You can’t blame 12-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt for being angry at her mother. Afterall, who wouldn’t despair at a mom who trots around town in prom dresses she collects from the Goodwill, and shows up at important events in a white pageant dress and green sash pronouncing her the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen. As her momma’s psychosis progresses, CeeCee sinks further into herself, confiding in her only friend, the elderly Mrs. Oddell, who tries to make sense of the young girl’s life.
Beth Hoffman’s debut novel, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, captures the requisite angst and self-pity (in just the right amount) that all adolescents experience as they attempt to grow up alongside their parents. Only CeeCee has extraordinary circumstances to overcome. Thank goodness she is saved by her great aunt from Savannah, who offers not only love, compassion and humor, but a new place for CeeCee to restart her life.
This book is full of rich female characters who provide depth and significance to CeeCee’s life. While she reconciles her father’s abandonment and her mother’s illness (and the possibility of inherited illness), CeeCee gets a taste of authentic friendship and love in the home of her Aunt Tootie. I’m reminded of The Secret Life of Bees and “Steel Magnolias” all rolled together, making for a wonderfully engaging book--not too sappy, but definitely of the feel good genre.  Remember this title, because when you are in need of the “I want a happy, but well-written” book, this is one to pull from the shelf.                                                    ~Wendee