Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
Original ISBN 978-0-14-311857-2
Penguin Books, 2010.
306 pages

Plot Summary: In 1967 Ohio, twelve-year old CeeCee Honeycutt is the caretaker for her psychotic mother and has an absentee father. When her mother killed, CeeCee’s father arranges for her to live with her Great-aunt Tootie in Savannah. Tootie is a rich and eccentric southern woman who allows CeeCee to escape her dismal childhood and finally be appreciated for the special child that she is.

Critical Evaluation: The characters in this story are strong southern women. Each are well developed without becoming caricatures. The story is funny and heartbreaking at the same time. The publisher has called Saving CeeCee Honeycutt “The Help meets Steel Magnolias.” If you are a fan of either, you will love this book.

Reader’s Annotation: Twelve-year old CeeCee Honeycutt has had a rough life. When CeeCee moves to Savannah to live with a great-aunt she has never met, her life will change.

Author Information: Hoffman worked as a successful interior designer in Ohio until a deadly illness encouraged her to follow her true passion of writing. Hoffman has said that her inspiration for Saving CeeCee Honeycutt came when, at nine years old, she visited a great-aunt living in a huge mansion in Kentucky. Her aunt was a southern grand-dame and introduced Hoffman to the finer points of southern living: refined manners, boisterous conversations, and elaborate meals. This experience made a strong impression on Hoffman. She later moved to Kentucky, and bought and refurbished a Greek revival house.

Her website is located at www.bethhoffman.net

Genre: Adult fiction crossover

Curriculum Ties: This novel could be used in English Language Arts to illustrate characterization.

Booktalking Ideas: I would show the following book trailer video provided by the publisher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkfCM8mv1fs

Reading Level / Interest Age: Grade 9 and up

Lexile: unknown

Challenge Issues: I cannot think of a single challengeable issue for this book.

Reason for Item’s Inclusion: When I first read the publisher’s description of the book – “The Help meets Steel Magnolias” – I knew I had to read it. It is a very sweet book.

References:

Patrick, C. (2010, January 13). Interview with Beth Hoffman, author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. Retrieved from
http://southernauthors.blogspot.com/2010/01/interview-with-beth-hoffman-author-of.html