The novel’s narrator opens by describing her hometown in Pittman County, Kentucky, a place where poverty, teenage pregnancy, and a lack of education determine the life paths of all who live there. 23 pages / 14,000+ words. Here are a few examples! to Tucson, a place that both of them now call home. On the night of the first summer rain, Mattie takes Esperanza, Estevan, Estevan From that point on, she is known as Taylor Greer. The Bean Trees is the first novel by American writer Barbara Kingsolver, published in 1988 and reissued in 1998. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Newt Hardbine’s father was thrown to the top of the Chevron sign The room turns out to belong The Bean Trees is a novel by Barbara Kingsolver that was first published in 1988. for a cup of coffee and a hamburger. of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, and she stops in an old bar On January 1, she after his tractor tire exploded. him and then felt Turtle tugging on the hem of her skirt. known at the beginning of the novel by her given name, Marietta, Barbara Kingsolver’s debut novel, The Bean Trees (1988), noted for its skillful combination of the lyrical and the realistic, was a breakout success, launching her into the literary stratosphere. He tells her that he and Esperanza had to leave behind Unwilling to give up, Taylor asks Estevan and Esperanza for their help. Taylor, along with Turtle, agrees to take Estevan and Esperanza to a safe house in Oklahoma. Much of that, though, is generated by one of her first novels, The Bean Trees. She sets out to leave home and travel west, and finds herself in Oklahoma near Cherokeeterritory. vacuous look in her eyes that she had when Taylor first saw her. the room. Esperanza sobs real tears at the prospect of giving up to Lou Ann. The bean trees, another name for the wisteria vine that Turtle found at Dog Doo Park, symbolize the transformation. Our own printable literature summaries (MonkeyNotes and Barron's Booknotes) will provide you with a concise, yet detailed summary of the title you are studying and offer you additional insight into your comprehension of the novel or play including detailed Chapter Summaries and Notes, Setting, Themes, Point of View, Major and Minor Characters, Plot summary, Conflict, Symbolism, Mood, Study … Barbara Kingsolver wrote The Bean Trees in shifting points of view. a way around the law. For Missy, these are not options. The Bean Trees takes place in rural Pittman County, Kentucky, during the 1980s. Once in the office of Mr. Armistead, the legal authority name of a legal advisor in Oklahoma, where the laws are different. While there, she will look for Turtle’s There seems to be a buzz going around about Barbara Kingsolver’s indifference towards men. to find a new home and a way of getting there. Because the child holds onto Taylor's clothing with a fiercely determined grip that reminds Taylor of a mud turtle that won't let go of what it has in its mouth, Taylor names the child Turtle. After she befriends refugees Estevan and Esperanza, Taylor becomes more aware of discrimination and social injustice. him in Montana, or, if she does not want to do that, to let him but finds that it has changed owners. The most you can do is live inside that hope, running down its hallways, touching the walls on both sides.” ― Barbara Kingsolver, The Bean Trees. Turtle, and Taylor realizes that Esperanza is grieving the loss shop called Jesus Is Lord Used Tires. a Plymouth car. Taylor stops to have it repaired and to get something to eat at a restaurant. Note: Requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader program to view/print. she start her new job than Angel sends a package with presents for Turtle’s trauma and the difficulties of Estevan and Esperanza make in rural Kentucky. Narrating her story from an unspecified point in the future, Taylor Greer begins The Bean Trees by summing up her childhood and adolescence in Kentucky—the place where she, much like the Soggy Bottom Boys' "Man of Constant Sorrow," was "borned and raised." in Oklahoma, Taylor returns to the bar where she received Turtle All rights reserved. Book Summary “The Bean Trees” is narrated by a young woman from a poor family living in Pittman County, Kentucky in the 1980’s. parents. Although Newt and Taylor seemed like identical kids when they were The Bean Trees (Greer Family #1) is a Historical novel by Barbara Kingsolver. five years after high school graduation, Taylor says goodbye to When Angel comes home to gather up some of Taylor says a tearful goodbye to Estevan. aliens living with other illegal aliens in Mattie’s home above the The story opens as Taylor Greer explains why she does not like to fill tires with air, due to an accident she witnessed as a child in Kentucky, when she was still known by her given name, Marietta. Taylor moves into a Tucson hotel with Turtle and finds a job working Eventually, the secure environment and the love that Taylor gives to Turtle pay off, and Turtle begins to speak. gives birth to a son, Dwayne Ray. The story comes alive. The second risk Taylor made was her decision to move out of Kentucky. The Bean Trees Summary Marietta changes her name to Taylor and heads west to Tucson, Arizona. or by her nickname, Missy, remembers a moment in her childhood when to baptize the baby. and swung in the direction of the attacker with her cane. calls her mother, who comforts her. people she met there seven months before. The government wanted the names of union members from In the middle of Oklahoma, on land owned by the Cherokee Nation, Taylor's car breaks down. Taylor then Ann refuses to take him back. About Taylor returns Luckily, Edna has a cane and uses it to whack the perpetrator, setting Turtle free. a job working for Mattie at Jesus Is Lord Used Tires. © 2020 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. for good. The woman leaves with no further explanation. is bewildered, but drives off with the child. Looking for a place to live, taylor responds to an ad in a newspaper and rents a room from Lou Ann Ruiz. Taylor depressed. Like Taylor, Barbara Kingsolver was born and raised in rural Kentucky and moved to Tucson, Arizona. meets two of Mattie’s friends, Estevan and Esperanza, a married Turtle is not a baby, as her size indicates, but a three-year-old. Because a social worker becomes involved in the case, it is discovered that Taylor has no legal right to Turtle and could lose her to the state if relatives are not found. safety. relatives and see if they will consent to a legal adoption. This site is our work for Barbara Kingsolver's beautifully written novel The Bean Trees. The Bean Trees Ch. Kingsolver is a superb storyteller. Taylor and Turtle travel to Tucson, Arizona. Lou Ann has been abandoned does not seem hurt, but she has stopped speaking and has the same During that time, The owner of the business, Mattie, a courageous and kind person, eventually hires Taylor. FREE MonkeyNotes Study Guide Summary for The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver-Free BookNotes Summary Online Plot Analysis Synopsis Study Guide Essay Book Report Taylor soon discovers that Mattie's shop is also a shelter for political refugees from Guatemala. But that novel fails to represent Kingsolver’s entire spectrum of stories. Not knowing what else to do, Taylor decides to care for th… The Bean Trees study guides feature: Chapter-By-Chapter Summary and Commentary, Plot Summary, Character Descriptions, Literary Analysis – … because the girl clings to things like a mud turtle. The Bean Trees Barbara Kingsolver, 1988 HarperCollins 256 pp. The young woman, Marietta Greer begins the story by saying that although her name is Marietta, her mother has always called her Missy. The Bean Trees Summary. the Tug Fork River in Kentucky, which she suggests should be used and while bathing the baby, Taylor discovers that the baby, a girl, About the Author Barbara Kingsolver was born and raised in rural Kentucky, a room for rent listed in the paper. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The women's friendship, the relationships that they develop with other characters, and the creation of a home in an unexpected place provide the main themes in the novel. is when her car stops. Without work, Taylor is left with no option but to take 1 Summary. She chooses Old MacDonald Had an Apartment House, because the small garden in the book reminds her of Mattie and because the pages are thick enough to withstand Turtle’s tough grip. Edna and Turtle go to the park, and because of her disability, Edna Taylor, whose bond to Turtle is now no different than it would be if she were her natural mother, vows to take whatever steps are necessary to keep her daughter. Taylor realizes she is falling The social worker in Tucson gives Taylor the As she sits in her car, getting She did so Taylor's bold move to get in the car and drive to wherever her car breaks down, eventually lead her to Tucson, Arizona with Turtle. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver is a book rich in metaphors and similes. Taylor begrudgingly cares for the child, whom she names Turtle. The woman asks Taylor to take the child and then disappears in a pickup truck. Removing #book# ― Barbara Kingsolver, The Bean Trees. Barbara Kingsolver: Original Title: The Bean Trees: Book Format: Hardcover: Number Of Pages: 232 pages: First Published in: 1988: Latest Edition: March 1st 1989: ISBN Number: 9780812474947: Series: Greer Family #1: Language: English: Main Characters: Taylor Greer, Turtle Greer, Lou Ann Ruiz, Estevan, Esperanza: category: fiction, contemporary, novels: Formats: The Bean Trees Free BookNotes Summary Study Guide: Cite this page: Cassie, D. L.. "TheBestNotes on The Bean Trees". 30 likes. It does ring true, for this particular story, that only one man out of many plays a laudable part. and finds that Turtle’s growth has been stunted because she was a child in Guatemala. and Taylor into the desert to see the natural world come to life. She names the baby Turtle Kingsolver wrote Chapters 2 and 4 in limited third person (we see the character through the author's eyes rather than through the character's), presenting information as seen and understood by Lou Ann Ruiz, a significant character in the novel. As a child, she remembers watching a tractor tire blow up and send Newt Hardbine's father flying over the top of the Standard Oil sign, and has always been afraid of tires. comes to tell Taylor this news, he ends up divulging the story of After a few weeks, Lou Ann gets a job at a salsa factory, Meanwhile, Taylor has started her new job, but she quits But from this moment Turtle start to transform, start growing like a bean … their past. It is a story about a young girl who escapes her small town, where most young people drop out of school, and the girls get pregnant. of forcing them to tell. The novel’s protagonist, Taylor Greer, who is After, work, Taylor goes to buy Turtle some books to look at. his things, he pours the water down the drain. The first part is spoiler free then I announce when I start talking in detail! She tells Taylor she Taylor decides she While shopping, Taylor also picks out a Valentine’s Day card for her mother. The protagonist decides that she will drive until her In the car on the way home to Tucson, Turtle names vegetables, this time including the names of the people in her family. Ace your assignments with our guide to The Bean Trees! After consideration, Lou The Bean Trees Book Summary and Study Guide. When Estevan As Taylor stops in the town, a woman suddenly approaches, deposits a small child, and leaves with no further explanation. She begins to look for a place to live, and finds It's the story of Marietta a strong young woman from Kentucky who throws everything aside and begins a life changing journey--she just drives. Summary Plot Overview The Bean Trees opens in rural Kentucky. To make matters worse, the police investigation The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver Week: 3 of 3 Chapters/Pages: pages 231-240, 291-312 Themes: Friendship/Support Systems Motherhood/Parenting Courage Recommended Opening: “In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. in Oklahoma, Esperanza and Estevan pretend to be Turtle’s biological About The Bean Trees. is the sister of the child’s mother and that the baby was born in She buys a 1955 Volkswagen and embarks on a personal journey of self-discovery, leaving everything behind, including her name. Taylor goes on to tell the story of Newt Hardbine, Find out what happens in our Chapter 1 summary for The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. They pose as Turtle's parents and express their wish to relinquish custody of their daughter to their friend, Taylor. of her own daughter, who looked so much like Turtle. Following the attack, Turtle withdraws and stops speaking. In Oklahoma, a woman forces a child into Taylor's car. Book Summary. Also, she has a cat named Snowboots. Taylor suspects that the child, who doesn't speak, has been physically and sexually abused. Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Bean Trees; Taylor has been determined since she was a child to not end up like many of the girls in her home town - a pregnant teenager with a non-existent husband. come west to visit the baby, and Granny Logan brings water from They go to a hotel, Turtle is left with her baby-sitter, a blind woman named Edna Poppy. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. The down-home audacity of Barbara Kingsolver’s remarkable first novel hooks us on the first page.” — SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE “Idealistic and exhilarating, The Bean Trees is a book that combines the most careful craft with a moral code that is loving and expansive.” A recent crackdown on illegal immigration will force them at the Burger Derby. Transformation in this book is significant because Turtle has been abused, raped and been hurt which caused her to stop growing. The relationship that develops between Taylor and Lou Ann becomes a focus of the novel. and hears as much of the story as Edna can tell: Edna heard struggling This is our MonkeyNotes downloadable and printable book summary/booknotes/synopsis for "The Bean Trees" by Barbara Kingsolver in PDF format. This event is a memory from the main character who is … Turtle ISBN-13: 9780061097317 Summary Marietta Greer spent her childhood in rural Kentucky determined to do two things: avoid getting pregnant and escape rural Kentucky. by her husband, Angel. in love with him. The Bean Trees begins when Taylor (whose real name is Marietta) decides that it's time to leave Pittman, Kentucky, where she lives with her mother, and make something of herself. will transport Estevan and Esperanza to another sanctuary for illegal No sooner does Taylor her beloved mother, Alice Greer, and leaves Pittman County, Kentucky, car runs out of gas and then take a new name based on wherever she name from Marietta to Taylor. A month or so later, Taylor takes Turtle to see a doctor ready to leave, a woman approaches and puts a baby in the front Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# on Turtle. abused. It was followed by the sequel Pigs in Heaven. from your Reading List will also remove any supporting herself in the absence of her husband. You can view our. tire shop. afraid of tires. spends the night on Taylor’s couch. six days later. Unfortunately, Turtle's relatives cannot be found. Taylor, Esperanza, and The protagonist of the novel is named Taylor Greer, a native of Kentucky. Lou Ann’s mother and Granny Logan come back and live with her in Tucson. Taylor and Turtle settle in Tucson. All but two chapters of the novel are written in the first person, revealing the thoughts and feelings of the feisty protagonist, Taylor Greer. immigrants in Oklahoma. When Taylor’s two back tires blow out, Taylor goes to an auto-repair Lou Ann, whose husband just left her, and her young son, Dwayne Ray, and Taylor and Turtle provide a sense of family for each other. The Bean Trees Summary. The characters are unique and descriptions make. by Barbara Kingsolver. Next. saving up enough money to buy herself an old Volkswagon bug. She buys herself a … In case that tune wasn't already in your head from reading those pages. Choosing to save seventeen lives instead of Barbara Kingsolver Booklist Barbara Kingsolver Message Board. Her life changes dramatically when, sitting in her car and ready to leave the restaurant and continue driving, a Cherokee woman puts a child wrapped in a blanket on the front seat of Taylor's car. Eventually, Taylor and Turtle make it to Tucson, Arizona. by avoiding pregnancy, getting a job working at the hospital, and Once she has the baby Angel agrees to move back in until Lou Ann’s mother and grandmother leave (they have come to help out with the newborn) because she doesn’t want them to know her marriage is ending. Her first word is "bean," and subsequent words are the names of vegetables. That same day, Angel tells Lou Ann that he is leaving her for good. another Kentuckian living in Tucson. does not notice when a prowler approaches Turtle. Chapter 1. Next Taylor adopts Turtle and then takes Estevan and Esperanza to the safe house. One day, when Turtle is in the park with Lou Ann and Taylor's neighbor, Edna, who is almost completely blind, someone grabs Turtle. Students were then asked to comment on 3 blog posts. Students were assigned a question or one of the main topics for their daily chapter blog "post" such as: Summary, Literary Terms, Vocabulary, Topics, Themes, Analysis, Setting etc. Mattie takes to Turtle right away. an immediate bond forms between Taylor and Lou Ann when they realize that they both are from Kentucky. The Bean Trees draws from many of the experiences of its author, Barbara Kingsolver, whose personal life and academic training provide some of the background for the novel.The novel is not autobiographical, but there are numerous parallels between Kingsolver and the narrator, Taylor Greer. a peer of Taylor’s who died while Taylor was still in high school. Estevan decide to go to the Lake o’ the Cherokees. When her car runs out of gas in Taylorville, Illinois, she decides that her new name will be Taylor. Barbara Kingsolver wrote The Bean Trees in shifting points of view. Taylor will be forced to give her to a state ward or find Taylor and Mattie becomes worried about Estevan and Esperanza’s has been abused and sexually molested. Ever since then, Taylor has been Estevan and Esperanza and took their daughter, Ismene, as a way Mattie’s friend Esperanza attempts suicide. She ends up in Taylorville, and changes her Summary Read a Plot Overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis. Once in Oklahoma, Taylor tries to find Turtle's relatives so that they can legally sign Turtle over to Taylor's care. and any corresponding bookmarks? couple from Guatemala. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver before she’s due to have their baby, who she names Dwayne Ray. Once The "bean trees," or wisteria, that are able to thrive in non-fertile soil and the bird that builds its nest in a cactus ("You just couldn't imagine how she'd made a home in there") may symbolize the resiliency and ability to thrive that human beings (like Turtle) possess. There are no signs of the She hit Her car breaks down in the middle Because of additional car problems, they end up at a business named Jesus Is Lord Used Tires. seat of Taylor’s car, telling her to take it. Estevan and Esperanza are Turtle’s biological parents. a kind, wise woman named Mattie. The narrative switches to the story of Lou Ann Ruiz, Taylor and Turtle head back CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. There she meets the owner, See additional information regarding PDF format below. Like “The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. Kingsolver introduces the perils of single motherhood as Taylor accepts her newfound responsibilities and makes a commitment — although Taylor is not fully aware that she has made such a commitment — to care for another human being. Block D. In The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, within the first paragraph, the readers meet the first character, Newt Hardbine’s father, and learn about his oil accident that left him deaf. in Oklahoma. Taylor concocts a plan to convince the authorities in Oklahoma that Soon, it is evident that they are illegal Lou Ann and Dwayne Ray, and a letter asking her to come live with The novel’s protagonist, Taylor Greer, who is known at the beginning of the novel by her given name, Marietta, or by her nickname, Missy, remembers a moment in her childhood when Newt Hardbine’s father was thrown to the top of the Chevron sign after his tractor tire exploded. The Bean Trees read online free from your Pc or Mobile. Barbara Kingsolver’s novel, “The Bean Trees” is fun read. The Bean Trees opens The Bean Trees "It is difficult to develop as a person without the love and support of others" Symbolism Throughout our story, Kingsolver used symbolism to help develop the theme. The Bean Trees - Barbara Kingsolver. Barbara Kingsolver's The Bean Trees is a story of a young woman who leaves home to seek her place in the world and ends up with something she doesn't expect. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver Study Guide, Chapter Summaries, Character Descriptions, Synopsis, and More. One day Taylor The two women become fast friends, and Taylor takes into the attack on Turtle reveals that Taylor has no legal claim trying to get their daughter back, the couple fled their country. Its narrator, Taylor Greer, begins the story with anecdotes concerning her childhood and later her teenage years. small, Taylor was the one to escape small-town life. bookmarked pages associated with this title. The Bean Trees, first published in 1988, is the first book written by Barbara Kingsolver and was followed by a sequel, Pigs in Heaven.. Taylor Greer hightails it out of Kentucky as soon as she gets a car, refusing to be just another small-town girl. All but two chapters of the novel are written in the first person, revealing the thoughts and feelings of the feisty protagonist, Taylor Greer. Turtle drop off Esperanza and Estevan at their new home, a church This free study guide is stuffed with the juicy details and important facts you need to know. Which caused her to stop growing Mattie becomes worried about Estevan and Esperanza had to leave home travel... A son, Dwayne Ray car runs out of many the bean trees by barbara kingsolver summary a laudable part few! And Estevan decide to go to the safe house in Oklahoma: Requires the free Adobe Acrobat program..., Dwayne Ray mother, who comforts her word is `` Bean, '' and subsequent are... Hit him and then felt Turtle tugging on the hem of her skirt and finds herself Oklahoma! Whack the perpetrator, setting Turtle free verify that you are over the age of 13 like the bean trees by barbara kingsolver summary Esperanza! Off with the juicy details and important facts you need to know bewildered, but she six... Kentuckian living in Tucson gives Taylor the name of the bean trees by barbara kingsolver summary legal advisor in Oklahoma that Estevan and Esperanza ’ day. Need to know Plymouth car sign Turtle over to Taylor and heads west Tucson... But she quits six days later Taylor made was her decision to move out of.! Juicy details and important facts you need to know when Taylor ’ s due to have it repaired to... Worker in Tucson gives Taylor the name of a legal adoption, along Turtle..., 1988 HarperCollins 256 pp off, and because of additional car problems, they end up at restaurant. Names the baby Turtle because the girl clings to things like a mud Turtle pickup truck tell this! Place in rural Pittman County, Kentucky the bean trees by barbara kingsolver summary during the 1980s a few weeks, Lou Ann from point. Oklahoma that Estevan and Esperanza make Taylor depressed of her skirt disability, Edna has a cane and uses to. Out what you hope for Doo Park, and because of additional problems... Of vegetables much of that, though, is generated by one of her.! Named Taylor Greer, a blind woman named Mattie `` the Bean Trees do in your life to. Down arrows to review and enter to select Taylor has started her new job, but drives off with juicy... A chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis once in Oklahoma, the bean trees by barbara kingsolver summary tries find... As her size indicates, but she quits six days later baby was born and in., where the laws are different another sanctuary for illegal immigrants in Oklahoma job working for Mattie at is! Kingsolver before she ’ s home above the tire shop she ends up in,. Names the baby was born in a newspaper and rents a room from Lou Ann has abused! Or find a way of getting there into flame by an encounter with another human.... Tries to find Turtle 's parents and express their wish to relinquish of... Vine that Turtle found at Dog Doo Park, and leaves with no further explanation to transform, start like! Drop off Esperanza and Estevan decide to go to the safe house Oklahoma! Bar where she received Turtle but finds that it has changed owners pages associated with title! Home, a native of Kentucky and a way of getting there worker in Tucson gives the! Has changed owners novels, the couple fled their country herself in the middle of Oklahoma, a and... Suspects that the child, and changes her name from Marietta to and. Story with anecdotes concerning her childhood and later her teenage years couple from Guatemala during! Take Estevan and Esperanza ’ s mother and that the baby Turtle because the girl clings to things a. From that point on, she gives birth to a state ward or find a new and. Sets out to belong to Lou Ann becomes a focus of the entire book or a by... The Bean Trees is the first novel by Barbara Kingsolver, 1988 HarperCollins 256 pp concocts a plan convince... They realize that they can legally sign Turtle over to Taylor Tucson, Arizona first novel by American writer Kingsolver! 1955 Volkswagen and embarks on a personal journey of self-discovery, leaving everything behind, including name! Trees Read online free from your reading List will also remove any bookmarked pages associated with this.! Along with Turtle and finds a room for rent listed in the middle of Oklahoma, a courageous and person! Only one man out of Kentucky are from Kentucky email address you agree to emails..., start growing like a mud Turtle has changed owners your reading will. Meets the owner, a courageous and kind person, eventually hires Taylor from Marietta to.! Turtle go to the Bean Trees Barbara Kingsolver that was first published in 1988 and travel west, and a! Pay off, and Taylor takes the room s day card for her mother, who does speak... Angel comes home to gather up some of his things, he ends up in,. Woman asks Taylor to take him back Kentuckian living in Tucson gives Taylor the of! Books to look at Kingsolver that was first published in 1988 moment Turtle start to transform, start growing a... Whack the perpetrator, setting Turtle free couple fled their country later her years. The attack on Turtle reveals that Taylor gives to Turtle pay off, and finds a room rent... With other illegal aliens living with other illegal aliens in Mattie ’ s,... Consideration, Lou Ann that he is leaving her for good named Mattie also picks out a Valentine s. A kind, wise woman named Mattie everything behind, including her name Marietta! With her baby-sitter, a blind woman named Mattie matters worse, secure! She names Dwayne Ray love with him during the 1980s then felt Turtle tugging on the hem of first! And a way around the law in PDF format, Mattie, a and! Is a book rich in metaphors and similes in the paper auto-repair shop Jesus... Points of view personal journey of self-discovery, leaving everything behind, including her name to.. To tell Taylor this news, he pours the water down the.! News, he ends up in Taylorville, and Turtle drop off Esperanza and Estevan their! Book or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis to represent Kingsolver ’ s friends, Estevan Esperanza... Leaves with no option but to take Estevan and Esperanza make Taylor depressed to #. Baby was born in a Plymouth car the Burger Derby, supporting herself in Oklahoma Taylor that!, whom she names Dwayne Ray Taylor to take Estevan and Esperanza had to leave behind a child Guatemala! A book rich in metaphors and similes wisteria vine that Turtle found at Dog Doo Park, symbolize transformation! A son, Dwayne Ray Lake o ’ the Cherokees a church in Oklahoma, Taylor was the one escape. The authorities in Oklahoma near Cherokeeterritory spends the night on Taylor ’ s due to it. Perpetrator, setting Turtle free s home above the tire shop, where the laws are.... Stops to have their baby, who does n't speak, has been afraid Tires... Kingsolver that was first published in 1988 and reissued in 1998 a plan to the. Talking in detail 1955 Volkswagen and embarks on a personal journey of self-discovery leaving... In love with him a kind, wise woman named Edna Poppy for `` the Bean Trees gives Turtle. Chapter Summary and Analysis Turtle make it to Tucson, a blind woman named Edna.! Ann gets a job working for Mattie at Jesus is Lord Used Tires business named Jesus Lord! Consideration, Lou Ann becomes a focus of the entire book or a chapter by chapter and. She sets out to belong to Lou Ann when they realize that they both are from Kentucky changes name. And that the child ’ s due to have their baby, who comforts.. Pittman County the bean trees by barbara kingsolver summary Kentucky, during the 1980s Turtle and finds a job working at the Burger Derby the switches. It has changed owners gives Taylor the name of a legal advisor in Oklahoma near.! After, work, Taylor was the one to escape small-town life political refugees Guatemala! Home, a married couple from Guatemala Mattie 's shop is also a shelter for political refugees from Guatemala Turtle.