Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo

Louisiana's Way Home 
by Kate DiCamillo
Expected Publication Oct 2, 2018
Candlewick Press
Middle Grade
227 Pages
Advanced Reader's copy provided by publisher


Goodreads Summary
From two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo comes a story of discovering who you are — and deciding who you want to be.
When Louisiana Elefante’s granny wakes her up in the middle of the night to tell her that the day of reckoning has arrived and they have to leave home immediately, Louisiana isn’t overly worried. After all, Granny has many middle-of-the-night ideas. But this time, things are different. This time, Granny intends for them never to return. Separated from her best friends, Raymie and Beverly, Louisiana struggles to oppose the winds of fate (and Granny) and find a way home. But as Louisiana’s life becomes entwined with the lives of the people of a small Georgia town — including a surly motel owner, a walrus-like minister, and a mysterious boy with a crow on his shoulder — she starts to worry that she is destined only for good-byes. (Which could be due to the curse on Louisiana’s and Granny’s heads. But that is a story for another time.)

Called “one of DiCamillo’s most singular and arresting creations” by The New York Times Book Review, the heartbreakingly irresistible Louisiana Elefante was introduced to readers in Raymie Nightingale — and now, with humor and tenderness, Kate DiCamillo returns to tell her story.

My Thoughts
First off, I LOVED Raymie Nightingale (DiCamillo 2016) and Louisiana was my favorite character in the book. I was thrilled to get to spend more time with her in this book. So my thoughts are probably a bit skewed. Louisiana is a character like no other. She has a unique way of expressing herself and her voice is very strong throughout the book. The way she views the world is very different to say the least. She is both brazen and innocent at the same time. Although the story seems a bit far-fetched, it all just seems very "Louisiana" to me. Nothing surprised me (well almost nothing). I was not surprised when Granny needed her teeth out or when 12 year-old Louisiana drove the car, or when they landed in a motel room with no money to pay. In true DiCamillo style, readers will meet and get to know new and interesting characters. There are two cranky women who are always in various stages of curling their hair, three characters named Burke, and a nurturing, cake-baking mother. 
Of course Granny is an intriguing character in her own right. She is grumpy, non-nonsense, cunning and fiercely protective. I think she could have her own story explained in a book some time. 

The ending is surprising and satisfying and just seems "right". Readers will love Louisiana with her swampy lungs, fainting spells, beautiful singing voice and her adorably woeful outlook. 

I would recommend this book for grades 4-6. 

See what others have to say about this book:
Publishers Weekly
Kirkus

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

Raymie Nightingale
by Kate DiCamillo
Expected Release Date April 12, 2016 
Candlewick Press 
Middle Grade Fiction
272 Pages
Review copy provided by publisher

I was beyond thrilled to receive this advanced copy of Raymie Nightingale and started reading it right away. I am not ordinarily a fast reader, but I devoured it. Not only that, but after I finished, I started reading it again. This never happens. I needed to spend more time with these incredible characters and within Kate DiCamillo's words. While I want to share my thoughts with others here, I have been, and expect to be, thinking about Raymie, Louisiana, and Beverly for quite some time.  

Raymie has a plan, a plan to get her father to come back home. Her mother and father have recently separated since Raymie's father "left town two days ago with a dental hygienist." She plans to enter and win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire 1975 competition. She feels that when her father sees her picture in the newspaper as the winner, then he will want to come home. 

Raymie has been told that she should learn to twirl a baton for the talent portion of the competition, so the story opens with Raymie at baton twirling lessons with two other characters, Beverly Tapinski and Louisiana Elefante. Each girl has a goal connected to the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition. While Raymie wants to bring her father home, Louisiana wants to win the prize money so she and her grandmother can afford to buy food for her cat Archie, who they had to give up to a shelter recently. And Beverly wants to sabotage the entire competition so it never happens. 

The three girls could not be more different from one another, but through a series of interesting events, they slowly become friends. I loved each of them and the three of them so much! Raymie is desperate and determined, yet unsure of herself and very aware of what makes "her soul" expand or shrink. Beverly, the daughter of a NYC police officer is rougher around the edges, but has the sweetest soft side at just the right times. And Louisiana is innocent, naive, and optimistic to the extreme.

This story is filled with characters, each as interesting and real as the next. There is the quirky, unorthodox neighbor, Mrs. Borkowski who offers advice. Mrs. Sylvester is the motherly secretary at Raymie's father's insurance office who offers candy corn and gives assurances that "Most things work out right in the end." Then there is Louisiana's grandmother who is feisty and eccentric and Ida Nee, the former baton twirling champion who doesn't want to leave her glory days behind. Whether the character is present throughout the book or says three words in a brief encounter, DiCamillo made me care about each one. She masterfully circles them back throughout the book as though to remind us why each one was important. In the end the reader learns how each event and person was connected. 

Kate DiCamillo is well-known for her use of descriptive language. I was continually struck by her creative choice of words. There is a notable phrase or sentence worth quoting on nearly every page. 
I could honestly go on and on about this book. It would make a fabulous read aloud or independent read for middle graders.
Raymie Nightingale is simply the best book I have read in recent memory and has taken a spot among my very favorite books. It is certain to become a beloved favorite with many readers. 

See what others have to say about Ramie Nightingale.
Publishers Weekly
Kirkus
Huffington Post

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? January 25, 2016

Please visit the amazing blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers who host this terrific meme each week.

Hello friends, I have been very fortunate to read several ARC's of books to be released this spring recently. There is much to look forward to. Please click on the covers to go to the book's page on Goodreads. 

 Fiction Picture Books

 

A wonderful new bedtime story coming in April!  

 A sweet story of finding one's own voice. 

Coming in March.

 

A second book by Boats for Papa author Jessixa Bagley.  Loved it! February release.

 

A must-have new beginning of the school year book! 

Coming in June. 

 Humorous story that recognizes and celebrates the "little guy". Coming in June.

 A remarkable wordless picture book.

Due to be released in April.

 

A smart, humorous book that kids will want to hear over and over again. Coming on Feb. 2!  

Nonfiction 

Using close up photos and factual clues, readers guess which animal's eye is shown. Released Jan. 30.

 

Young readers learn about birds through poetry. 

February 23rd released date. 

Middle Grade 

 

It will be difficult for many to wait until April for this book. I am planning a full review for tomorrow, but in short, it is perfection. It was so good that I reread it right after finishing it. Kate DiCamillo has a remarkable gift.

Currently Reading 

 I love Leslie Connor's books and this one is great so far!

Just received this in the mail over the weekend. Excited to really get into it this week. 

What Are YOU Reading Friends?

A Student Review of Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Reviewed by Lauren

Because of Winn-Dixie

by Kate DiCamillo 

A 2001 Newbery Honor Book

Published in 2000 by Scholastic, Inc.

    

Summary
    Opal was a girl who wanted to have a regular life without having a preacher for a dad, no mother and kids making fun of her. She just moved to Naomi, Florida and these nasty twins are always doing rude things to her.
    But then one day she goes to get some food at the Winn-Dixie store and a dog tackled the manager. Opal said quickly that it was her dog and she called him Winn-Dixie. They go to her house and they do a lot of really fun stuff you do with a dog and she gets to keep him. 
    There are many themes in this book. One theme is friendship because the community is grateful and there are some really touching moments. Opal becomes good friends with Miss Franny, who is the town librarian and Gloria Dump who is an elderly blind woman.  Another theme would be accepting differences.  Opal is friends with many different types of people. One day they go to church and Opal says something like Dad I really like your job and it was a nice part.

My Thoughts
Because of Winn-Dixie is a very powerful book. There were a lot of touching moments. There were happy parts and sad parts. I fell in love with this book the minute I started to read it! I think the pictures kind of helped me see what was happening in the story. I liked how there were many different characters telling the story. I thought it felt like a very fun book when I read it so I hope you like it too.

 Thank you for reading my review. 

Here is a book trailer.