Accept, Obey, and Serve. These are the cardinal rules of the hive. Flora 717 knows this, but longs for experiences outside those performed by her kin-sisters who are relegated to the tasks of sanitation workers. Because 717 is strong and shows the abilities of other worker bees, she is given special permission to feed the larvae in the nursery, make wax for the Treasury, and also to forage for pollen and nectar. When she saves the hive by fighting and killing an invading wasp, Flora 717 even gets to meet the Queen. But when she starts laying eggs, the trouble really begins, for the most holy law of the hive is this — Only the Queen may breed. The domineering religious overtones, examination and challenging of class and caste systems, preferential treatment of males, even in this most matriarchal of societies, and the inherent desire of a single individual to overcome all of these factors, make this a captivating story. This is one book your book group must read. The topics for discussion are almost endless.