Raymie Nightingale

Title: Raymie Nightingale

Rating: 4/5

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Pages: 263

Genre: Children’s

Synopsis:

Raymie has a plan. All she has to do is win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition. If she does that, her picture will get in the paper, and if her picture gets in the paper her father will be so proud that he’ll come rushing back home to her instead of staying with the dental hygienist he ran off with. But before she can do that, she must learn how to twirl a baton.

At her lessons, she meets Louisiana and Beverly who have their own plans for the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition. This could be much more complicated than Raymie thought.

My Reaction:

Kate DiCamillo has done it again! Seriously, I don’t need to write reviews for her books. Just go read them all. It was interesting to read this one in contrast to Flora and Ulysses: The illuminated Adventures since they both deal with similar family drama (divorce vs dad ran away with the dental hygienist), but both situations are dealt with differently and have a bit of a different outcome.

Something I enjoy about DiCamillo’s stories it that the characters are each uniquely themselves. You could describe them individually as if they were people you actually knew. The differences of these three girls don’t stop them from coming together and having adventures. In fact, it’s those very differences (and I suppose some found similarities) that get the adventure ball rolling in the first place.

It’s a simple yet thoughtful story that explores dreams, heartaches, and how things don’t always happen according to plan (which isn’t always a bad thing).

I thought Raymie’s thoughts were sometimes a little repetitive (which, let’s be honest, is probably how most of our minds work a good part of the time), but all in all, this was an enjoyable book and well worth the read.

Reader’s Guidance:

Nothing to fear as far as I’m concerned. There is an instance where someone passes away from natural causes, and a moment in a nursing home where a woman is crying out and it frightens the girls.

Similar Books:

I just discovered that there is a sequel book all about Louisiana! It's called Louisiana's Way Home, and it came out in October of last year. That one is probably worth a read also!

Next Book:

Next on our list is Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. You may remember her as the author of The One and Only Ivan, which I absolutely loved! I'm hoping this book will be just as great!

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

Title: Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

Rating: 5/5

Author: KateDiCamillo

Pages: 231

Genre: Children’s

Synopsis:

She is a natural-born cynic! He is an unassuming squirrel! Together, Flora & Ulysses will conquer villains, defend the defenseless, and protect the weak. Or something.

That’s directly from the inside flap of the book cover, and I didn’t think I could do any better than that. Although, I suppose it doesn’t hurt for you to know that this all began when Ulysses was sucked up by a vacuum cleaner, which experience suddenly gives him abnormal powers for a squirrel. Let the adventures begin!

My Reaction:

Unlike Flora, I am not a natural-born cynic. It seems that I am more easily moved by simple things in my old age. (For the record, I know I’m not actually old. It just sounds better to say it that way than, “Man, I swear lately I’ve been turning into a big baby over things like flying squirrels!” Or something.) So it was with this book. The end brought a tear to my eye and I may have even put my hand to my heart—an outward expression of my mind screaming, “This is so sweet!”

But enough about tears. Let me tell you how great this book is.

As I was starting to read Flora & Ulysses, I happened to show my husband, Corey, one of the illustrations. He took a look at the girl and the squirrel then looked at me and said, “You read the weirdest books,” to which I quickly countered with, “No, I read the best books!” Kate DiCamillo is one of my favorite children’s authors, and this book just furthered solidified my love for her work.

This story was a fun and marvelous adventure from page one. Flora, besides being a cynic, loves comics, and I enjoyed the way that often came out not just in the story itself but in how the story was told. On occasion, instead of full text, we are treated to a page or two of panels and speech bubbles (kind of like The Invention of Hugo Cabret if you are familiar with that…only that one just uses pictures). I also thoroughly enjoyed each and every character who is unique in their own way and easily imaginable. And again, here I was just expected a fun story, not really thinking there would be something I could take away from it, and lo and behold! There it was! A golden nugget of wisdom hidden between the pages. It was fun to take part in the adventure and to watch the characters learn and grow. I laughed. I thought. My eyes watered. Yep. Sounds like a keeper.

This book won the Newbery Medal for 2014, and it is well deserving of that award.

Reader’s Guidance:

Nothing to fear as far as I’m concerned.

Similar Books:

The first book that came to mind was The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson. They're quite different in nature and style. Flora is more lighthearted and humorous while still dealing with some heavy topics like divorce or feeling like your mother loves a lamp more than she loves you (true story). Gilly is more of a drama dealing with a family situation that is very much not ideal for the main character (i.e. being in foster care and wanting nothing more than to be with her birth mother). Gilly was also the winner of the Newbery Medal in 1979.

Next Book:

Next on our list is Mustaches for Maddie by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown. Be aware that this book is about a twelve year old girl who is diagnosed with a brain tumor. You have been warned!