The Secret Life of Bees is a short tale of a young, white teenager -- Lily Owens -- who runs away from home with her black housekeeper, Rosaleen. It's a story about a mother and daughter, of racial tensions, and of learning to find peace within yourself.

I loved the idea of the Wall behind the house. You'll need to read it to understand, but I think that everyone should have a Wall of Tears in which they can hide their secrets and release them from their souls.

There are some slight cult-ish overtones that I didn't care for in the book. Not that I had a problem with the religous aspect of the novel, but that I think Kidd portrayed the characters in a slightly demeaning and stereotypical way when referring to the Black Madonna.

This book is like a leisurely ride in a rowboat down a slow-moving river. It's not pretentious, it's not overtly dramatic, it's just a nice, easy read. You can put it down, but you will want to pick it up again. A reader learns about Lily and her relationships, but this book is more about finding peace within yourself and finding a place to belong...regardless of experience, race, or societal norms.