Synopses & Reviews
Baby Girl sees the future from the womb, and it's clear the Fifties hold more for her than Elvis Presley and life in a tumble-down trailer.
From the start, Baby Girl believes she's beautiful and special because her beautiful and special Momma tells her so. The two are close as crossed fingers and it's a good thing, because Baby Girl's sight never warns her what her treacherous father will do next. She and Momma must flee into the night. In the distant town of Cot, each contributes to the family fortune with her own giftMomma at the sewing machine, Baby Girl predicting futures. In the peace of that
summer, Baby Girl's confidence grows robust as her sturdy little figure.
It's quite a shock, that first day of high school, when the kids don't find her as adorable as Momma does. Her confidence shrinks down to the size of a Lifesaver until she finds ways to make her differences work for her. An accordion, a quirky new friendship, and a romance with the same boy her enemy-cheerleader is after, return Baby Girl to her feisty best.
But nothing can prepare her for the final nightmare the one that
can forever end her magical, hard-knock journey toward growing up.
About the Author
Susanna Vance lives and writes in the Oregon harbor town of Astoria. Her short stories have appeared in many literary publications, and she has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Her writing is known for its dark humor, quirky characters and strong voice. She says of her use of magic realism, "I was raised on Hans Christian Andersen. The quality I most prize in the books I read, and in my own writing, is a glimpse of things beyond the ordinary. To rise into the air, be born with a coyote's tail, commune with bumble bees these possibilities tickle the senses and encourage an appreciation for the outrageous."