The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

"Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted black "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily decides to spring them both free. They escape to Tiburon, South Carolina - a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. Taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters, Lily is introduced to their mesmerizing world of bees and honey, and the Black Madonna." - From the back cover of the novel.

Everywhere I went while reading this book people would stop to tell me how wonderful it is. This sort of thing usually makes me susupicious but this time I generally agreed. The Secret Life of Bees is narrated by Lily Owens, a young girl searching for the story of her mother who ends up discovering - in a rather unlikely place - what family really means. The storyline is sometimes obvious and conflicts tend to be resolved neatly, but throughout the story remains thoughtful and touching. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the second half of the book which is focused on Lily's life in Tiburon, South Carolina living with three black, eccentric beekeeping sisters.

I recommend this book for anyone looking for an easy to read, thoughtful summer novel.