With the buzz about the new film, “”The Secret Life of Bees,”” reading the book on which it’s based is a must.

Set in the 1960s, Sue Monk Kidd’s novel tells the tale of Lily Owens, a teenage girl who runs away from her domestically violent father. Lily flees with her black nanny Rosaleen Daise in search of answers about her mother’s past. Using what little Lily knows about her mother, they head to Tiburon, S.C. Along the way, Lily learns the true nature of people as they travel through the South during this volatile era.

Circumstances lead them to the Boatwright family, three sisters who are named after calendar months: August, June and May. Here Lily and Rosaleen find unexpected love and happiness while continuing Lily’s search for answers. In this new home, their lives are transformed as they learn how to be strong and independent women.

This poignant yet uplifting tale is captivating in both the novel and the film. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood does a wonderful job paralleling her screenplay and Sue Monk Kidd’s novel, while the A-list cast flawlessly executes their roles, giving Sue Monk Kidd fans a visual for their much-loved story.

The Secret Life of Bees
Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Pages: 336
Star Rating: 4 « out of 5