Plumeria worries when she hears the Slipper sisters plan to compete against her in the song festival, but discovers she has a gift that will help her perform.
During the recession of 1937, fifteen-year-old Mary Alice is sent to live with her feisty, larger-than-life grandmother in rural Illinois and comes to a better understanding of this fearsome woman.
Maddie, worried about her Grandpa Norman's constant coughing and breathing troubles, comes to understand his problems when she decides to make smoking the topic of her school health report.
Darcy's Gran is the only one who understands how she feels about the dratted new baby. But they both agree they could get to like him, given a little time.