The Secret Life of Bees (novel) facts for kids
The Secret Life of Bees cover
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| Author | Sue Monk Kidd |
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| Illustrator | Kim Ellington |
| Country | United States |
| Genre | Historical Fiction |
| Published | November 8, 2001 |
| Pages | 336 pp. |
The Secret Life of Bees is a popular novel written by American author Sue Monk Kidd. It was published in 2001. The story takes place in 1964, a time when the Civil Rights Movement was very important in the American South.
This book is a coming-of-age story. It is about a young girl's journey to understand loss and find her place in the world. The novel also explores themes of friendship, family, and overcoming challenges. It became a New York Times bestseller and won awards.
Contents
The Story of The Secret Life of Bees
The story begins in Sylvan, South Carolina, in 1964. Lily Melissa Owens is 14 years old. She lives with her father, T. Ray, who is often unkind to her. Rosaleen, an African-American woman, works as their maid and cares for Lily. Lily often thinks about her mother, who passed away when Lily was very young. She has only a blurry memory of that sad day.
One day, Rosaleen gets into trouble with some men and is arrested. Lily decides to help Rosaleen escape from the hospital. Together, they leave town. They plan to go to Tiburon, South Carolina. Lily found the name "Tiburon" on the back of a picture of the Virgin Mary, called the "Black Madonna," which belonged to her mother.
After a difficult journey, Lily and Rosaleen arrive in Tiburon. At a general store, Lily sees a picture of the "Black Mary" on a jar of honey. They get directions to the place where the honey is made: the Boatwright residence. There, they meet three sisters: August, May, and June. All three sisters are black. Lily makes up a story, saying she is an orphan. The Boatwright sisters are kind and invite Lily and Rosaleen to stay with them.
Life at the Pink House
Lily and Rosaleen learn about the Boatwrights' way of life. They also learn how to care for bees. Lily starts working as August's helper with the beehives. Rosaleen helps around the house. Lily discovers that May had a twin sister named April. April passed away tragically when she was younger. Lily also sees June's relationship with her boyfriend, Neil. June often refuses his marriage proposals.
The sisters have special religious ceremonies at their house. They call themselves "the Daughters of Mary." They have a statue of the "Black Mary," also known as "Our Lady of Chains." August tells Lily the story of this statue. It was found by an enslaved man named Obadiah long ago. The enslaved people believed it was a sign of hope and freedom. This special figure has been passed down through generations.
New Friendships and Challenges
Lily soon meets Zach, August's godson. Zach helps August with the beehives. Lily and Zach become close friends and share their dreams. Zach hopes to become the first black lawyer in the area. Lily wants to be a short-story writer. They encourage each other to work towards their goals.
Lily tries to tell August the truth about her past. However, Zach interrupts her. They go on an errand to get honey supplies. At a store, Zach is arrested after one of his friends throws a bottle at a white man. Zach and his friends are put in jail because no one will say who did it. The Boatwright sisters try to keep this secret from May. They worry it will upset her too much.
Sadness and Healing
The secret does not stay hidden for long. May becomes very sad and withdrawn. She leaves the house and goes missing. August, June, Lily, and Rosaleen search for her. They find that May has passed away, overcome by sadness.
The family holds a vigil for May that lasts four days. During this time, Zach is released from jail without charges. Black cloth is placed over the beehives to show mourning. May's farewell letter is found. In it, she encourages June to marry Neil. After a time of grieving, life slowly begins to return to normal. June finally agrees to marry Neil. Zach promises Lily that they will achieve their dreams someday.
Discovering the Truth
Lily finally learns the truth about her mother, Deborah. August reveals that she was Deborah's nanny and helped raise her. Deborah had left T. Ray and stayed with the Boatwrights for a while. She decided to leave him for good and returned home to get Lily.
When Deborah was packing, T. Ray came home. During a difficult argument, there was a terrible accident, and Lily's mother, Deborah, tragically died.
While Lily is trying to understand this information, T. Ray arrives at the Boatwright house. He wants to take Lily back home. Lily refuses, and T. Ray becomes very angry and upset. August steps in and offers to let Lily stay with her. T. Ray eventually agrees. Before he leaves, Lily asks him what truly happened the day her mother died. T. Ray confirms that Lily accidentally caused her mother's death.
Main Characters
- Lily Melissa Owens: The 14-year-old main character and narrator. She is Deborah and T. Ray's only child. Lily loves to read and write stories.
- T. Ray Owens: Lily's father, who is a widower. He is often unkind to Lily.
- Deborah Fontanel Owens: Lily's mother, who passed away in an accident when Lily was four years old.
- Rosaleen "July" Boatwright-Daise: The maid in Lily's home. She becomes a protector and mother figure for Lily. She is Lily's close friend.
- August Boatwright: The oldest of the Boatwright sisters. She is a beekeeper and a respected businesswoman. August was a good friend to Lily's mother, Deborah.
- June Boatwright: One of the Boatwright sisters. She is a schoolteacher and plays music. June is more serious than August and May.
- May Boatwright: One of the Boatwright sisters. She had a twin sister, April, who passed away when she was 15. May is very sensitive to emotions.
- Zachary "Zach" Taylor: August's godson and helper with the beehives. He is a football player in high school. Zach dreams of becoming a lawyer. He is Lily's special friend.
- Neil: The principal at June's school. He has asked June to marry him many times. He eventually becomes June's fiancé.
- The Daughters of Mary: A group of people who follow "Our Lady of Chains." They include Cressie, Queenie and her daughter Violet, Lunelle, Mabelee, and Sugar-Girl with her husband, Otis.
Important Ideas in the Story
The novel explores many important ideas. These include religion, hard work, nature, and racism. It also looks at what it means to be an orphan and how people deal with loss. Lily's journey to find a mother figure is a big part of her search for her own identity. She learns about accepting herself and forgiving herself.
The book is a Bildungsroman, which means it's about a character's growth. It shows Lily's struggle to understand her place in her family and the world. She also learns to work through difficult experiences.
Another important idea is the historical setting of the 1960s American South. The novel shows how black people were sometimes treated unfairly by the police. It also mentions the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which aimed to end discrimination. The story also touches on how people deal with strong emotions and sadness.
Symbols in the Story
Several symbols appear in The Secret Life of Bees. Bees and things related to bees are very important.
Bees
Bees are a main symbol in the novel. They represent two key ideas:
- Guidance: Bees guide Lily on her journey.
- Female Community: Bees live in a strong, organized community led by a queen. This reflects the powerful female community Lily finds with the Boatwright sisters and the Daughters of Mary. These women become like mother figures to Lily.
Bees also symbolize organization and living in a peaceful community. Every bee has a job to do. The book mentions that "when a queen bee is taken from a hive, the other bees notice her absence." This is like the Boatwright sisters. When May's twin, April, passed away, May was never the same. When May herself passed away, the sisters had to learn to live with that loss, just like a hive missing its bees.
Honey
Honey represents wisdom and knowledge. Lily finds the Boatwright sisters because of the "Black Mary" picture on a honey jar. Once she is with them, the sisters share their wisdom. They teach Lily about bees, life, and even about her own parents, T. Ray and Deborah.
Movie Version
The book was made into a movie in 2008. Gina Prince-Bythewood directed and wrote the film. Will Smith was one of the producers. The movie starred Queen Latifah as August Boatwright, Dakota Fanning as Lily, Alicia Keys as June Boatwright, Jennifer Hudson as Rosaleen, and Sophie Okonedo as May Boatwright.
Stage Musical Version
The Secret Life of Bees has also been turned into a stage musical. A first version was created in 2017. The musical officially opened off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company on June 13, 2019. The story for the musical was written by Lynn Nottage. The music was by Duncan Sheik, and the lyrics were by Susan Birkenhead. Sam Gold directed the musical. The cast included Saycon Sengbloh as Rosaleen, Elizabeth Teeter as Lily, and LaChanze, Eisa Davis, and Anastacia McCleskey as the Boatwright sisters.
