One Woman in a Field of Bees

Lakesha Monique Watts-Ray
iUniverse (2007)
ISBN 0595436900
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (5/07)

For Anna’s birthday her family published her old blue journal.  It contained her thoughts and memories. Over the years she had written in it recording her life story.  Her family titled the book “One Woman in a Field of Bees.”  Daisy explained “One woman is you, who stood in a field alone while your children stung you with grief and pain.  And through it all, you provided nurturing love, food, and shelter to them all.  You were one woman in a field of bees, Nanna!”  Anna Mae Brown grew up in poverty and amidst racism.  It was the 1930’s and life wasn’t easy for a little Indian girl.  Fats, was the only name overweight Anna was known by at home.  Anna’s grandmother was an Indian, a member of the Sauk tribe. 

As a child Anna had faith in God.  Her parents couldn’t keep her away from church even though they tried.  She prayed for her parents, who did not believe in God and for protection for her brother in the military.  When she heard that Pearl Harbor had been attacked, she went to a church to pray. She was only twelve but that didn’t stop a preacher from raping her.  Suddenly she was no longer a little girl.  Her mother forced Anna to have an abortion and then killed the baby.  Anna’s life was never the same.  When the father of her children married another woman she had a breakdown.  Only the love and kindness of Mama Sweet brought her back from the brink of madness and to her faith in God

“One Woman in a Field of Bees” by Lakesha Monique Watts-Ray is a book that grabs you from the first page.  The reader cannot help but love a little girl whose mother cruelly calls her Fats.  Anna is a fascinating character; she has a profound faith and a deep strength.  The author manages to add bits of humor to a serious heart-rending plot. 

More than once Anna repeated comments she’d overheard her parents say, such as, asking Ms. Henrietta where her other face was or calling her father’s boss a Jackass.  She took her parents words very seriously resulting in some humorous situations.  While her mother thought she was acting out of care, her actions were cruel. 

Lakesha is a talented author.  She draws the reader into the story, making him or her feel as though they were experiencing the heartache of Anna.  I highly recommend this book to fans of fiction.

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