Little Bee's Life

Little Bee by Chris Cleave is a realistic fiction following a Nigerian girl’s refugee in the UK and the woman that helps here to a new life. The novel is based on the true story of many Nigerian girls escaping prosecution from their community. With the hope of a new life these young women and children seek sanctuary in the England, unbeknownst to the immigrants that they are unwanted by most British citizens and will be held captive for years until the correct papers will pass. Little bee, is held in a detention center for two years until she is suddenly released. She travels a bit with three other girls that were released with her until she musters up the courage to find a couple that saved her one a beach by giving up a finger. Sarah and Andrew went on a holiday after marital problems hope to repair a broken love, instead the couple saw soldiers, who worked for the oil rigs of Nigeria, chasing 2 young girls on to a beach for seeing less than favorable events. Sarah intervenes on the girl’s behalf and tries to save them, a deal is stuck, a finger for a girl’s life. Sarah parts with her middle finger but the deal is not carried through, the soldiers take the young women leaving Sarah clutching her blood soaked hand in the sand, Andrew standing silently behind her. This is where we think the story ends but it is just the beginning.

The novel is told from both Sarah’s and Little Bee’s point of view. This duel perspective allows the reader to see both the main charters, what they think and their base values. All through the book the chapters alternate being told from each woman’s voice. Little Bee begins the story in the detention center and then describes her brief travels with the 3 other African Immigrants. It is in a passage whe...

... middle of paper ...

... Charlie who she only met weeks earlier. “I screamed at the soldiers, Don’t shoot, Don’t shoot, I AM THE ONE THAT YOU WANT,”(Cleave 263). Both of these quotes show the true nature of the women, one of concern for others before one’s self. It is in these acts of heroism that the true colors of these strong women show through.

This novel teaches the reader that good people make mistakes but everyone can redeem themselves with effort and caring. Little Bee and Sarah demonstrate the healing ability of a friendship and the possibility of a good life after a tragedy. The story began on a beach with the loss of a finger and that it ends after with the loss of fear. Little Bee by Chris Cleave is really about two women surviving under less than desirable circumstances trying to save themselves and the world; it is a real life novel with a message that deserves to be told.