I’m working my way through several recommended books, and I just finished The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. It was published 7 years ago, so I’m a little behind in my reading. For those of you who haven’t yet read this book, I highly recommend it. One of the reasons it resonated with me was that it was set in South Carolina not far from where I grew up. It’s a coming of age story about a young motherless girl who flees her abusive father with her black caregiver. They head for Tiburon, SC and are taken in by a trio of beekeeping sisters. The book addresses the racism of the time (1964) while redefining what it means to be a family. Although there are moments of tragedy and heartbreak, there are also moments of humor and joy. Ultimately, this beautifully crafted story is a triumphant one filled with hope.