Delia’s Comments (group member since Oct 14, 2020)

Delia’s comments from the YHS Class of 2023 group.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Secret Life of Bees takes place in South Carolina, 1964. Lily Owens, a teenage girl lives a life shaped around her memory of the death of her mother. One afternoon, Rosaleen, her black independent "stand-in mother" insults three of the most racist people in town and gets in trouble. Lily decides to free herself from her abusive father and Rosaleen from jail. They escape and end up in a town called Tiburon, South Carolina. This is a town that holds the secrets to her mother's past. Taken in by a crazy trio of black beekeeping sisters, Lily learns all about the world of bees and honey. This was a fantastic read filled with female power.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a beautifully written coming-of-age story that deals with several important topics including civil rights, abuse, and feminine power which the author displays in inspiring and even humorous ways. The reason I gave it a 4 out of 5 instead of a 5 out of 5 is because the ending felt incomplete to me. I would have liked to see a little of what happened down the road 5 or even 10 years later. I would have loved to see how everything I read about in this story plays out in Lily's future. Lily's journey is an inspired and truly unforgettable one and I highly recommend reading this book!