"The work of a visionary. . . . It leaves you open-mouthed and smiling." -- Los Angeles Times

"As clear as air. It is the southern novel taken west, its colors as translucent and polished as one of those slices of rose agate from a desert shop." -- New York Times Book Review

"An extraordinary good novel, tough and tender and gritty and moving." -- Anne Rivers Siddons

"So wry and wise we wish it would never end....The chatty, down-home audacity of Barbara Kingsolver's remarkable first novel hooks us on the first page." -- San Francisco Chronicle

"A major new talent. From the very first page, Kingsolver's characters tug at the heart and soul." -- Ms.

"An astonishing literary debut....For a deep breath of fresh air, spend some time in the neighborhood of The Bean Trees." -- Cosmopolitan

"Idealistic and exhilerating, The Bean Trees is a book that combines the most careful craft with a moral code that is loving and expansive." -- Philadelphia Inquirer

"This is the story of a lovable, resourceful 'instant mother, ' one who speaks, acts and learns for herself, becoming an inspiration to us all." -- Glamour

"This funny, inspiring book is a marvelous affirmation of risk-taking, commitment and everyday miracles...An overwhelming delight, as random and unexpected as real life." -- Publishers Weekly