Meg tells herself she should feel lucky to be Beatrix's best friend. Everyone at school wants to be like Beatrix. She's larger than life, and is good at making plans and decisions, the kinds of things that make Meg nervous. Even when Beatrix is difficult or harsh, Meg tells herself that losing Beatrix as a friend would be much worse . .

When Beatrix targets the quirky new girl in town, Hazel, Meg is taken aback at how mean Beatrix can be--and how mean she can be to stay on Beatrix's good side. But Meg and Hazel get to know each other while working on a project about Hazel's backyard beehive. As Meg learns more and more about bees--and about Hazel--she starts to wonder: What is it really like to be the Queen Bee? And more importantly: Is being Beatrix's friend worth turning down the possibility of a new friend?

 

Gillian McDunn is the author of Caterpillar Summer. She has lived in California, Missouri, and North Carolina, and is a fan of both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. She currently lives near Raleigh, NC, with her family.