Is there anything more aggravating than being forced to read something that’s totally uninteresting and dull? I can never seem to find a good book that I actually want to read. When I picked up “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd, I had doubts, but was determined I wouldn’t give up on it.

When I finished the book, I was glad I had read it. It not only had important life lessons, but I could never put it down! Set in 1964, it’s about a determined young lady who lost her mother and has a far-from-sympathetic father. It deals with racism, discrimination and finding your place in life. When the main character, Lily, and her strong-willed nanny, Rosealeen, run away from home, they set out on a trip filled with luck, faith and good-fortune; a trip they will never forget. They arrive at a beekeeping family consisting of three African American sisters, May, June and August. During their stay, Lily learns the true values in life and what it really means to live life to the fullest. She learns this through the “calendar sisters” and how they deal with the racism that faces them. She learns how to put aside what others think and live her life. I will never forget this story about mother-daughter strength and never losing hope.