The story of three African-American girls from Charleston, South Carolina who go out into the world in their various directions without losing their sense of family.
A mother and daughter take turns explaining their perspectives on twenty-seven issues which commonly cause disagreements, including family relationships, self-image, friendship, and love.
Fifty-year-old artist's model Helen Knightly, worn down by years of dealing with her depressed and needy mother, gives in to the temptation to smother the now old and senile Clair and spends the next twenty-four hours feeling both liberated by what she has done, and tormented by her memories of the past and expectations for the future.
Tori needs to concentrate on her programs for the regional competition at Lake Placid, New York, but she is to worried about why her mother is hiding Tori's mail and meeting with a mysterious stranger.
After her father leaves and Phoebe and her mother struggle to survive in the city, Phoebe finally goes to the country to live with her grandmother, where she learns family secrets and hopes her mother will return for her.
Lou shares the high and low points of being twelve as she takes a few awkward steps into dating, plays matchmaker for her single mother, and discovers, along with her best friend Mina, that they may be outgrowing playing with dolls.
