First Quarter Book Review: The Secret Life of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd, was a very touching story. Many people have told me over and over again too read this amazing book, but I never took the time. Now that I’ve read this great story, I’m eager to watch the movie.
The story starts with venturing into the home life of Lily Melissa Owens, a 14 year old girl growing up in the summer of South Carolina, in 1964. The only problem of growing up in her case is that her mother is not present, and hasn’t been since she was a baby. Her father is very abusive and seems to only care about his work and his dog. Luckily she has a person to call friend, her African-American maid Rosaleen. She never knew the exact details of how her mother died, but she new enough to make a conclusion that she killed her on accident. This memory haunts her until she finds out the truth in the end. Soon she ends up running away to a place her mother once knew, all due to the result of racism against her maid and friend Rosaleen. Together they meet, learn, and experience new things that they never imagined.
Lily Owens reminds me of myself because she goes through a lot, trying to figure important stuff out, and struggles with whom to believe in certain situations. I can relate to this because I have been through all of these tough-decision making times.
Kidd shows that even in what seems like a bad life, there will come wonderful surprises, new people who can become family, and most importantly that the truth always comes out no matter what.