Book Review of The Nectar Collector
The Children’s Book Review
The Nectar Collector
Written by Patti Sherlock
Illustrated by Dan Kirchoff
Ages: 10-14 | 240 Pages
Publisher: 12 Willows Press (2025) | ISBN-13: 978-1-961905-64-1
What to Expect: Bees, Nature, Community, Purpose, and Adventure.
A honeybee forager and her thoughtful drone friend must fight for their lives and their unique bond when a forest fire forces their colony into a terrifying journey toward an unknown, dangerous future. The Nectar Collector is a thoughtful, character-driven animal adventure story that explores themes of community, purpose, and loyalty.
The story follows Alenya, a spirited and ambitious forager, and her closest companion, Klymer, a drone bee who dreams of purpose outside the typical life of his kind. Alenya’s drive leads her to discover a lush, abundant purple grove, but her focus is soon disrupted by rumors of internal strife and the sudden, unsettling smell of smoke from a distant fire. As the outside world encroaches, the colony is forced to uproot, plunging Alenya and Klymer into an ordeal that will test their courage, their loyalty to the Mother, and the strength of their friendship.
The writing successfully immerses the reader in the complex, highly structured world of a honeybee colony, complete with its own traditions, language, and politics. Author Patti Sherlock weaves real-world bee behavior—such as the intricate waggle dance used to communicate food sources and the concept of colony lore—into a compelling allegorical fantasy. The relationship between the adventurous Alenya and the philosophical Klymer (later Shanahee), contrasting action with introspection on themes of identity, sacrifice, and the value of every member of a community, is what makes this narrative shine.
The book includes an Author’s Note that thoughtfully details the scientific facts that inspired the fictional world, as well as a map at the beginning of the book, visually establishing the key locations of the story—Alenya’s Hedge, Uncle Gil’s, and Grandma’s—effectively grounding the narrative’s setting for the reader.
The mix of real-world facts about honeybees with compelling fiction makes The Nectar Collector a memorable and rewarding read—highly recommended for middle-grade readers who enjoy anthropomorphic.
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About the Author
Patti Sherlock lives on a farm in Idaho. She walks her dogs in fields that are home to hawks, owls, ravens, coyotes, and a family of golden eagles.
For more information, visit pattisherlock.com.
