audio book academy book summary the bean trees by barbara kings oliver american novelist barbara king solver's novel the bean trees was released in 1988. first-time author king salvar's debut novel received generally positive reviews from critics king salver's book reflects many of her sincerely held convictions as a feminist and an advocate for immigrant rights it is taylor greer's decision to leave her kentucky hometown and drive west until her used automobile breaks down that serves as the novel's protagonist taylor meets a strange woman in a cafe in cherokee nation territory oklahoma who requests that she take her baby with her despite taylor's initial denial the woman leaves without saying anything else and taylor returns to her hotel with the child taylor realizes that the baby is a girl and that she has been sexually and physically abused as she is bathing her having made that decision she chooses to take care of the girl and christensen turtle once in tucson taylor finds a new home with luanne an unmarried woman whose husband had left two guatemalan immigrants who reside across the street from the women are also included in the story the bean trees is told from the perspective of a young woman growing up in a low-income neighborhood in 1980s pittman county kentucky as marietta greer the story's protagonist explains at the outset her mother has always nicknamed her missy despite the fact that she was born with a given name marietta since she saw a tractor tire explode and send her friend's father flying over the standard oil sign missy says she's been frightened to inflate tires newt hardbine missy's buddy and her own family are both poor missy claims in the town one young person from each generation is expected to leave town or go away and no one could tell if it would be her or nude this time newt dropped out of school to work on his father's tobacco farm while missy attended high school despite not being a top student an old school maid of his became pregnant and they got married missy decided early on that she didn't want a teen pregnancy so she started working at the hospital where she lives newt and his wife jolene were brought in while working there one day newt had been shot and jolene was bleeding profusely from her wound according to the story newt was so wounded psychologically by his father's abuse that he killed both his wife and himself missy then makes the decision to leave pittman county and buy a used volkswagen to get away from the town make sure she can handle the car and change the tires before you go your mom missy intends to drive the car until the gas runs out then change her name and start a new life in the town she ends herself in when she finally arrives in taylorville she decides to go by the name taylor for as long as she can drive her car she intends to set up shop in a new location and begin a new life taylor on the other hand finds the vast open territory of oklahoma's great plains too gloomy to call home once his automobile dies there in cherokee nation territory taylor had a breakdown however she was fortunate enough to learn from her mother that she and her siblings have had rights which means that they have enough cherokee blood to be entitled to live on cherokee reservations if they so desire rather than leaving right away taylor opts to spend the night in town and has dinner at a local diner she sends a letter to her mother while she's there native american man white cowboy and a native woman with a baby in her arms are also present in the diner the woman follows taylor out of the diner and hands her the baby take the baby said the woman as an implied threat she advises taylor to stay away from the diner once she returns since the woman does not have a birth certificate taylor is baffled and refuses to let her take the baby there is no one who knows or cares that the baby belongs to the woman's deceased sister taylor is left alone with the infant as the woman walks away when taylor gets to a hotel she can't tell if the baby is male or female until she bathes it taylor learns the child is a girl who has been sexually and physically abused as she is bathing her for the first time taylor tells mom about the head rights she's found and that she'll be bringing them along for the ride in the second chapter an unnamed narrator introduces us to the character of luann ruiz a former kentucky resident who now lives in tucson arizona pregnant luanne had recently been dumped by her husband angel luanne reminisces about the day her spouse broke up with her she went to the doctor to check up on her pregnancy on halloween she rode the bus home savoring the extra privacy she was afforded due to her growing belly the used tire store jesus as lord used tires with a giant painted mural of jesus outside is the first stop she makes after getting off the bus when she returned home she discovered that angel had abandoned her and was astonished by the items he had taken that he just brought novelty goods and nothing practical reveals her more about him than their five years of marriage she believes because her feet are so swollen luanne can't get her shoes off at night she weeps as she goes to bed the narrative shifts back to taylor's in the third chapter even though taylor has no money she manages to stay at the hotel in oklahoma through christmas by doing chores for the compassionate owner and earning her keep baby turtle is the moniker she has given it to of its tight grip after the new year's holiday taylor and turtle leave oklahoma for arizona where taylor plans to stay when taylor learns that she has two flat tires she pulls over and discovers jesus's lord used tires nearby although maddie is friendly taylor realizes that she cannot afford to get new tires for her vehicle to make up for her resentment maddie offers taylor and turtle a cup of coffee in the house when taylor inquires about the store maddie tells him that it was founded by her late husband a devop christian there is no way taylor can afford new tires so matty recommends she work for her for a bit as taylor explains to her she has expertise in the following areas cleaning x-rays urine tests and red blood cell counts in addition to removing bugs from the beans vines it's a good idea too maddie is overjoyed since she has a slew of bean vines she was gifted the tire shop is within walking distance so taylor and turtle choose the hotel republic as their new home because it is such a different kind of city from where she has previously lived tucson appeals to taylor she rapidly develops a friendship with a burger derby waitress the story shifts back to luanne's point of view at this point luanne's mother and grandmother are visiting to see her new baby dwayne ray and angel has temporarily moved back into keep up appearances for them an old coke bottle filled with hazy water is brought to luanne by her grandmother granny logan granny logan informs her its river water from luanne's baptism on the tug fork river luanne is instructed by granny logan to use the water to baptize dwayne rae luanne's mother and grandmother are about to leave and she has a fleeting thought of traveling back to kentucky with them only to realize that they will most likely argue the entire time luanne nursing dwayne ray when angel arrives to collect his belongings and move back in a bottle of tug fork river water catches angel's eye and he inquires as to its purpose after being told he flushes it away after only a few weeks on the job taylor is dismissed after getting into an argument with her employer she begins searching for a low-cost location to stay she sees an ad in the paper that she likes and the second one reads in part new moms need company rent is low and i guarantee not to bother you as far as the children are concerned everything is okay for further information please see the following link faye a lady who lives in a collective with lacia and timothy is the first person to post an ad when it comes to living with a non-caffeine soy milk drinking commune taylor finds them too hippie-ish next door to jesus is lord used tires luanne's residence is another option for lodging luanne and taylor have an instant connection within five minutes of realizing they're both from kentucky they're laughing and sipping pepsi together to luanne's surprise taylor reveals how she got to be turtle's protector dwayne ray and luanne barely scrape by and luanne is ready for taylor to move in but she admits that she and turtle are too clever and empowered for them just an ordinary redneck from east jesus nowhere with this adoptive child that everybody keeps telling me is dumb as a box of rocks taylor tells luanne in the episode it pleases luanne that taylor seems to speak in the same manner as her taylor can move in right away thanks to her agreement taylor agrees to work at maddie's tire store despite her dread of inflation according to maddie tire explosions are proportional to their size and that car tires do not explode in the same manner as tractor tires taylor gets two new tires as part of maddie's new job contract with her while taylor is at work luanne takes care of turtle taylor learns from maddie that she views her home as a refuge for those in need she currently shares a home with a group of spanish speakers in and out people arrive and leave and are frequently transported by father william to another location a book for turtle and a cart for her mother are on the list of purchases taylor makes while out shopping in order to select a name for turtle luanne buys a book of child names from the library luanne accepted taylor's invitation to join her for a drink one day when taylor was in a bad mood because she was annoyed that she and luanne were acting like an old married couple or in her words like blondie and dagwood luanne admits that she does not enjoy drinking because she is constantly concerned that she may become inebriated and cause an accident with angel and a few other friends she tells taylor that they once went stargazing while intoxicated on the next day angel reminded her of the meteor shower they'd witnessed the night before and she confessed to having no recollection of what they'd seen angel may have walked out on her because of her shame she's afraid if angel made up the meteor shower to make her feel horrible about herself taylor wonders if she's ever considered that possibility there is a possibility however remote that luanne is correct according to taylor pieces are included for all installations but no installation requires all of the parts she shares this idea with luanne as far as taylor is concerned no man in the world has the potential to make full use of her complex personality luanne is in fits of giggles at this even though it's march in arizona luanne and taylor advise inviting maddie along for a picnic estevan and esperanza a husband and couple from guatemala who live with maddie are also part of the crew this time around estevan tells taylor that the infant looks like like a youngster they used to know back home while esperanza appears to be fascinated by turtle despite luanne's advice taylor swims nonetheless reassured by taylor's assurances that it will be fine in order to escape a collision with the family of quail crossing the road turtle does a flip out of his car seat on the way home however this merely makes the baby laugh and taylor thinks she's doing fine as a mother if the child's first sound is a chuckle when turtle and taylor are helping maddie in the garden turtle says her first word bean all of maddie's pals have gathered to see her on the news that maddie talks about human rights and refuge in the united states for immigrant surprises taylor also in attendance are two senile ladies named mrs parsons and edna poppy who hurl insults at immigrants in front of estevan and esperanza that her mother is getting remarried disillusions taylor who soon learns about her mother's new relationship this is the time of her life and she shouldn't feel guilty about taking pleasure in it as luanne puts it while at work luanne discovers that angel had been by her house and confesses to taylor that she would probably allow him to move back in esteban dismisses taylor's apology for his remarks towards the elderly neighbor both like complimenting the other's accents and think the other's english is flawless the baby's history of abuse has stunted her growth which taylor learns when she takes her to the doctor although she appears to be three her true age belies are diminutive stature this disease can be reversed with proper treatment according to taylor's doctor there's a reason why angel only came back says luanne and it's all about him telling taylor about his plans to join the rodeo they argue because taylor is relieved taylor mentions the month of april during the debate and turtle's eyes widen as a result of this april turtle's real name is revealed to the two women overdosing on aspirin is what esperanza tries to do to end her life estevan's companion taylor remains with maddie when she is taken to the hospital by maddie estevan and taylor have a conversation and taylor discovers that she is drawn to him asmini estevan's daughter was kidnapped by guatemala's corrupt government while she was still living with him and his wife back in guatemala they fall asleep together on the couch and taylor wakes up feeling sorry about esperanza and kisses estevan's hand before going to sleep taylor sees esperanza after she gets home and apologizes for the loss of her baby in response to this esperanza breaks down in tears and tells her that she hopes she would never give up on her dreams before dwayne ray was born luanne tells taylor that she had a tendency to worry his demise by the year 2000 was predicted by a dream she experienced which she took to be prophetic since then she has been concerned about his well-being a worried mother is a good mother according to taylor when luanne receives a letter from angel he explains to her how much he misses her and wants her and the baby to come live with him either luanne will take his offer up or esperanza and estevan will be discovered and deported in order to be granted asylum in the u.s people must provide proof that they are fleeing imminent death in their home country luann is agitated when she arrives home one day she claims that mrs parsons was watching her in the park when something happened to turtle as mrs parsons who was elderly and blind was unable to defend herself or the baby a guy attacked them there are still no signs of life in turtle's eyes and taylor is concerned in the course of their investigation the police were summoned and a medical examiner found no evidence of molestation but did notice minor bruises on turtle's shoulder even though luanne wants to know who did this taylor is in a state of disbelief in the wake of the tragedy the police established that taylor has no legal claim to turtle taylor is informed by a social worker that turtle is a state ward it's luanne's idea to fight for a stake in the child but taylor is depressed and has already given up on the idea with newfound confidence taylor discusses oklahoma's child custody laws with the social worker after talking to maddie about the issue reuniting with turtle's family in oklahoma is taylor's goal after receiving a phone number from a social worker because of chance maddie had found a new home for esperanza and estevan in oklahoma and asked taylor if she could bring them along on her trip if taylor is caught bringing illegal immigrants across state lines this is a hazardous journey when taylor asks who turtle belongs to during a normal immigration check on the new mexico border estevan implies that turtle is his and his wife's daughter and taylor frieza during the car ride esperanza begins calling turtles meanie which causes taylor to worry that she is becoming too close to the baby when the gang returns to oklahoma they discover that the kind woman who operated at the inn where taylor first stayed with turtle has since passed away to taylor's surprise when they returned to oklahoma they realized that the wonderful woman who worked there has died traveling to the ozark mountains in an attempt to locate turtles kinfolk the group visits the headquarters of the cherokee nations most of the time they fail but one time while taylor and turtle were driving by a cemetery turtle shouted mama and taylor realized that turtle's original mother had died she explains to the youngster that she want to raise her and believes that turtle shares her sentiments as turtles guardians esperanza and estevan accompany taylor to a lawyer's office where they sign documents authorizing taylor to adopt turtle as esperanza continues to sob taylor knows that the mother is grieving for the loss of her own child esperanza on the other hand informs them that she was forced to give up her child and that she and her husband may be able to have additional children once they have settled down turtle is placed for adoption with taylor after the couple signs illegal paperwork authorizing them to do so to get to the church taylor has them get into his car the rev and his wife have agreed to take them in as guests when they leave taylor is especially heartbroken since she believes she has fallen in love with estevan afterward taylor tells her mother that she has lost her love on a pay phone after he kisses her goodbye she is comforted by her mother who informs her that taylor has adopted a kid of her own after a brief conversation taylor learns from turtle that she intends to see luanne and calls her ma wu on when she tells her so there is only one ma in the world and that is taylor the new april turtle grier she tells her is her real name now taylor makes a phone call to luann to find out whether she'll be moving in with angel soon new guy luanne maintains she isn't dating anybody else and insists she isn't dating anyone else then taylor and turtle are her families and she plans to stay with them that taylor has taken care of turtle makes luanne happy taylor and turtle return to tucson from the state of oklahoma taylor greer the main character of the novel with the intention of moving to a new location whenever her car breaks down taylor is an adventurous woman who leaves her hometown and heads off on her own the novel's core is taylor's wacky and amusing voice astonishment at the customs and landscape of the american southwest is shown in her unique perspective in the end taylor only chooses to live in tucson because it is so outrageous and unlike anything else she has ever experienced taylor keeps her wits about her as she copes with poverty and the unexpected arrival of a child at times taylor appears to be naive but she grows more aware of the hardships that others are going through particularly those of estevan and esperanza as well as that of turtle almost without thinking taylor begins to care for society's outcast since she has such a good heart and can relate to their suffering taylor's story does not revolve around finding a guy but rather on the ladies in her life unlike many more typical female protagonists luanne taylor's roommate an eventual best friend it was luanne's premonition months before she gave birth to her first child that prompted her to worry about her son's safety in some aspects luanne surpasses taylor in terms of femininity and womanliness her hope for her husband's return and her firm belief that love should endure no matter what happens after he leaves her are both expressed in her letter as a result luanne moves to tucson and stays despite the wishes of her female relatives who want her to return home lewin transforms from a typical housewife to a strong and capable single mother during the course of the story eventually she and taylor start a family of their own with the kids estevan the guatemalan man who brings his wife to america and stays with maddie for a few months to avoid being arrested as an illegal immigrant estevan is the only male character of significance in the book and he is the only one who grows as the antithesis of the stereotypically macho american male estevan exudes a sense of serenity and goodness to the predatory and evil characters in the book like turtles abuser and angel this nice man serves as a counterpoint because he is a man of color and an undocumented immigrant he may have a deeper understanding of the predicament of women in the workplace because of his identity he has witnessed death and destruction estevan and taylor begin a relationship that despite taylor's best efforts remains platonic it's evident that estevan regards taylor as a close friend and tells her about the day his daughter was kidnapped and how it has had an impact on his wife turtle taylor's adopted daughter a young girl abandoned by her aunt is picked up by taylor and left in front of a diner because of his past of sexual and physical abuse turtle is intellectually and physically undeveloped turtle is taylor's pet moniker for the girl because of the way she holds on to things when turtle is satisfied that taylor will take care of her as she grows she begins to communicate more and catch up with her development owner of jesus's lord used tires as maddie a lady to the book characters she served as a mother figure most readers will be surprised by the character of maddie a reticent woman of religion who turns out to be a brave and knowledgeable defender of immigrant civil rights while maddie is a great supporter of taylor she doesn't encourage her to perform any heroic deeds maddie's support for immigrants goes far beyond the pages of the book and her friends are taken aback when she reveals this to them on april 8 1955 barbara king salver was born in annapolis maryland when she was a young girl her physician father uprooted the family and relocated them to the rural town of carlisle kentucky king saulver's parents worked in public health in the democratic republic of the congo while she was a youngster and the family lived there for a brief period as a student at indiana's depauw university king solver became involved in anti-vietnam war action that would last the rest of her life she earned a bachelor of science degree in 1977 and spent a year abroad in france before relocating to tucson arizona after working as a science journalist at arizona's university of arizona in the 1980s king solver went on to write for the tucson weekly newspaper she entered another local newspaper's short story contest shortly after and won this was the beginning of her writing career king solver married joseph hoffman in 1985 and had a daughter named camille two years later a few years after the bean trees king solver published a sequel pigs in heaven which rapidly became a breakout success 1993. king salvar and her daughter relocated to the canary islands in 1990 because she became displeased with the united states role in the first gulf war a year and a half after her return to the united states she divorced her first husband and married steve hopp with whom she eventually had a daughter named lily after its publication in 1998 the poisonwood bible became king solver's most well-known work the book was nominated for the pulitzer prize and awarded the south african national book prize for its outstanding achievement in literary achievement in 2000 king solver established an award to help authors who have yet to publish works that represent social justice issues the bellwether prize is given out on an even-numbered year basis she received the national humanities medal from president clinton in the same year there have been three more books by king solver since then prodigal summer 2000 the lacuna 2009 and flight behavior 2012. a year later king silver and her family made the move to washington county in 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