Book excerpt: Boys often gain recognition in our culture for their strength and athletic ability, and those who do not fit into the traditional mold may feel misunderstood. When the Bees Fly Home allows readers to see that artistic and sensitive boys have their own special place. Young Jonathan, the son of a beekeeper, isn't sturdy enough to help his dad with some of the work on the farm, and his father is sometimes irritable with him. It's worse now, because the family is struggling to make ends meet during a drought, and their bees aren't making much honey. When Jonathan's mom stays up late one night to make beeswax candles to sell at the local farmer's market, Jonathan comes downstairs to help. He puts his own skills to work modeling small wax animals and insects to decorate the candles. Their candles prove so popular that they come home from the market with orders for more. Bee facts buzz through this human story about a child trying to please his father, and we come to understand why Jonathan is so fascinated with bees and why we might want to learn more about them ourselves. Some wonderful resources on bees are offered at the end of the book.