The Bean Trees

The Bean Trees (first published in 1988) is the first novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Kingsolver is an American novelist, essayist, and poet who holds degrees in ecology and evolutionary biology, and her work often addresses biodiversity, social justice, communities, and people’s interactions with their environment. The Bean Trees is a work of realistic adult fiction that follows Taylor Greer as she leaves her rural upbringing in Kentucky, drives across the country to Tucson, Arizona, and unexpectedly becomes the caretaker of a young toddler she calls Turtle. While Taylor prides herself on self-sufficiency and independence from men, her experiences in Tucson bring her closer to another single mother, Lou Ann Ruiz, and a pair of Guatemalan asylum seekers, Estevan and Esperanza. These characters eventually form a community and support one another in navigating the challenges of poverty, discrimination, and systematic inequality.

This guide refers to the Harper Paperbacks edition published in 1998.

Content Warning: The novel and this guide reference death by suicide, child sexual abuse, and racism.

Plot Summary

The Bean Trees centers on Taylor Greer, born as Marietta “Missy” Greer in rural Pittman County, Kentucky. She grows up with a single mother, who teaches her confidence and self-reliance.