Sue Monk Kidd’s best-selling 2002 novel, The Secret Life of Bees, is a captivating story about the power of love, friendship and forgiveness. Through her characters’ struggles with identity and family, she explores the lasting effects of racial injustice in America. In this book review, we will discuss what makes this novel so powerful and how it has impacted generations of readers.
The Storyline
Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees follows 14-year-old Lily Owens on her journey to uncover the truth about her mother’s death. With the help of three African American beekeeping sisters—August Boatwright, June Boatwright and May Boatwright—Lily learns valuable lessons about not only what it means to be a strong female but also what it means to be a part of a loving community. Along the way, she discovers that even in times of great sorrow and suffering, there can still be joy and hope.
After you get stung, you can’t get unstung no matter how much you whine about it.
The Characters
Kidd has created an unforgettable cast of characters who come alive on the page. Lily is a brave young woman who is determined to find out the truth about her past no matter how hard it may be. August Boatwright is wise beyond her years; despite her traumatic experiences with racism and sexism, she remains an optimist who believes that love can heal all wounds. June Boatwright is more cynical than August but just as loving; she provides a unique perspective on life that helps Lily understand why some things are worth fighting for even if they don’t always end up working out in your favor. And finally, there’s May Boatwright—a troubled woman whose tragic past continues to haunt her present day life but who manages to find comfort in being part of the beekeeping community.
Since its publication nearly two decades ago, The Secret Life of Bees has become an international bestseller and has been adapted into both a critically acclaimed film (2008) and Broadway musical (2015). It has inspired countless readers around the world with its themes of resilience and strength in dark times as well as its powerful message that justice can prevail over hatred and bigotry. For these reasons and more, The Secret Life Of Bees remains one of Sue Monk Kidd’s most beloved works today.
If you haven’t had the chance to read The Secret Life Of Bees yet then now is your chance! This moving story will stay with you long after you finish reading it thanks to its unforgettable characters, thought-provoking themes, and powerful messages about racism and sexism in America during the 1960s civil rights movement era. Whether you are looking for an inspiring read or just want an escape from reality for a few hours then pick up this book—you won’t regret it.
AWARDS
Orange Prize Nominee for Fiction Longlist (2002)
Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Paperback (2004)
Lincoln AwardNominee (2005)
Gateway Readers Award Nominee (2005)
LovelyBooks Leserpreis Nominee for Allgemeine Literatur (2009)
Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: Penguin Books
Publication date: November 8, 2001
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