The Secret Life of BeesThe Secret Life of Bees
Score Modern
What it's about
Fourteen-year-old Lily has grown up believing she accidentally killed her mother when she was four. Living on a South Carolina peach farm with her harsh father, she yearns for her mother and for forgiveness. Her only friend is Rosaleen, the Black woman who cares for her, whose sharp exterior hides a tender heart, and together they set out to find a new life.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 49 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a beloved coming-of-age story about mothers, race and healing.
You'll love it if you liked
The Invention of Wings
The Help
To Kill a MockingbirdGood to know
It's set during the civil rights era. It became a 2008 film.
By the numbers
- Readers34 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller65 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #111 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #910 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1686 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Sue Monk Kidd
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Quick answers
Is The Secret Life of Bees worth reading?
Yes. It spent 49 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,686 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Secret Life of Bees about?
Fourteen-year-old Lily has grown up believing she accidentally killed her mother when she was four. Living on a South Carolina peach farm with her harsh father, she yearns for her mother and for forgiveness. Her only friend is Rosaleen, the Black woman who cares for her, whose sharp exterior hides a tender heart, and together they set out to find a new life.
How long does it take to read The Secret Life of Bees?
About 9 hours (354 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Secret Life of Bees?
If you liked it, try The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd, The Help by Kathryn Stockett or To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.