Buzzing With Characters
She is the young narrator searching for truth about her mother.
Who is Lily Owens?
These insects represent community, guidance, and the idea of home.
What are the bees?
The story takes place in this southern U.S. state.
What is South Carolina?
Lily shows this trait when she decides to leave home and search for answers.
What is courage?
Lily and Rosaleen flee after this incident involving racial injustice.
What is Rosaleen being arrested/beaten?
This strong woman acts as Lily’s protector and mother figure after fleeing with her.
Who is Rosaleen?
This religious figure symbolizes strength, comfort, and maternal love.
What is the Black Mary? or "Our Lady of Chains"
The novel is set during this decade of major civil rights change.
What are the 1960s?
Rosaleen demonstrates this quality when she stands up for her right to vote.
What is bravery?
Lily chooses Tiburon because of this clue connected to her mother.
What is the picture of the Black Mary?
This sister struggles emotionally and ended up taking her own life.
Who is May Boatwright?
This sweet substance represents healing and the rewards of hard work.
What is honey?
This law/event impacts Rosaleen’s storyline when she tries to register to vote.
What is the Civil Rights Movement?
Lily develops this understanding about herself as she learns the truth about her past.
What is self-acceptance?
This tragic event deeply affects the Boatwright household.
What is May's death?
This sister took her own life years before Lily came to them, causing the beginning of May's strife.
Who is April Boatwright?
This concept reflects Lily’s search for belonging and identity.
What is her mother?
This environment plays a major role in the Boatwrights’ livelihood and daily routines.
What is the bee farm?
The Boatwright sisters teach Lily this important life lesson through their support.
What is the power of community/love?
Lily finally learns this truth about her mother’s past.
What is that her mother once stayed with August?
This man was the slave who initially discovered "Our Lady of Chains".
Who is Obadiah?
The bees living in Lily’s room symbolize this inner feeling she cannot escape.
What is her longing for truth?
This small town becomes Lily’s refuge with the Boatwright sisters.
What is Tiburon?
By the end of the novel, Lily embodies this idea despite her hardships.
What is resilience?
Lily realizes this difficult truth about her mother’s death.
What is that she accidentally caused it?