I have almost finished The Secret Life of Bees and I am almost sad that it is over.  What a great author and such a beautiful yet sad story line.  The language within the book is so vivid that I can almost feel the words as I read them.  I never thought that I could say that as I was never a reader but I have thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Towards the end of the book there is so much that goes on, it is hard for me to even put it all in words.  Zach, a young boy who helps on the bee farm, is imprisoned unjustly.  The news travels to May and it drives her to suicide.  After the morning of May the family begins preparing for a feast of worship to celebrate their "religion" and saint, Our Lady in Chains (Mary, or a form of).  As the worship begins Lilly's secret of being a runaway unravels but to her surprise the members of the house, August, May, & June, already knew who she was.

The truth of her identity led to August telling Lilly about her mother and the truth of her life.  The information about her mother is heartbreaking and it turns out that she did leave Lilly behind as a baby.  This news throws Lilly into anger, which is an emotion that is carried on throughout the story.  I left out with Lilly and August going through a hatbox of her mothers items.