"The worker bee and its vital role in the life cycle of the honeybee are interwoven with the threat that Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) poses to bees, plants, and humans in straightforward language on honey-colored paper, illustrated with full-color photographs on every page. Commercial colonies of bees are trucked around the country to pollinate almonds, blueberries, apples, citrus fruit, and pumpkins in a yearly cycle that does not include the winter rest that wild bees take. But because these honeybees can mix with wild populations, the threat of CCD is not confined to commercial bee colonies. The work of scientists examining such possible causes as virus, fungus, mites, and pesticides and possible remedies is described. The glossary and index provide good definitions of terms relating to both honeybees and CCD. The author has included a half page of interesting factoids about honeybees as well as suggestions for how to help them locally and organizations involved in “Global Rescue Efforts.” An excellent first purchase for reports as well as for general interest." —starred, School Library Journal

The honeybee disappearance that started around 2006 is a great science mystery to bring non-scientists into the excitement of scientific discovery. Honeybees are important. Their demise will affect us all. And scientists need to use all their tools to learn the answers. Markle’s writing is not quite the page-turner drama that comes with a fictional mystery, but she comes close without resorting to over dramatizing the subject. Stunning pictures keep the book anchored in the real world. This is a real mystery that people continue to grapple with, even as they find some answers, more questions crop up. There are other fine books on this topic, including The Hive Detective (Loree Griffin Burns), however, Markle writes for a younger audience, one that is not ready for the tension in Burns book, but may be drawn into this one with the wonderful photos Markle uses. Broken into five chapters, the writing is straight forward, and maps as well as photos and drawings are used appropriately. This would be a wonderful pick for elementary classrooms that want to expand their normal insect studies. Reviewer: Amy S. Hansen; Ages 7 to 12.

2013-09-15
Markle presents a solid, respectful overview of colony collapse disorder for an audience slightly younger than Loree Griffin Burns' The Hive Detectives (2010). The author opens her story in October 2006, with a beekeeper checking on his hive to discover that thousands of his workers have disappeared. From this compelling opening, she backtracks to discuss the importance of honeybees in pollination as well as bee basics. She then moves on to discuss possible causes of CCD: monoculture and suburban sprawl, overwork (a map provides graphic testimony to commercial bees' arduous schedules), mites, fungus and pesticides. Both natural and human defenses against CCD present some hope. Bees reproduce fast, and adjustments made to bees' schedules and feeding can help, as does breeding mite- and disease-resistant bees and the rise in hobbyist beekeeping. Markle never talks down to her audience, using specialized vocabulary--Nosema ceranae, varroa mite, neonicotinoid--and lucidly defining it in context as well as gathering it in a glossary. Big, full-color photographs are reproduced against honey-colored backgrounds. (Sharp-eyed readers will wonder why there is no mention of a mite clearly attached to a dead bee in a photograph captioned, "This bee didn't have any symptoms to show it was sick before it died.") Further facts as well as ways to help honeybees appear in the backmatter. In all, a solid addition to the insect shelves, with a valuable emphasis on science as process. (bibliography, index). (Nonfiction. 9-12)