FIRST LINE (or Two):
"Momma left her red satin shoes in the middle of the road. That's what three eyewitnesses told the police."
SUMMARY:
This story is told from the perspective of a twelve-year-old girl named CeeCee who lives in Ohio with her her mother and father. It is soon revealed that her mother has suffered from bipolar disorder for years and her father is constantly traveling for work to avoid the stressful situation. It is left up to CeeCee to tend to her mother's outbursts and dramatics which often occur in front of anyone and everyone in their community. Because of this she becomes an outcast too embarrassed to open up and socialize with kids her age. One day her mother suffers an untimely death and before Cee Cee knows it she is being swept off to "the south" (Savannah, Georgia to be exact) to live with her great aunt. And this is where the story really begins...
While in Georgia, CeeCee is introduced and eventually becomes friends with loving, strong, wacky women that happily embrace her from the moment they meet her. These women show her what it means to have true friends - no matter what age.
MY THOUGHTS:
The best part of this book by far is the characters introduced throughout. These women from "the south" have bigger than life personalities, dress, and cooking! The author does a great job of allowing the reader to paint a mental picture of what each one of these women look like - how they move - the tone of their voice. She gives us the opportunity to dive head first into southern living during the 1960's.
I also appreciated the flashbacks that the author incorporates throughout the book. While CeeCee is in Savannah, periodically she remembers certain days and events that occur with her mother while she was growing up. This helps the reader get a clearer understanding of the bond that mother and daughter had before bipolar disorder took hold of her mind. I think the placement of these flashbacks in the book really enhances the story for the reader.
However, the ending of the book was a disappointment for me. Without giving too much away I will say that I didn't really enjoy how everything worked out JUST RIGHT; almost like the author was wrapping up a gift and the ending of the book was the bow on the top.
RATING:
My rating for this book is 3 out of 5 stars.
