The Secret Life of Bees

Sue Monk Kidd

The Slingshot is a bi-monthly digital downloadable product that features copywork and dictation passages from a specific novel. It is geared toward teens ages 15–18 and is the indispensable tool for Brave Writer parents who want to teach language arts in a natural, literature-bathed context.

This guide contains the following features:

• 4 Passages for copywork/dictation
• Notes about punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, literary devices, and literary analysis 
  
• Beyond the Passage and Inside Scoop boxes
• 9 Think Piece questions
• Golden Lines prompt
• Book Club Party Ideas
• 51 pages
• Publication Date: January 2022

How does the Slingshot fit into the Brave Writer complete language arts program? Learn more on our Getting Started page.

All products are digital and downloadable. All sales are FINAL. No refunds.

About the book

Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted black "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily decides to spring them both free. They escape to Tiburon, South Carolina--a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. Taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sister, Lily is introduced to their mesmerizing world of bees and honey, and the Black Madonna. This is a remarkable novel about divine female power, a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.-Amazon

Purchase The Secret Life of Bees novel here.

A note about content

The Secret Life of Bees touches on mature themes of human experience—abuse, racism, mental illness, suicide, coming of age physically and emotionally, danger, death. The narrator’s voice is raw and unpolished, as are many of the characters. Through the storm, ultimately the book affirms tremendous healing and love and safety and the dignity of every human being. By using a book such as this as a teaching tool to foster understanding and growth, the intimate nature of language and history blend to provide a context in which to discuss these evolving ideologies. You, as the parent, can decide how far you want to step into the room of discourse with your teens as you explore these works. We encourage parents to read ahead in order to be prepared for deep conversations with your teens. (For additional information, please see the “Note on Profanity” Inside Scoop box and the “Then and Now: Race” box in Week One.) 

This month's book selection is from the year-long Slingshot program.