The Bean Trees Summary

In rural Kentucky, a young woman named Taylor Greer remembers a childhood event that left her terrified of tires. She recalls a friend, Newt Hardbine, who met a tragic end while they were still in school. Despite their matching backgrounds, Taylor manages to escape her small hometown life by working at a hospital, saving money, and buying an old Volkswagen. Five years after finishing high school, she bids farewell to her mother and leaves her small town. She starts her new adventure with a vow to rename herself based on where her car stops running. Her journey leads her to Taylorville, where her car breaks down and she adopts her new name. Unexpectedly, she is given a baby by a woman claiming to be the infant's aunt, who leaves without further explanation. In shock, Taylor decides to keep the baby girl, whom she names Turtle due to her clingy nature. The duo eventually ends up in Tucson, Arizona after a series of car troubles.

In Tucson, Taylor's life intersects with Lou Ann Ruiz, another Kentuckian, abandoned by her husband and caring for her newborn son. After a brief stint at a new job, Taylor finds herself without stable work and ends up renting a room from Lou Ann. The two women form a fast friendship and Taylor starts working for a kind woman named Mattie, who runs a tire shop. Through Mattie, Taylor and Turtle meet a pair of undocumented immigrants from Guatemala, Estevan and Esperanza. Over time, Taylor finds out about the couple's tragic past and how they had to leave their own child behind to save many others.

As the story progresses, Taylor finds herself falling for Estevan while dealing with the harsh reality that Turtle is actually three years old, her growth stunted due to past abuse. A police investigation reveals that Taylor has no legal claim over Turtle, further complicating their situation. Amidst these challenges, Taylor embarks on a trip to Oklahoma to help Estevan and Esperanza find a new sanctuary, while also seeking Turtle's relatives for possible legal adoption. Once in Oklahoma, Taylor hatches a plan for Estevan and Esperanza to pose as Turtle's biological parents. After a dramatic encounter with an Oklahoma legal authority, they bid farewell to each other. Taylor and Turtle then return to Tucson, the place they now consider home.