Dear Lit Loves,
Whew! Let's just start this book review regarding the book, Mad Honey: A Novel by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan by saying if for some reason you as a reader either choose not to immerse yourself in some of the big issues of our time, you should probably not pick up a book by Picoult and Boylan. I am familiar with both authors and am well-acquainted with the big issues addressed in this book. I can tell you that to grow as a reader and person, you have to push yourself outside your comfort zone quite a bit and be willing to wrap your mind around controversial topics and contemplate where you stand on the big issues of our day.
So what are the big issues addressed in this book? The process of growing up as part of the LGBTQ community, domestic violence, murder, and the depths a mother will go to in order to protect her child.
The story centers around two mothers and their teenagers. First, there is Olivia McAfee who fled a marriage to a volatile cardiothoracic surgeon to protect her son, Asher, from being hurt by his biological father. Olivia returns to Adams, New Hampshire and her childhood home to make a new life for her and Asher. She lives in her childhood home and continues the business of beekeeping started by her father. Asher is a high school senior, suave hockey player, and helps his mom with the beekeeping business. He has always wondered and been intrigued by what happened between his father and mother.
Next, we have Ava Campanello and her daughter, Lilly. Ava takes Lilly and leaves the West Coast and also her husband. Ava is a forest ranger. She gave birth to a son named Liam. At a quite young age, Liam informs his parents that he identifies more as a female than male. Liam becomes Lilly with help from her mom. Ava's husband cannot handle or accept the reality of his son identifying as a female. He becomes abusive toward Liam/Lily. This is when Ava makes the decision to take Lilly and leave the West Coast. After Liam fully transitions to become Lilly, they also move to Adams, New Hampshire where Ava takes a position as a park ranger and Lilly attends the local high school for her senior year.
Lilly Campanello and Asher McAfee start dating. Teenage angst takes center stage now. Suddenly, there is a murder in Adams, New Hampshire. Everyone appears certain who the killer is and what the motive was for the murder. But just when you think you know how a Picoult book is going to end, there is a major revelation following the verdict in the murder trial. And once again, three of the main characters find themselves learning to live with a new reality and begin anew once again.
Throughout this book, I found myself wondering what I would do if I were either of the mothers, Olivia and Ava. I recognized the incredibly brave ability of Lilly to live her true identity. I put myself in Lilly's shoes and wonder if I lived through all the secrets, bullying, harassment, surgery, abuse, and volatility she experiences, would I have survived it all? Would I have trusted anyone again aside from my mother who turned her world upside down so I could live my true identity? Could I have shared my truth with a potential friend, classmate, teacher, acquaintance, and especially a significant other? Should I even be expected to tell those people?
Everyone who reads this book should ask themselves these same questions. What are we willing to risk in order to live as our true self? If you are a parent, what would you have done had you been in Ava's position or Olivia's position as a mother? And just how much personal information would you share if you were Lilly? This book resonated with me as I have a family member who is part of the LGBTQ community.
P.S. The ending of the book was not a surprise for me. In truth, I actually suspected this character was responsible for the murder. The beekeeping experience was familiar to me as I spent my summers working on a farm as a teenager and my uncle was a successful beekeeper. It takes a colony of bees to produce seriously good honey. And someone was correct when she said, "It takes a village." And this is especially true when it comes to raising children to become mature, intelligent, and authentic adults.
A truly outstanding book.
Till my next book review,
Grace (Amy)
