Mama Ruby may not be all crazy, but she's at least halfway there. She's known for taking things that aren't rightfully hers, like her best friend's stillborn baby -- a tiny girl she brought back to life and christened Maureen. She's also rumored to have done away with her husband.

With her God-fearing neighbors watching her every step, it's all Mama Ruby can do to stay ahead of the law. One desperate night, she flees to Goons, a dirt-poor migrant settlement in the Everglades -- and, strangely, it feels like home. There's folks she likes. . .folks she loves. . .folks she can't stand. Through it all, she remains downright nuts about the one gift God gave her -- her precious daughter, Maureen.

But growing up with a mama like Ruby is enough to make any half-sane girl wish for something -- anything else. And when Maureen gets the chance to explore the "real" world, you can bet she's going to take it. . .and run like hell.