Seldom does one encounter a book set in the Midwest that depicts its people as anything more than the hackneyed stereotypes that live in the imaginations of residents of the east and west coasts. In her new novel, The Hive, Melissa Scholes Young paints an honest and stunningly beautiful portrait of life in rural America that readers from all walks of life will appreciate.
The Hive is a story about the Fehler family of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, ostensibly led by patriarch Robbie, owner of a fourth-generation, family-owned, pest control business, husband of doomsday-prepper Grace, and father of four daughters who must balance their desire for independence with their loyalty to their adoring, yet chauvinistic, dad.
As any beekeeper knows, a hive is not a patriarchy, and neither is the Fehler family. While Grace is the Queen Bee of The Hive, daughter Maggie yearns to prove to her father that she is ready to take over the family business, favoring innovation over the status quo that has landed the family in dire financial straits.
Jules, the first Fehler to attend college, has no desire to inherit the family business. A fiercely independent feminist, Jules often finds herself politically at-odds with her parents who are faithful Rush Limbaugh listeners.
Younger sister Tammy, still in high school, wants nothing more than to read, spend time with her boyfriend, and win the Miss Cape Girardeau beauty pageant, but she soon finds that life has other plans for her.
Kate, the youngest member of the family, embraces her mother’s prepping obsession and her father’s appreciation of bees. She pays close attention to every little detail involving her family, while she herself is often overlooked by those she loves.
A sudden tragedy and several shocking secrets threaten to tear the Fehler family apart. To survive each crisis, the Fehler sisters must rely on themselves and on one another. This is where The Hive shines. Melissa Scholes Young has delivered a rich, moving story about female empowerment and validation that should be required reading for everyone—including misogynists who will perhaps have their perceptions changed and feminists who will feel affirmed and uplifted.
Young’s characters are authentic and relatable, and despite (or because of) their flaws, they are immensely likeable. Grace feels that she has to be strong for her family, yet she yearns for someone to take care of her. Maggie knows her dad wishes he had a son to pass the family business down to, but she persists in trying to win his favor anyway. Jules is fierce, yet she struggles with her mental well-being. Tammy knows that a simple life can become complicated in a hurry. Kate is a careful observer who gathers facts about everyone and everything but is confused by what she learns about herself. And Robbie, a white, gun-toting, conservative male, is the proud and devoted father of four strong-willed, politically-diverse young women.
Missourians will appreciate Young’s nuanced treatment of residents of the Show-Me State. Those of us who call Missouri home know it is not quite the purely Red State that the national media would have people believe. Dating back to the days of the Civil War, Missouri—a slave state that fought to preserve the Union—has always been at-odds with itself, just as the members of the Fehler family are, at times, with one another. Melissa Scholes Young, my dear friend and fellow native of Hannibal, Missouri, knows this as well as anyone. The Hive and Young’s debut novel Flood both take place on the banks of the Mississippi River, the same body of water that inspired another Hannibalian, Sam Clemens, to write his literary masterpieces.
Melissa Scholes Young is building a reputation both here in her home state and at her current home on the east coast as a supremely talented writer. Her work is genuine, understated, and sublime. The Hive is nothing short of a modern-day masterpiece, one that deserves to be at the top of your summer reading list.
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