Book Review: The Little Bee by Nicola Killen

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The Little Bee  by Nicola Killen  is a children's picture book about a girl name Ollie who follows a bee to a magical, secret garden. But, the next day, the beautiful garden was gone, and the little girl misses her new friends. What will she do? This beautiful book has an expected publication date of May 5, 2026. I'd like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and Beach Lane Books for approving my request for a digital Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Little Bee . I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. Nicola Killen wrote such a beautifully worded story that I found myself immersed in the story, and I'm not even the target audience. It's a charming tale that should encourage children to explore nature and make them want to plant their own secret garden.  Equally beautiful were the illustrations. I found myself taking the time to actually look a the pictures as I read. It's a great story to read   at bedtime  with ch...
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Book Review: Insurgent (Divergent, #2) by Veronica Roth

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The Running Bibliophile Book Review Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Insurgent (Divergent, #2) by Veronica Roth explores a world where choices have consequences and loyalty is constantly tested. With the factions in turmoil and war looming over Chicago, Tris, Four, and several others seek temporary refuge with the peaceful Amity faction. But, safety is fleeting. When members of the Erudite and Dauntless factions arrive in search of refugees, whom they view as traitors, Tris and her allies realize they can’t stay hidden for long. Forced to move on, they join forces with the factionless, only to uncover shocking truths that change everything they thought they knew.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth took me only six days to read, and while I genuinely loved the sequel, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as its predecessor, Divergent. That didn’t really surprise me, though, because I tend to feel this way about sequels. I had similar reactions to New Moon by Stephenie Meyer and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, where the second book just didn’t quite capture the same magic as the first.

One of the main reasons I didn’t enjoy Insurgent as much was that certain parts felt a bit slow. There were moments where the pacing lagged, which pulled me out of the story slightly. Another reason, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, is that while I love romance as part of a story, I don’t want it to overshadow the plot. In Insurgent, I felt like the romantic elements sometimes distracted from the larger stakes and action, rather than enhancing them.

insurgent veronica roth book review
That being said, there were so many things I loved about this book. I appreciated that the story picked up immediately after the events of Divergent, which made it feel like a true continuation rather than a disconnected sequel. I also loved how nothing was ever quite what it seemed, and the massive reveal about Four’s backstory was especially compelling. I won’t go into details because I don’t want to spoil anything for readers who haven’t experienced it yet, but in my opinion, it was a powerful and memorable twist. And the ending, oh my goodness, was absolutely fantastic. I didn’t see it coming at all, but when I looked back, it felt like the only way Insurgent could have ended.

Even though I gave Insurgent three out of five stars, I truly adored this book. Considering that I don’t usually gravitate toward dystopian novels, that says a lot. If you’re a fan of the first Divergent book, young adult dystopian fiction, or fast-paced stories filled with action, secrets, and emotional stakes, I definitely recommend reading Insurgent by Veronica Roth.


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