Reading reflections

The three books I have chosen are

1. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

2. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor

3. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Book summary of The Secret Life of Bees:

Set in South Carolina in 1964, this coming-of-age novel is about a 14 year-old girl named Lily Owens, who has grown up with the guilt of accidentally killing her mother. When her African-American housekeeper, Rosaleen, pours her ‘snuff juice’ on three racist white men’s shoes, she gets arrested. When Rosaleen gets sent to the hospital while still arrested, Lily breaks her out and they decide to escape. They begin hitchhiking to Tiburon- a town that Lily believes holds the secret to her mother’s past. Lying that she is an orphan, she is taken in by the black beekeeping Boatwright sisters, August, May and June, Lily finds refuge in their world of bees. Written from her point of view, she begins a journey discovering the world around her and the mystery surrounding her mother.

Book summary of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor:

Set in Mississippi, in the 1930s, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a 1976 novel that explores life in ‘The South’ through the eyes of Cassie Logan. Centered on the theme of race and racism between the blacks and the whites, we learn about the life of 9-year-old Cassie and the rest of the Logan family. The family faces challenges every day in the school and in the community. The novel speaks of the importance of land and the struggle of the Logans to fight for their pride and principles amidst the hate and racial injustices in their lives.

Book summary of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold:

This novel is set in 1973, and revolves around the after-life of Susie Salmon. Brutally raped, murdered and dismembered by George Harvey, a 36-year-old neighbor, she watches her family and friends attempting to seek closure after her death from her own version of heaven. She witnesses happenings on earth and struggles with her hopes and longings for the things that she cannot do. Her story moves between watching Mr. Harvey stalk other potential victims, her father trying to find her murderer and her friends that she left behind.  

PS: This was really brutal and the personal recount stuck with me for days. For those who are interested, there's a film on it too. 

Choice for a suitable ‘O’ Level text:

The Secret Life of Bees would be my choice! This book would be apt for the students, as it searches for love and belonging, and possesses a poignant wisdom about life. Not only is the storyline pretty impressive, but also the writing was pretty amazing. The voice of Lily’s, the pace, word choice, descriptions, figurative language and transitions really delivered the story. Students would definitely learn a lot from Kidd’s writing and teachers would have a lot to talk about in this book. I think students would be able to identify with the character of Lily. She is a survivor and an optimist. She throws her tantrums at times, but she is so completely honest and refreshingly real. The quest for independence, adventure and a mother’s love, overlaid with embedded feminism and the theme of race would definitely capture the students’ attention. Despite the fact that there are already some ‘O’ Level texts that touch on race, I feel that this book can bring something useful to the table in its incredible way of writing. The Secret Life of Bees is more about the power of the female spirit, without being too much and this can be a great talking point for teenagers today. In fact, this rites-of-passage novel covers so many significant issues at once, that I’m not quite sure which to promote… Self-acceptance? Love? Faith? Freedom? The list is long…