Eleven-year-old Leo and his nine-year-old sister Lizzie are not too keen on visiting their grandfather who lives on a farm on an island in British Columbia. However, when their recently-deceased grandmother's beehives are stolen, the three (and Lizzie's kitten Mayhem) set out on an adventure to solve the mystery. I found the children, their grandfather Sam, and Sam's friends to be portrayed as strong, intelligent characters. Leo's and Lizzie's parents, especially their father, however come across as worrisome city slickers who take the first opportunity they get to leave the kids at the farm and head out to a posh spa. This is definitely a book written for kids and emphasizes child empowerment. A cute story with a plausible conclusion. ( )

I adored this story. It's an adventure story for middle grade readers (and adults who enjoy MG like myself). It has many different themes and characters to love. We watch them grow and discover lovely things about nature and having fun. I won this through Librarything, and I am so happy that I did. ( )

The Big Sting
Rachelle Delaney
I received this book as part of the Library Thing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.
Leo, Lizzie and their parents have taken a trip to see their recently widowed Grandpa, who lives on Heron Island. Lizzie loves adventures but Leo, according to his father, is an “armchair adventurer” preferring his adventures to take place in a book or video game. Leo was a bit intimidated by grandpa’s grumpiness and did his best to keep his distance. Soon after their arrival at Grandpa’s house Leo’s parents were able to get a reservation at a spa they had been trying to book. .
With his parents gone, Leo felt responsible to keep Lizzie safe until they returned. This was easier said than done. Lizzie loved going into the barn that Leo thought looked ready to collapse and found a stray cat she adopted as her own. Then, Grandmas beehives were stolen one night. Grandpa, who has been caring for the beehives since Grandma’s death, swore to find the hives and bring them home.
Leo was now on endless adventures with Lizzie, Grandpa and Mayhem, the cat, talking to suspects, following leads and looking for the beehives. At one point, Lizzie and Leo were separated from Grandpa and on their own. Leo surprised even himself by continuing to investigate the missing beehives with Lizzie and taking risks he never thought he would.
I enjoyed the book. It was interesting to see the characters develop as the story progressed. I think the book will be enjoyed by middle schoolers. Two themes running through the book are not to let a label define you and to keep an open mind when meeting new people. They will see Leo become more adventuresome and not letting the label of “armchair adventurer” define him. The readers will also see Leo judging characters based on rumors or initial impressions. He realizes his errors in judgement as he got to know the characters and heard their stories. ( )

The Big Sting by Rachelle Delaney (2023) is a middle grade mystery set on a pair of fictional islands in British Columbia. Presumably they are somewhere in the Salish Sea but where exactly is never established. Leo and his sister, Lizzie, and their grandfather, are on a madcap dash to figure out who stole all the beehives from the dilapidated farm.

The mystery is set around long brewing family tensions. Busy with their lives in Toronto, the family hasn't been to visit in far to long. Now they are visiting in the summer after the grandmother's death. Leo is intimidated by his gruff grandfather and worried that his adventurous sister will get everyone in trouble, or worse, get seriously hurt.

Yet over the course of about thirty-six hours in Grandpa's care, Leo begins to understand both of them better. Grandpa's gruff exterior starts to soften. Lizzie starts to understand that her bookish brother knows some useful things. And Leo begins to take risks he otherwise would never have.

The mystery would appeal to readers who enjoyed Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvarth (2001) or the Maple Harbour Adventures by M.A. Wilson. Finally, with the grandparents, grandchild and insect based mystery, it's a good read-alike to Chirp by Kate Messner (2020). ( )

The Big Sting is an energetic and informative novel for middle grade readers. The “sting” of the title relates to the theft of a beekeeper’s hives and efforts to find the culprit. Descriptive narrative provides useful information on the natural environment (including bees). And the main characters learn a lot about adult behavior.