by Kate Quinn
First published 2012
Kevin the wasp rules the meadow through fear. He bullies Becky Butterfly and threatens to kidnap all the caterpillars for the Queen Wasp's offspring. Becky decides she must confront him. When she finally stands her ground, she discovers Kevin harbors a painful secret. As a male worker wasp in a species where only females work, Kevin faces constant ridicule from his own kind. Becky overhears him pouring out his grief to the meadow flowers. Her anger transforms into compassion as she realizes Kevin's cruelty stems from his own suffering. Though Kevin spurns her offers of friendship, Becky refuses to abandon him. She resolves to shield Kevin from the other wasps' torment, even if it means putting herself in mortal danger.
Genres: fiction, animals, fantasy, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Meadow
32 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform