THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES

Fourteen-year-old Lily Owens tells her own story, capturing our attention from the first moments of this outstanding audiobook. As she explains, her mother is dead, her father hates her, and the popular girls in school laugh at her. The only person who cares is Rosaleen, her black caretaker. When Rosaleen is jailed for pouring snuff juice on the shoes of three obnoxious white men--this is mid-1960s South Carolina--Lily springs her from jail, and together they set off toward their ultimate salvation with three black female honey farmers. The story is funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting all at once. Jenna Lamia delivers a tour de force narration. Her Lily is a particular feat--she sounds believably 14 without being irritatingly young or falsely squeaky. Rosaleen’s slow, wry drawl brings this wise character to life. And the men--from the helplessly angry father to the oily preacher--are word perfect. A must listen. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2003 Audie Award Finalist © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 02]