I received this book for free in exchange of an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Disclosure here.
Reading age
10+
Genre
Realistic fiction
Publisher
Gilded Press
Publication date
September 1, 2022
A twelve-year-old girl must show everyone that she is more than her ADHD.
Stephanie Fiorelli has difficulty controlling her emotions and is very impulsive. After an incident with a classmate, Stephanie is diagnosed with ADHD. From now on, she goes to see a therapist to help her, and The Golden Bee event (a STEAM competition) is coming up. She needs to lead the Green Thumb Gardeners (her group for the event) to victory, and along the way, she learns many new things.
An author’s note at the beginning of the book tells readers that Stephanie is based on herself. Because of that, the story feels more natural, and I connected and sympathized with Stephanie a lot.
Moreover, my best friend has autism and ADHD. So do some of my other friends. Thanks to this book, I understand ADHD a little better.
The evaluation she had to diagnose ADHD reminded me of my assessment of autism. And I also had to see therapists just like she did. This book felt like a safe place to be and helped me to reflect on my and others’ lives.
Stephanie is a relatable character. She is hilarious with sending her thoughts in multiple texts. I did not like the mean girl, Angelina. Steph’s friends are very loyal, and I loved her prankster friend Max.
The theme of The Golden Bee is that “winning isn’t just about the shiny trophy”-The Golden Bee— Kindness, compassion, and acceptance of others are what will shine at the end.
This book makes a mark in being highly relatable and a must-read not just for kids with ADHD but for everyone who wants to understand neurodivergent students better.
My rating
