The Big Sting

Looking for a story that contains bees, a grumpy grandpa, an adventurer, and an auditor? Check out The Big Sting by Rachelle Delaney!

When eleven-year-old Leo and his family travel from the city to Heron Island to spend time with their grandpa, Leo ends up a reluctant adventurer.

The Big Sting is a fun, entertaining read. Rachelle Delaney has crafted a middle grade novel that contains a little piece of all middle graders throughout. Leo is an “armchair adventurer”, keeping his adventures contained to those he takes through video games. His sister Lizzie is determined to be a wildlife adventurer when she is older and getting a ton of practice right now. Most readers will notice a little bit of themselves in Leo and Lizzie.

There is a ton of heart in this story. Grandpa is so grumpy! He’s your typical crotchety old man who has a hard time connecting with his grandchildren. When we find out that he’s just sad because Grandma has recently died, readers begin to understand more about why grandpa acts grumpy so often. 

Rachelle Delaney must love puns because this story is jammed full of them. They make for a great chuckle and help the amateur detectives solve the crime in the end.

I love that this book features a caper. Grandma’s bees have been stolen and Grandpa, Leo and Lizzie, along with Mayhem the kitten, travel all across Heron Island trying to figure out who would be bold enough to steal the prize winning bees. Assumptions are tested throughout the story mankind for a good reminder about judging before getting to know someone.

Leo goes through a huge growth arc and the kindness of those he meets helps him realize that he doesn’t just exist in a box, one thing he needs to be for his whole life, he contains multitudes and he gets to determine how he exists in the world, not some internet test his dad found.

The Big Sting was a wonderful read from start to finish. It’s a very classic middle grade story that will appeal to so many different readers.