Emily H. (emilysheart) reviewed on 2/22/2006

I'm a librarian, so I have heard about this book over and over again, for years. Not only was it on the NY Times bestseller's list, but it seemed like every book club in the country read it at some point or another. Well, there's a reason for it: this book is fantastic! 14-year-old Lily Owens, and Rosaleen, her housekeeper (more like family member/best friend) run away from home, to escape their individual troubles - Rosaleen from jail, and Lily from her abusive father. They end-up staying with the "calendar sisters", three African-American women who keep honey for a living. These women give Lily the first loving home she has ever know, and teach her about strength, motherhood, forgiveness, and doing the right thing. The civil rights movement, and race relations, underline all the action, events, and relationships.

Before I read this, I read Kidd's The Mermaid Chair, and it's hard to even compare the two - this book blows it out of the water! The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I reserve 5 stars for books like "To Kill a Mockingbird" (which is very similar to this book) and other classics. A great read!

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