During the summer of 1964 in rural South Carolina, a young girl is given a home by three black, beekeeping sisters. As she enters their mesmerizing secret world of bees and honey, she discovers a place where she can find the single thing her heart longs for most. The story follows fourteen-year-old Lily as she searches for love and her place in the world, bringing the 1960s in the U.S South to life in a creative tale of self-discovery, mother-daughter relationships, and finding acceptance among an eccentric group of black women beekeepers.
Lily, a motherless 14-year-old, embarks on an emotional voyage of self-discovery, accompanied by her black nanny, fleeing from an emotionally abusive father and the law. Through her journey, she discovers herself, her mother, and her future with the help of the black women beekeepers she encounters. The book delves into themes of friendship, mother-daughter relationships, confronting prejudices, and the resilience and spirit of strong women facing numerous challenges.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of racism, violence, parental abuse, and death.
Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance present, particularly in the relationships that develop between Lily and the other characters, including a crush on Zach.
From The Publisher:
K is for Kidd. Set in South Carolina during the tumultuous summer of 1964, The Secret Life of Bees also ushered young Lily Owens, a girl transformed by the power and divinity of the female spirit, into the canon of modern-day heroines. Lily and her fierce-hearted black "stand-in mother" escape the racism of their hometown and find refuge with an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters, whose world of bees, honey, and the Black Madonna is mesmerizing.
Ratings (115)
Incredible (23) | |
Loved It (59) | |
Liked It (20) | |
It Was OK (10) | |
Did Not Like (2) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (186):
Read It (128) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (44) | |
Did Not Finish (4) | |
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2 comment(s)
4.5 stars
South Carolina in 1964. Lily is a fourteen year old living with her heartless father and motherless. She is looked after by a black housekeeper who is next to mother to her, Rosaleen. Lily had fantasies about her dead mother, and wants to find out more about her. But soon a turn of events forces Lily to run away from her home and she ends up in South Carolina town. She is not in this town by mere chance but she follows the clues found in materials left by her mother.
Lily along with Rosaleen starts living with three sisters who are experts in bee keeping. Lily learns about bee keeping and about her mother and also slowly turns her life into something concrete. Its as if she finds her place in the world.
This book has a lot of really strong female characters. Hardworking, strong and warm ladies who are a kind of inspiration in their own. Touching and emotional as well as tense and heartbreaking giving strong messages about love and it’s healing power.
Happy Reading!!
Sweet story about a girl growing up in an abusive home in the South
What can you read after
The Secret Life of Bees?
About the Author:
Sue Monk Kidd's debut novel, The Secret Life of Bees, spent more than one hundred weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, has sold more than six million copies in the United States, was turned into both an award-winning major motion picture…
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