The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Kidd, Sue Monk. The Secret Life of Bees.

Penguin; 2001,

ISBN: 0143114557

Reader’s Annotation

When 14-year-old Lily runs away to discover the truth of how her mother died, she never expects to find a home.

Plot Summary

Lily Owens is fourteen years old and has fragmented memories of the day her mother died.  Lily can only remember they were arguing, a gun fell to the floor, and she, a four-year-old picked it up.  Set in 1964, in South Carolina, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily’s determination to find out what really happened to her mother that day.  Lily now lives with her neglectful father whom Lily will only call T-Ray (for Terrence Ray), and her black maid Rosaleen.   When Rosaleen takes Lily and goes to register to vote after the passing of the Civil Rights Act, she ends up getting harassed and beaten by three white men. After getting into an argument, T-Ray tells Lily that her mother abandoned her.  Infuriated, Lily packs up and runs away, stopping at the hospital to sneak Rosaleen out.  Following a clue left by Lily’s mother leads them to the Boatwright Sisters—August, June, and May—makers of “Black Mary Honey”.  Staying with the Boatwrights, Lily comes to feel loved and included in a warm household.  She learns about their own unique religion that centers around a black Madonna figurehead from an old ship.  She also learns to care for the bees, along with Zach, August’s godson, with whom Lily shares her dreams—she wants to write short stories, and he wants to be an “ass-busting” lawyer.  He and Lily are attracted to each other, but recognizing the dangers of interracial relationships in the South, they resist.  When Zach and his friends get falsely arrested for “injuring” a white man, May is so distraught, that she commits suicide.  T-Ray finally catches up with Lily, and ends up leaving her to live with the Boatwrights.  For Lily, it’s bittersweet—she’s glad to get to live where she’s loved and wanted, but sad that T-Ray’s last words to her are “Good riddance.”

Critical Evaluation

The character of Lily Owens comes alive in this poignant novel.  Her quest for closure about her mother’s death, and even more, her longing to be loved makes for a gut-wrenching, but satisfying story.  The quirkiness of the Boatwrights at first seems peculiar, but then feels just right.  The Sisters have created a religion and a home for themselves that serves as an oasis in the midst of a harsh and unloving society.  Kidd does a wonderful job at using the bees and honey symbolically.  The image of the hives, with a whole world hidden within, is a lovely illustration of how society judges on appearances, and remains ignorant of the world beneath the surface.  August’s strength ultimately gives Lily the peace she craves. 

Information about the Author

Sue Monk Kidd graduated from Texas Christian University with a B.S. in nursing in 1970, and worked as a registered nurse and as a college nursing instructor throughout her twenties.  When a personal essay she wrote for a writing class was published in Guideposts, and later reprinted in Reader’s Digest, Kidd really got her start in writing.  She later went on to become a contributing editor at Guideposts.  The Secret Life of Bees, Kidd’s first novel became a phenomenal success.  Kidd later wrote The Mermaid Chair.  For more information, go to Sue Monk Kidd. 

Genre

Historical Fiction

Curriculum Tie-ins

History—Racism and Civil Rights

Domestic violence

Booktalk  Ideas

1. How do our actions as very young children affect us throughout our lives?
2. Discuss Our Lady of Chains, and what she meant to the Boatwright sisters.

Reading level/Interest age

Adult Crossover

Challenge Issues/Challenge Response Ideas

Violence

• Present the library’s selection policy
• Be familiar with similar works in the collection
• Refer to ALA Intellectual Freedom resource

Why I included this work

• ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2003)
• ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
• ALA Outstanding Books for the College Bound
• School Library Journal Best Books of the Year (2002)

Great Quote from the Book:

“People who think dying is the worst thing don’t know a thing about life.”