Monk, Sue Kidd. The Secret Life of Bees. London: Penguin Books, 2002. 302 pages. (Realistic Fiction)Lily Owens is motherless, unloved, rebellious, and white. Growing up in South Carolina 1964, the Civil Rights Movement is going on and this leads to even more turmoil. Lily’s stand in mother, Rosaleen, is black herself, and when she is thrown in jail for insulting some white men, Lily decides to break away from her hateful, abusive father and spring them both free. On the run, Lily has no plan and no direction until she sees a label on a honey jar that matches a picture her mother left behind. She and Rosaleen run straight into the arms of a loving and generous trio of black beekeeping sisters. The only white person in a household of black women, Lily is, for the first time, self conscious of her own skin. As their stay with them continues, Lily can’t help but notice the connections these sisters seem to have with her mother, and she sets out to find the truth.
This novel is an inspiring and creative book that sucks you into the Carolina heat and into Lily’s life filled with sadness and regret, yet also determination and love. I loved the differences and uniqueness of each of the characters, and how Lily seems to age and mature throughout the duration of the book. The powerfulness of Sue Monk Kidd’s words brought tears to my eyes and I found myself heartbroken over this fictional character whose childhood was so overshadowed with guilt and regret.
Reviewed By: DancingPenguin96
