The Danger of Small Things / Caryl Lewis / Book Review

THE DANGER OF SMALL THINGS

The unthinkable has happened: the bees are gone. The pollinators have vanished, and the balance of the planet has shifted. Famine and fighting break out. Resources are scarce. What we have, we have to hoard for our survival.

Jess doesn't remember a time when there were bees. She doesn't remember the world before scarcity. She hardly remembers life before she was taken from her home, conscripted by the government like every other young girl to pollinate crops by hand. It's hard work, in the beating sun, and she doesn't even get to see the (literal) fruit of her labor. Anything good is reserved for trade and bargaining, not for girls like her.

But despite everything, Jess is her mother's daughter. The years her mother hid her instilled in her hope, a sense of rebellion, and even the harshest punishments of this government camp can't quell that. Plus, she has something the others don't have: the ability to read. So when Jess sees her chance to spark something in the other girls, she takes it. She has nothing else to lose now, right?

THOUGHTS

This book is like a snapshot, and I like that snapshot. But it does lack a lot of the nuance and complexity that YA dystopia usually comes with. It's more introspective. It works at a slower pace. And I don't think that's bad, but I don't know that it stands out very much. It's also very little about the bees, so... Take what you will.

PROS

Little Rebellions	In a world moving steadily toward book bans and artist-less AI "art" as the norm, it does feel very nice to read a book that recognizes the power in art made by human beings. There's a little rebellion in creating anything at all, and in this particularly dystopian world, that little rebellion is even bigger. Art is important to be able to capture human experience, to express the human condition, and this book really champions the work of (human) artists. I appreciate that message. A rebellion doesn't need to be huge to be effective.
Introspective	I mentioned this above in a kind of negative light, but I do think it is rather refreshing to have a YA dystopia that spends so much time in contemplation and reflection over our actions as a species. It's a slower build than most YA books, so many readers will be thrown off by that. But I didn't mind this pace. I think it is a different look at dystopia, without the chaos and with a much more unfortunate sense of resignation. That take, I can appreciate.
The Feminine Predicament	In dystopian times, being a woman can be... difficult. And in a YA market that really likes to feature strong female leads (something I'm absolutely not opposed to), the particular hardship of gendered life can get lost. This book, however, really takes its time to reflect on what a dystopian government might want or need from women. There's a fear that permeates this book of girlhood becoming womanhood, of transitioning from one stage of useful life to a different one, a much more physically dangerous and restrictive one. Marriage and motherhood are government enforced here, and they come with a certain level of oppression that isn't seen often in YA dystopia. This reflection on the nature of growing up in a dystopian world but specifically growing up a girl is poignant and powerful and unique in the YA space.

CONS

There were a few instances that pulled me out of this worldbuilding just because some of the choices felt... strange. Like, for example, Jess's insistence on recognizing and talking about Pre-Raphaelite work. Like, I know she had an art book that she read as a kid, so some art terminology might have stuck. But she doesn't really use much, except referencing the Pre-Raphaelites. Which felt... strange. It was the little things like this that just ended up being, well, head-scratchers.	Dissonance
I love a "power of art" message as much as the next art enthusiast. I really do. But this message felt a little... simple, for the age category. YA books are marketed for teens and above, and having revolution brew simply in the power of art felt a little Middle Grade. Don't get me wrong. I love the messaging. But YA usually has a touch more nuance, and that nuance wasn't really here in this one.	Too Small
I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't really be digging into this complaint. But it kind of goes hand-in-hand with the previous con on this list. The rebellious acts are too small, and the change in character attitude is too quick to feel deserved. The groundwork is, well, fine. I didn't think it came entirely out of nowhere. But I would have liked more development. More give-and-take. More nuance in the way these characters shift and change allegiance and outlook. I just didn't get that, which is... unfortunate.	Quick Conversion

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7/10

Those who liked Jessie Greengrass's The High House will like this new dystopian bit of climate fiction. Fans of Lauren DeStefano's Wither will like this take on girlhood in a dark and dangerous near-apocalypse world.

Details Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers Date: March 24, 2026 Series: N/A Add to Goodreads Buy it HERE

Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.