This book is excellent, so light and dark at the same time. The voice of Little Bee is so compelling and so well done; it will stay with me. My sincere congratulations to Chris Cleave on writing such a fine book.

I suggest people NOT read the ‘Independent’ review linked to above. It’s a good review but it gives away much of the plot.

I love books that make me rethink my views on things and this one made me ashamed that I have never questioned what happens to asylum seekers when they arrive in the UK illegally and are detained. Thank you for a great read and for opening my eyes.

I couldn’t put Little Bee down and spent last Saturday reading it as my children destroyed the house and my husband resigned himself to the fact that I had to be “LEFT ALONE” until the very end. But darn you, Mr. Cleave! I haven’t slept since. Your absolutely perfect but terribly tragic ending has left me weeping and has kept me up at night, fretting about about all the Little Bees in this world. And that is exactly as it should be. Bravo! A perfect book.

Enjoyed your book thoroughly. We’re (USA)treating our undocumenteds the same way. Have recommended Little Bee to many friends who will be receptive to the message in it as well as appreciative of the beauty of the language. I loved Little Bee’s take on the developed world. You are a gifted writer. I hope your little ones and wife are well and that you get enough sleep to write some more.

thank you for a powerful reading experience in Little Bee.
you’ve blended life messages of shallow and deep proportions seamlessly.
one laughs, cries and begs for a deeper understanding of refugee struggles, along with our own ‘trivial’ ones.
bless you mr. cleave.

wow.

Wonderful novel. Absolute great. But one thing I do not understand. As you mentioned before you have pretty smart readers. So why do you put an image of a young boy without clothes on the cover of your book. Your smart readers know this boy is there with a reason. From page one I was waiting for the scene with the boy on the beach. Which actually gives a way the ending of you novel! What a waste! Please switch to the ‘Little Bee’ cover and dont use the other one for the reprints to come.

Many thanks from Amsterdam – Holland,
Otto

Just a note to say how much I enjoyed reading ‘The Other Hand’. Briliiantly written, this story is not only a wonderful entertainment but it makes one realise that Asylum Seekers are real people with real needs and not comparable to wreckage washed up on our shores to be disposed of as if they were a blight upon our society.

I’m about half way through “The Other Hand” aka “Little Bee” and am learning a lot about the way Africans and British people think and see things around them. I lived in West Africa for 19 years. I wish I could have read this book 20 years ago.

I have read The Other Hand, followed by Little Bee and Incendiary. I couldn’t stop reading them, and have told my friends they must buy and read them too. I won’t lend the books, I’m afraid I won’t get them back. Did I enjoy them? Enjoy is the wrong word, but I was totally immersed in them, and was desparate to find out howe they ended.
One question, why are they all written from a woman’s point of view? It must be difficult, but you did it perfectly.

Hi Phil – thank you, I’m very happy you enjoyed it. Yes, it will be made into a movie by BBC Films. Details here: http://bit.ly/1R6Nzx

everything i thought i knew to be true about people and good and evil, and happy endings, collides in this book. there were times i had to put it down because the story was so unrelenting. powerful. haunting.

Hi Pat – thanks for your comment. I will get hold of the book club guide and get it online here ASAP. Thanks! Chris

Lıttle bee ı lıke.ı’m from turkey.thıs ıs a book congratulation.

I really liked reading “Little Bee” until the very end – I felt like it left me hanging – what happens to Little Bee? do the soldiers take her? I’m sure I’m supposed to figure it out but I can’t – help

Thanks Alan – received & understood. Consider me chastened.

I have read many, many good books in my half-lifetime — and some great ones. Little Bee is a great one. It literally took my breath away. I was riveted by her story and her soulful, simple wisdom. Her character will linger with me.

Thanx for Little Bee (The Other Hand) from Turkey…from Kayseri,Chris !!!
I just finished your novel…it was wanderful really but my feelings are very complex and sensitive now;and also the book finished okey.But somethings are still continue now.And ı ı have many unanswered questions… so ın my opinion ” Little Bee ” needs ” Little Bee 2 ” for answering that problems.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN,THANK YOU,CHRIS.

Pharm.Mustafa Cingil
Kayseri/Turkey

a life with realites,love,frendship and peace,when you read you will feel all of these at same time,and think “what for all these death,who will win at last!?”surely must read.thank you dear writer,thank you for your good heart!

This book was so beautiful I just love your style of writing. Once I began reading, I just could not put it down. I do have to ask though, was that really the end of the story? I am waiting for a second book because there really was no conclusion in this book, or at least no closure. I would like to know what happened next with all of the characters, it just seemed so open ended. Do you plan to write a follow up book to this story? If you do, I would love to read it.

As a student in high school I will have to admit I was not looking for a book quite like this one. I was looking for something a little more, happy. Reading the back pulled me right away. I knew that it wasn’t going to be cheerful, but I wanted to know so badly what the big choice was that little bee and Sara had to make. Reading the book was an adventure in it’s self. I loved it right away adn could not put it down; I would read it every chance that I got just to learn more. There are no words worthy enough to explain this book, I do recomend it to anyone!

Little Bee is that rare, exquisite find that will lift you off your feet and take you away even before you know you’ve been moved. It is an adventure. It leaves you wanting more. I dare not say anything else, because as the inside jacket says, it is how the story unfolds where the real magic lies.
Unfortunately, in order to convince a friend of mine to read it, I agreed to read The Host by Stephanie Meyer. That’s how much I loved Little Bee; I’m willing to push back my reading of Jane Eyre and endure the writing of the author who brought us the horribly written Twilight Saga.
Go read Little Bee. Believe me, it will change you.

LITTLE BEE caught my heart from the beginning. I’ve recommended it to everyone I know. At the same time, I have to say that I’m just as caught up right now in Chris Cleave’s first book, INCENDIARY. The entire book is a mother’s letter to Osama Bin Laden after her husband and son are killed in a terrorist explosion while at the soccer game.
I hope there’s another book emerging from Chris’ mind right now. This young man is exceptionally talented.

This was a great book….well written, surely made me feel like I was there….sad, but uplifting and it taught that you need to look out for eachother no matter what the situation is….we are all in this together……I have passed it on to someone else to enjoy!!!!!

This is a extroidinary book. i laughed i cried, symphatized and understood, Cleave is an amazing writer . He portrayes the narrator with such vigor and you just want to give the book to evryone you know even people who dont generally read because they will want to read books after this one.