Lori S. (ourbookaddiction) reviewed on
This is more than just a coming of age book. This book shows the power of love and just how lovely it can be coming from the least of all expected places. CeeCee has a lot of mess on her plate for only a 12-year-old girl and I was drawn in by her immediately. Her quickly formed relationship with her great-aunt was perfectly timed, but it wasnt as deeply connected as the love CeeCee shares with her great-aunts housekeeper, Oletta. Placed in the early 60s, there lies a line of racial tension throughout the book but I feel the author handled it beautifully. Great-Aunt Tootie is big on explaining that each of us have a Life Book. People come in and out, things happen, but pages keep turning in our Life Books. There was beautiful symmetry in this book. I was quite surprised this was a debut book by a new author. I just hated to say good-bye.
I will leave you with two of my favorite passages from the book.
I know this is the same sky that hangs over Ohio, but the sun seems bigger here. Everything seems bigger.
She pursed her lips and thought about that for a moment. Maybe your eyes is just more open.
There were times when Oletta would say something, and the sheer profoundness of it would stun me.
___________
My aunts face was so serious I couldnt imagine what she was going to say. She took hold of my hand and looked into my eyes. Its what we believe about ourselves that determines how others see us.
I will leave you with two of my favorite passages from the book.
I know this is the same sky that hangs over Ohio, but the sun seems bigger here. Everything seems bigger.
She pursed her lips and thought about that for a moment. Maybe your eyes is just more open.
There were times when Oletta would say something, and the sheer profoundness of it would stun me.
___________
My aunts face was so serious I couldnt imagine what she was going to say. She took hold of my hand and looked into my eyes. Its what we believe about ourselves that determines how others see us.
