Twelve-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt is in trouble. For years, she has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille-the tiara-toting, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town-a woman trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen. But when Camille is hit by a truck and killed, CeeCee is left to fend for herself. To the rescue comes her previously unknown great-aunt, Tootie Caldwell.

In her vintage Packard convertible, Tootie whisks CeeCee away to Savannah’s perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricity, a world that seems to be run entirely by women.

This book is full of feminine spirit and women’s wisdom.

CeeCee’s view of the world has touched me deeply on many levels.

I found myself laughing and crying at the same time, inspired by its wisdom.

Here are some inspirations from the book:

Mrs. Odell, CeeCee’s dear friend tells her: ?When a chapter of your Life Book is complete, your spirit knows it’s time to turn the page so a new chapter can begin. Even when you’re scared or think you’re not ready, your spirit knows you are.? (Page 41)

Aunt Tootie admits that saving old houses is her ?fire?. ?Everyone needs to find the one thing that brings out their passion? she says. ?Life will offer us amazing opportunities, but we’ve got to be wide-awake to recognize them.? (Page 101)

Later in the book, Aunt Tootie tells CeeCee: ?It’s what we believe about ourselves that determines how others see us. Once you set your mind to it, it is easy.? (Page 249)

And my favorite phrase from the end of the book: ?it’s how we survive the hurts in life that brings us strength and gives us our beauty.? (Page 302)