Grace, almost twelve, is sent to stay with her grandmother, Patience. Grace is not looking forward to the visit and expects to be bored. She is surprised to find that her grandmother is not pleased to be losing her privacy and independence either. In fact Patience wears silver glitter ankle boots, is a magazine agony aunt, and certainly doesn't live up to her name. When Grace experiences bullying at school, the dilemmas that develop bring the two together.