Allreaders.com

The Bumblebee Flies Anyway Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Bumblebee Flies Anyway


Barney Snow is nearly 17, and a resident in "the Complex," an experimental facility where drugs are tested on terminally-ill children. Barney thinks he's different from the rest -- he's not dying, for one thing -- but it's not clear why he's there, or why Dr. Lakendorp (whom Barney refers to as "the Handyman") periodically injects Barney with drugs (which Barney calls "merchandise").
Click here to see the rest of this review...


Other residents are much worse off, from Billy the Kidney in his wheelchair (though he remembers the days when he used to steal cars just to take them joyriding) to the beautiful former athlete Mazzo, who's mostly bedridden and hooked up to machines. At least Barney is able-bodied enough to wander the grounds, and even climb the fence to look at the junkyard full of wrecked cars on the next lot. When Mazzo's twin sister Cassie starts coming to visit, trying to get Mazzo to let their mother come too, Barney agrees to be on hand to fend off the bothersome relatives. But he starts to fall for pretty Cassie, and agrees to report back to her on Mazzo's ongoing condition.

In the course of doing favors for Billy and Mazzo, Barney starts to formulate a brilliant plan to take them all on one last glorious ride. But what if the drugs get to be too much for him? And why is he a resident of "the Complex," anyway?
The review of this Book prepared by David Loftus



Chapter Analysis of The Bumblebee Flies Anyway

Click on a plot link to find similar books!

Plot & Themes

Tone of book?    -   depressed Time/era of story    -   1980's-1999 Life of a profession:    -   mental patient Internal struggle/realization?    -   Yes Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Job/Profession/Status story    -   Yes Brain/Body disability?    -   mental illness

Main Character

Gender    -   Male Profession/status:    -   unemployed Age:    -   a teen Ethnicity/Nationality    -   White (American) Unusual characteristics:    -   Super sensitive soggy jelly muffin

Setting

United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Northeast Small town?    -   Yes

Writing Style

Amount of dialog    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

Books with storylines, themes & endings like The Bumblebee Flies Anyway

Robert Cormier Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
2 Ways to Search!
Or



Our Chief Librarian