This is such an amazing story! I can't believe I've never read it or have even watched the movie! This is a book of finding yourself, trying to belong, dealing with grief, guilt, racism, love, acceptance, and making your own family. 

It is 1964, the start of the Civil Rights Movement and Fourteen year old, Lily Owens, runs away with her Nanny, Rosaleen. They were in their way to town for Rosaleen to register to vote for the very first time. On the way, they ran into some no-good racist bastards who started harassing Rosaleen when they found out what her mission was. She retaliated against them, which ended with her being beaten and hauled off to jail. While in jail, the men came back to beat her some more and landed her in the hospital. Lily went to the hospital and broke Rosaleen out. They left and hitchhiked to a town on the back of a picture that belonged to her deceased Mother.

When they arrived, she immediately got a sign that led her to the owner of the picture, August Boatwright. August is a beekeeper who lives with her two sisters, May and June. August opens her home to them and asks Rosaleen to help around the house and Lily to assist in her beekeeping in exchange for her hospitality. They aren't there long when they start to blend together as a family.