This is a beautifully-told story of a young teen’s quest to escape her abusive father and find the truth of what really happened to her mother on the day she was killed. It is a story of searching, friendship, and finding love in not only herself, but in other people around her. The story takes place in rural South Carolina in the middle of the 60’s, a time when racial tension was at its height.

Readers will experience the life of Lily as she steps out of denial and travels towards the truth, as well as the joy and pain that can come with such discovery. There are many engrossing subplots along the way, including the friendship between Rosaleen, a woman horrifically-beaten by racists, and May, a woman mentally-scarred by the death of her twin sister. There is also June, a stubborn woman afraid of commitment, and August, a wise and gentle woman who embraces Lily and guides her towards acceptance.

Those who enjoy emotional stories told within a relaxed atmosphere will like this book. The pace is very easy-going, with just enough excitement thrown in every once in a while to keep you from putting the book down. It would make a great summer read.

Though Lily's story is heartbreaking and the main focus of the book, I appreciated how the author developed the characters of the three sisters: May, June, and August. These three women made the entire book seem very realistic to me. Their lives are all different yet they come together as one (like many families today), and their actions and dialogue made the book more interesting than if it had only been about Lily.

I felt many emotions while reading. There was anger at the actions and behavior of Lily's father towards her, and also at the racists who physically hurt Rosaleen. There was also some sadness and a few tears, but I mostly felt joy for Lily towards the end of the book. Many of the conversations between the women in this book made me smile.

I really enjoyed the gentleness of how the author told this story. There are some moments that made me gasp, but the pace at which the story is told and the characters are introduced enhances the time period of the setting. I could easily imagine myself sitting on the front porch with these women or even roaming through the bees to fetch some honey.

This was a great read. I wasn't sure if I'd like the book or not because the main character was a teenager, but I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I became immersed within the lives of all of these characters. Despite the incidents of racism and abuse, this is a feel-good story that leaves the reader satisfied throughout.

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Created May 29, 2013 at 12:03pm • Submit your own review...