We all judge books by their covers, in spite of the saying cautioning us not to. A book’s cover attracts us, or it does not—we pick the book up, or we don’t. Sometimes a cover redesign can mean the difference between success and anonymity for the author.
I’ve found a book that is truly magnificent—and I almost didn’t pick it up because its cover is so far from the story inside. It’s a new book in the children’s section at my library. I think the writing is worthy of a Newbery Award. I hope when the award is added to its cover, the publisher considers a cover redesign.
The book is Hour of the Bees, debut novel by author Lindsay Eagar. It’s the story of twelve-year-old Carol’s introduction to her family heritage while moving grandfather Serge with his advancing Alzheimer’s off his drought-ruined sheep ranch in New Mexico. Sometimes present, sometimes caught in the past, Serge recounts a story full of so much magic that it cannot possibly be true… Or can it?
To me, the story carries the quality of magical realism first brought to our attention in this country by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, with his bestsellers One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera.
That’s the kind of cover I’d like to see on Hour of the Bees; something colorful and wild, with hints of the culture within. When you read it, think about what kind of cover you would design for it, and let me know how you would design it.
This is really a not-to-be-missed book. It would be great as a read-aloud or a read-alone. While shelved in the children’s section, its themes of cross-generational discovery and deep family healing will engage adults of any age.
I’ve been told my Piper Pan and Her Merry Band book covers could use a redesign for greater mass appeal; that they are not on par with other books in their genre. Its true, they lack the complexity that other children’s fantasy covers have. But I love the bold colors, and I love using the illustrations from the story inside on the cover. I am satisfied for now.
