HONEYBEES AND FRENEMIES

When 12-year-old Florence Valandhingam is forced to jointly compete with her archenemy in the local Honey Festival, she learns important lessons about friendship, trust, and belonging.

Flor is having the worst summer ever. Her best friend, Brooke, is going away to band camp just when the two of them are old enough to enjoy a modicum of freedom. Her parents, who used to get along, can’t stop fighting. Worst of all, Flor is forced to jointly compete with Candice, her nemesis, for the title of queen at the Honey Festival. At first, Flor is sure that their history will make it impossible to compete: When Florence beat out Candice for the title of queen in third grade, Candice told everyone it was because the largely white town had to pick a person of color or biracial Flor’s parents—her dad is white and her mom, South Asian—would sue. But as the two girls get to know each other, Flor starts to believe that she and Candice might not be the worst team—especially when both of them realize that they are competing not to beat the other entrants but for the futures of their families. Narrator Flor’s voice strikes just the right balance of naiveté and sarcasm, rendering it authentic and fun to read. Wientge seamlessly weaves issues like racism, economic stability, and environmental devastation into a clear, engaging plot. While the book moves at a good pace, the last third feels a tad rushed—a small quibble.

A sweet and satisfying read about friendship, sisterhood, and change.