Kirkus praises THE DANGER OF SMALL THINGS by Caryl Lewis in starred review: “A suspenseful storyline and lyrical narrative voice make this a standout”
THE DANGER OF SMALL THINGS [STARRED REVIEW!]
Author: Caryl Lewis
Review Issue Date: January 1, 2026
Online Publish Date: November 22, 2025
Publisher: Atheneum
Publication Date: March 24, 2026
Section: Teen
“An imaginative teen navigates life under a dictatorship in a world without bees.
After all the bees die, the ensuing societal upheaval forces young girls into a reimagined labor force. From age 11, they’re made to hand-pollinate crops, living together in a building overseen by Mother Clement and Father Renatus, who indoctrinate them into sacrificing themselves for the greater good. The girls subsist on dry bread and rarely get to see, let alone taste, the fruit they’re helping to produce. Once they have their first menses, they’re married off to men chosen for their “fertility compatibility.” Jess, whose mum hid her until she was 13, sticks close to best friend Cass, and avoids horrible bully Charmian, whose beauty wins her special treatment from the Mothers. Unusually for a girl, Jess can read—her mum taught her—and her memories of beloved stories, salvaged from the book-burning militia, and her own imagination take her beyond her abusive environment, nurturing her hope for a better world. Mum also scrounged paints to nurture Jess’ creativity. Jess’ first-person narration teems with rich, metaphorical imagery, emphasizing her passion for reading and art. Flashbacks connect past and present events, intertwining Jess’ memories of Mum’s teaching with her own growing empowerment. Art emerges as a powerful agent for change and emotional restoration, and shocking reveals add to the suspense. The multifaceted characters surrounding the white-presenting lead are cued ethnically diverse.
A suspenseful storyline and lyrical narrative voice make this a standout.”
(author’s note) (Dystopian. 13-18)