Something Is Bugging Samantha Hansen

“Much like her 4th grade classmates, Samantha Hansen is spunky, independent, and often confused by fractions and percentages. However, there is something that sets her apart, she is a scientist! With her persistent list making, collection of insect t-shirts, and plethora of bug facts, Samantha is just the girl to take on the fight against the closing of the Orchardville bee farm. In her science class with her favorite teacher, they had just begun the insect unit, and Sam was beyond thrilled. Along with the news of an upcoming field trip to a real bee farm, Sam couldn’t have been happier with school. However, upon visiting her grandfather, she learns that the very farm of their scheduled field trip is closing! She draws on her science knowledge, and the support of her friends, her family, and her newfound puppy Kitty to protest the closing of the farm, and even makes it onto the front page of the newspaper! In the midst of this fight for the survival of the bees, Samantha’s best friend, Kelli, has been playing more and more with someone else, and even starts hanging out with Sam’s future boyfriend Todd! What will Sam do? Nancy Viau uses skillful and strategic childlike language to tell this heartfelt story from the perspective of 10-year-old Samantha, thus making the story relatable for younger audiences. Viau explores many rather difficult topics through the eyes of a child, giving them an innocent appearance. For example, she discusses the death of Sam’s father in dialect that is sweet, longing, and almost naive. This creates the structure for the rest of the book, and that wholesome feeling persists in all of its 184 pages. Viau also touches on hardships within friendships, as even from a young age, it is common to lose friends and have to learn about forgiveness. This is done beautifully through the subplot about Sam and Kelli’s friendship. The girls have been best friends throughout their entire lives, but when Kelli begins taking ballet classes with Ling, Sam senses a distance from her friend and becomes angry with her. In the end, however, the girls reach a resolution and they reestablish their friendship, right along with saving the bees. Viau also touches on the pressure of trying to fit in as a fourth grader. Sam decides to create a club called the Bug Club. As she waits for her fellow classmates to show up to the first meeting, she must grapple with the realization that besides her friends Kat and Richard, no one else is coming. This speaks to the struggle that comes with attempting to make friends. Overall, Nancy Viau has created a masterfully relatable and immensely fun story that can be enjoyed by young readers with passion and a little bit of spunk of their own.
-- Emma Merwin, Skipping Stones Magazine