent choice to pair with this book is called Vanishing of the Bees. The movie highlights the challenges bees are facing in this fast-modernizing world. With a special focus on Colony Collapse Disorder, it presents us the economic, political and ecological implications of the worldwide disappearance of the honey bee. This documentary follows organic and commercial beekeepers fighting against big corporations and trying to save their bees.
What to Eat:
This story is a true and beautiful testament to the importance of bees in our ecosystem. There’s no better treat to pair with this book than making some honey granola yogurt bark! Quick to whip up and easy to munch on, this deliciously healthy snack pays a sweet homage to the wonderful work bees do for us on a daily basis.
What to drink:
Staying within that same sweet theme, honey is certainly the main ingredient when it comes to what we suggest pairs best with The Last Beekeeper! Perfect for spring and summer, this honey mojito recipe will BEE the star of the show. This drink is pleasing to the pallet and might even give you a little BUZZ! Like soft sunshine, fresh-cut flowers, and all the other good springtime things, drinking a refreshing beverage like this is sure to spruce up your regular reading routine.
What to Listen to:
The song I think pairs best with this book is a little ditty called
Honeybee by The Head and The Heart. Enchanting vocals that are incredibly refreshing, the lyrics tell a story of a crumbling relationship, then as the song progresses the protagonist realizes what they stand to lose. Regarding this song, Charity Rose Thielen (vocalist and guitarist of the band), says:
“Honeybee really captures the idea of living the end of your life with some regret–realizing you have been living a life complacent with the familiar–maybe even taking the person closest to you for granted and regretting not expressing your love towards them until it’s too late. It’s a concept that connects with all of us. It feels fresh.” And in regards to
The Last Beekeeper, Charlotte McConaghy,
New York Times bestselling author of
Once There Were Wolves, says
: “Dalton’s passion and love for the natural world vibrates gloriously off every page.
The Last Beekeeper is not only an intriguing mystery but an important reminder of what we stand to lose.” The parallels drawn between both the song and the novel are quite BEEwitching! Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the name of the song is so apropos. With all that being said, we truly feel this catchy tune is an excellent fit to listen to as you read
The Last Beekeeper.
What to Discuss:
Download the The Last Beekeeper Reading Group Guide for insightful questions to get the discussion going!
Click below to order your copy of The Last Beekeeper, available now!