How the Author Got Me Interested in the Story

The Secret Life of Bees is a story of love. Lily, the main character of this novel, has lived with her cruel father since her mother died. This book is very good. It got me into the story since I started reading the novel, because since the beginning Lily always has been affected by her mother’s death, and throughout the story she tries to find the truth of her mother’s death. That’s why I think this book got me into the story.
posted be Mauro J.

Lily's Life Lessons

I really liked the book The Secret Life of Bees. My absolute favorite part of the book was in pages 290-300. It was in the second to last chapter that T. Ray came to get Lily from the house. When he got there, Lily maintained a nonchalant kind of attitude whenever he became serious. They eventually started arguing because Lily refused to go home with him. Rosaleen and August came to help support her in her decision. I think that T. Ray eventually got intimidated by the support that Lily got when the Daughters came into the honey house. They stood there like an army and said how much Lily would be better off without T. Ray.

One of my favorite quotes of the book was: "The four of them lined up beside us, clutching their pocketbooks up against their bodies like they might have to use them to beat the living hell out of somebody." I think there is such humor in a mere description of how they were standing. This quote created a great visual of how they came to Lily's rescue. The Daughters together created such love for Lily that she clearly didn't have before. I think that at the moment of the Daughters being with her she knew she wasn't alone.

I truly think that Lily has grown up throughout this book. Many life changing experiences have happened to her. She found out that she accidentally caused her mother's death. However, she has come to realize that she was little and did not do it on purpose. She also realized that although T. Ray doesn't seem to have a heart, he showed some compassion for her by not being so harsh when he was "shown-up" by the confident attitude of Lily. I think he realized that she was better off with people that cared about her and supported her as much as the Daughters did.

By: Katie M.

Filling Holes

My favorite part of the book is when August gives Lily all the stuff her mom left there when she left to get Lily. I think it's the first time that she understands that her mom really did love her and did not leave her because she didn't love her. It also was the sign she wanted all along. When August gave her the picture of her and her mother she knew that May went to heaven and told her mom to give her a sign that said that she loves her. I think having her mother's belongings made Lily believe that she's still with her and loves her. It started to fill the empty hole in her heart that she always had when she was living with T-Ray.
Posted by Jenna S.

Live Life to the Fullest

My favorite part of the book so far is in May's suicide note when she tells both her sisters August and June to live their lives and not to let her death stop them from living their lives to the fullest. I agree with May 100% because you never know what can happen to you or anything around you so everyone just has to live day to day and most of all to the fullest. Now that May has died June has now had the strength to get married.

My favorite character would have to be August because she has made some good decisions towards Lily and her family. As I read I feel that August has really built up feelings for Lily and now has warmed up to certain things.

When I first started reading the book, I wasn't so into it, but as time passed by I started getting really into to it and was shocked by a few things, like Lily killing her mother and Lily's mother not really wanting to marry T-Ray. Little things like that shocked me. But all in all I like the book now.

posted by Samantha R.

My Favorite Quote

My favorite quote has to be: "The four of them lined up beside us, clutching their pocketbooks up against their bodies like they might have to use them to beat the living hell out of somebody. I wondered how we must look to him." While I was reading, I imagined the Daughters of Mary were about to take on this very angry man and I thought the situation would have been funny if they did happen to jump on him and sock him good. I also liked this quote because it showed that the Daughters really cared about Lily.
Posted by Eva S.

May's Suicide Note

The Secret Life of Bees is a good book. So far, what I find interesting about it is that when May took away her life, she left a letter behind. It basically said for the sisters to live their lives and go on with their lives and not to hold back. I really felt bad beacause she took her life. I understand, because it was from stress, but she still needed to take care of them and watch out for them. June decided to get married now that May said to live their lives and go on. I just wonder: is June really going to get married? How does Lily feel about the change that is going to happen?
posted by Yaribeth V.

Will T. Ray ever find Lily?

The question in my head is still: what will ever happen with T. Ray? Will he ever find Lily? What will he do when he finds her? Will someone else die? Who will it be? I think that Lily will be found and her father is going tell her what happened to her mother.
Lily's self-esteem problem is normal. She thinks that she's really bad and she's a messed-up person, but in reality she's a normal girl with problems that teenagers go though at some point of their lives. The fact that she blames herself for the death of her mom is not an easy thing to swallow, but she has to know that it really wasn't her fault-- she is not the one to blame. She will probably find out she was defending her mom.
posted by Jose S.