2020 Skipping Stones Honor Award for Nature and Ecology
This is the exciting sequel to Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head!
Scientist
Insect Lover
Activist?
Can one temperamental fourth-grader save thousands of sweet, homeless honey bees?
Ten-year-old Samantha Hansen loves science! In the beginning of fourth grade, she never let a moment go by without talking about rocks. Now she’s back with a new obsession: insects! Upon learning that the local apiary is for sale, she goes into action to save the honey bees. Will her someday boyfriend Todd or her best friend Kelli be part of her plan? Will That Kid Richard get in the way? Sam’s lists of insect facts and funny thoughts highlight her quest to keep the bees in the community, the challenges she faces at school, and her ongoing struggle with her temper. Join Samantha as she looks to science for answers and does her part to change the world.
“A joyfully refreshing tale of an enthusiastic, inquisitive young girl who loves science and discovers the wonderful world of honey bees and their importance in nature.” ~ Jack McMichael, 10-Year Beekeeper, Member of the Chester County Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association and the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association
“Something Is Bugging Samantha Hansen is a wonderful story that will influence a lot of kids to get excited about science, and honey bees in particular.” ~ Jerry Futrell, President of the Jersey Cape Branch of the New Jersey Beekeepers Association
“Much like her 4th grade classmates, Samantha Hansen is spunky, independent, and often confused by fractions and percentages. However, there is something that sets her apart, she is a scientist! With her persistent list making, collection of insect t-shirts, and plethora of bug facts, Samantha is just the girl to take on the fight against the closing of the Orchardville bee farm… Nancy Viau uses skillful and strategic childlike language to tell this heartfelt story from the perspective of 10-year-old Samantha, thus making the story relatable for younger audiences. Viau explores many rather difficult topics through the eyes of a child, giving them an innocent appearance…. For example, she discusses the death of Sam’s father in dialect that is sweet, longing, and almost naive. This creates the structure for the rest of the book, and that wholesome feeling persists in all of its 184 pages. Viau also touches on hardships within friendships, as even from a young age, it is common to lose friends and have to learn about forgiveness. This is done beautifully through the subplot about Sam and Kelli’s friendship. Overall, Nancy Viau has created a masterfully relatable and immensely fun story that can be enjoyed by young readers with passion and a little bit of spunk of their own. ~ Emma Merwin, Skipping Stones Magazine
“Delightful for younger middle grade readers and those girls (and boys) who enjoy science and BUGS! Samantha is a spunky, cute main character readers will love. Everyone will want to be her friend. Beautiful cover design and clever, colorful illustrations on end papers inside the cover will delight visual learners. Samantha shares her knowledge as she learns about bugs, and readers will learn new things with her. Recommended for grade 3 and up. Easy enough for age eight and could be enjoyed ages 8-10.” ~ Pamela Thompson, Cybils Judge, School Library Journal Reviewer, Blogger
“Samantha Hansen is an inquisitive, impatient girl who sometimes lets her anger get the best of her … I love protagonists who make mistakes, and Samantha Hansen could lead to some fantastic social-emotional discussions in the classroom or at home. Between her anger management and the way she relates to others, kids could learn a lot about positive ways to solve problems and work with others. Recommended.” ~ Kristen Crouch, Fifth Grade Teacher
“Sam is a spunky girl who finds herself in a couple of sticky situations, ones she’s not sure how to handle. This uncertainty and the topics chosen fit very well to the age group and are easy for middle graders to identify with … The addition of entomology, and especially bees, adds a nice, science direction. Sam is a list girl, and this gives the reader the opportunity to learn more about this insect. This information flows into the rest of the tale smoothly and never comes across as preachy.” ~ Tonja Drecker, Goodreads