I checked this one out because I'd just read Dance of the Dissident Daughter, by the same author. While Dance is a memoir and Bees is a novel, I almost felt like I was reading the same book, written in two different forms. A motherless girl in 1960's South Carolina finds strong female role models, a place to belong, and peace with her past. I really loved the way Kidd wove the theme of bees and beekeeping throughout the book, constantly unfolding lovely new metaphors. A very enjoyable read, with some hidden nuggets of wisdom.