The Secret Life of Bees

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.)