Tara's Reaction to the Novel

   This book was touching.  All throughtout the text I was able to relate to all the characters and their situations and I was able to make opinions about each character without confusion.  From the beginning I thought Lily was an unfortunate child and I felt sorry for the way T. Ray abused and mistreated her.  As I continued to read I felt that Lily had much more courage, determination and strength and was more daring than many adolescents her age.  She was caring and had a more open mind than other white people she interacted with.  She made it through all the lies and sad truths and was still able to see what she had ahead of her.
   The Boatright sisters seemed to be a force to be reckoned with.  They stood up for eachother and for what they believed in.  August was capable of being a friend and a mother and I admired that.  I was surprised at how easily she was able to understand the way people felt and the reasoning behind their actions.  It amazed me how she was able to sit and think about things before she jumped to conclusions; she was very wise.  June's coldness in the beginning bothered me and so did her reluctance to give Neil a chance to fix her past.  In the end, her strength to overcome her trials and to accept Lily as family gave me a change of heart.  I hated how May couldn't keep strife separate from herself and how she struggled with challenges that shouldn't have been hers to face.
   I hated that May had to die, but the ending made up for it.  I was filled with joy to know that Lily would get to stay with the people that had filled the holes in her heart and soul.  I had been afraid that T. Ray wouldn't allow Lily to stay with the Boatwright sisters and would be doomed to live with a father that refused to show love for her.  She needed love and in the flamingo pink house is where that love for her was.  I would recommend this book to everyone.  I don't believe there is a single person that wouoldn't benefit from reading The Secret Life of Bees.  There's something for eberyone hidden within this book.