Review by Booklist Review
Melody, 10, lives in the small Indiana town of Royal with her father, and she doesn't think much about her mother, who died when she was born. But after Melody hears her father call someone Honey on the phone and begins to notice his distracted ways, she's quick to realize something's up something that might mean big changes in her life. This simple, sweet story is cleverly told from several viewpoints, which is a choice not often seen in books for this age group (especially since one of the viewpoints belongs to a dog). As Melody tries to find the reason for her father's surprise happiness, a woman named Bee-Bee opens a local nail shop, where she makes her own glorious colors of polish, and Mo, the dog, remembers a pretty blonde. Weeks pulls these stories together in a straightforward yet elegant way that will please children. Peopled with a (mostly) fresh crew of characters (including a grandfather who smokes in the garage after disconnecting himself from his oxygen tank), this elevates the typical fare for this age group.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In spite of never having known her mother, 10-year-old Melody Bishop leads a pleasant small-town life in Royal, Ind., playing word games with her good-natured father (a humanities teacher) and hanging around with her best friend, Nick Woo. When Melody begins to suspect her father has fallen in love, she determines to find out who it is. Interwoven with Melody's story are two others: that of Bee-Bee Churchill, the owner of the town's new beauty salon, the Bee Hive, and Bee-Bee's 10-year-old French bulldog, Mo, who has his own significant backstory; the three threads eventually intersect in predictable but pleasing ways. Minor intrigue and misunderstandings drive the slender plot, but Weeks (Pie) succeeds in creating an emotionally credible and moving resolution, as well as a small cast of realistic and engaging characters to flesh out the town of Royal. Readers who like words will enjoy the list of 100 nail-polish names Melody creates for the Bee Hive, which concludes this straightforward, affecting read. Ages 8-12. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-At the center of Weeks's sweetly titled novel, is Melody, a 10-year-old girl whose mother died when she was born and who has spent her whole life with her father in Royal, IN. As the book opens, Melody notices that her father is distracted-burning food, whistling "You Are My Sunshine," and, most concerning, calling someone "Honey." A visit from Teeny Nelson, her six-year-old neighbor, confirms Melody's suspicion that her father has, in Teeny's words, "been bitten by the love bug." Along with her friend, Nick Woo, and a cast of winning supporting characters, Melody sets out to discover "Honey's" identity. At the same time, in passages that may be confusing to younger readers, a dog named Mo has a mystery of his own to solve. He dreams about a girl he knows he's supposed to be with, but first he has to find her. Much of the novel's action takes place in the Bee Hive, a local salon owned by a woman named Bee-Bee Churchill who can fill in the missing pieces of Melody's story-and is known for her homemade nail polish. Weeks has a good eye for the details of Melody's life-her anxiety about school, her love for her father and grandfather, and her need to learn more about her mother. Recommend this warm and good-hearted novel to fans of Kate Dicamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie (Candlewick, 2000).-Shelley Sommer, Inly School, Scituate, MA (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Melody falsely interprets a rumor and fears her single dad may secretly be dating her least favorite teacher. Melody's investigation reveals his girlfriend's identity, but, more importantly, Melody learns about her mother, who died in childbirth. With a sprinkling of explanatory proverbs and idioms, a cast of amicable characters, and a happy reunion, Honey is a sweet affirmation of family and friendship. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Melody Bishop's peaceful life with her widower father is upset when the annoying 6-year-old next door comes home from the beauty parlor with some gossip.The 10-year-old has already noticed her father's increased distraction and a new tendency to whistle, so when Teeny Nelson reports that "Henry's been bitten by the love bug," Melody is avid to know more. With her best friend, biracial Nick Woo, at her side, she goes to the Bee Hive beauty salon to investigate. What she discovers there rocks her world not once but twice, as salon owner Bee-Bee has information about Melody's mother, who died in childbirth and about whom her father never speaks. Weeks gets the small moments right: Melody's exasperation with Teeny and the way it turns to sympathy when the little girl's mother threatens a spanking; her affectionate resignation when her grandfather, who has emphysema, sneaks out to the garage for a smoke. And Melody's close relationship with her loving father is sweetly evoked. But other elements fail to cohere. Obvious misdirection leads Melody to a critical misunderstanding that never amounts to more than a plot contrivance, and the mystical visions of Bee-Bee's dog, Mo, who has an unknown connection to Melody, strain credulity. In all, it's an unsuccessful follow-up to Weeks' Pie (2011), but word-loving Melody is appealing, and her appended list of nail-polish colors is somewhat amusing. (Fiction. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
