A spunky Louisiana girl survives tears and triumphs with the help of friends, family and the Moon Lady in the latest novel by Rebecca Wells, the belle of Southern fiction.

The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder follows the adventures of a spirited child named after a delicate flower and born in 1953 in a remote river town named for the moon, La Luna. As a girl, she waltzes through days and nights under the tutelage of her dance-instructor parents, Will and Lenora, whom Calla Lily calls M'Dear.

"Remember this, Calla Lily," M'Dear says. "When the sky and everything around you looks dark, and you feel lost and alone, remember that the Moon Lady is still there, watching over you, whispering: 'What do you need from me now?' "