Includes bibliographical references (pages 130 — 133).

Kee, a smart and feisty honeybee, loses one of her wings and can no longer fly. Disgraced, she flees the hive and bumps into an unlikely band of misfits including a skunk who can't stink, a mouse-intolerant snake, and a small but cheeky sidekick...who may have some attention deficit issues. Join Kee, Kyle, Noodles, and Pinky on their journey out of the woods and into the treacherous world of Baldi, Rumbler, and the rumored Dare protocol. Will they find "Lucky," an elusive character with legendary — if not magical — powers of healing? The colony depends on it. The story of these misfits is bookended by a framework narrative in which we realise that the main plot is a story told by an older brother to his younger sister, who is clearly suffering from an unspecified illness. There is poignancy in the sister's request for a rhyming bedtime story, which was a treat when she was a little girl, as now she is resting because she is or has been unwell. The characters in her brother's make-believe story resonate with the characters from The Wizard of Oz: they believe they are, or are perceived to be, unconventional and feel self-conscious or defensive in consequence. This story encourages tolerance, self-belief and overcoming adversity, and is applicable to all young readers, especially those who may be struggling with feelings of inadequacy or exclusion. There is a section at the end where the author elaborates on certain puzzles and key scenes in the book, and the children and parents who inspired him, many of whom he encountered in his work with children's charities. Short novel.
Audience: Child 8 - 12 years