![]() ![]() So much so that when she begins Raymie Nightingale she dives right into the story. Whether it’s retrieving library books from scary nursing home rooms, saving cats, or even lives, these three rancheros have each other’s backs just when they need them most.ĭiCamillo has grown as an author over the years. Unexpectedly, the three girls become friends and set about to solve one another’s problems. Trouble (or deliverance) comes in the form of Louisiana and Beverly, the two other girls who are taking this class with Ida Nee (the baton-twirling instructor). She’ll just learn how to throw a baton, enter the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition, win, and when her father sees her picture in the paper he’ll come on home and all will be well. The best thing to do would be to get her father back, so she comes up with what surely must be a sure-fire plan. Since her father skipped town with that dental hygienist, things haven’t been right in Raymie’s world. So far she thinks she has it all figured out. Maybe it isn’t much of a plan, but don’t tell Raymie that. It’s her style, no bones about it, but coming from a deeper place than her books have in the past. I do think it’s a different kind of DiCamillo book than folks are used to. I like the ending very very much indeed (it has a killer climax that I feel like I should have seen coming, but didn’t). ![]() I like what the book has to say about friendship and being honest with yourself and others. I like the wordplay, the characters, and the setting. And you know what? I do like it! It is, without a doubt, one of the saddest books I’ve ever read, but I like it a lot. The poor souls had to answer the impossible question, “Will I like it?” but they shouldered the burden bravely. I polled my friends who had read the book. Still, I’ve had a good run of luck with DiCamillo as of late and I was willing to push it. A girl, seen from behind, stands ankle-deep in water holding a single baton. And when the cover for Raymie Nightingale was released it was easily summarized in one word: Meaningful. It’s good as a reviewer to know your own shortcomings and I just sort of figured that I’d avoid DiCamillo books when they looked deep and insightful. ![]() Spaghetti loving horses and girls that live in tree houses? Right up my alley! China rabbits and mice with excessive earlobes? Not my cup of tea. Which is to say, the less emotional and meaningful they are, the better I like ‘em. My relationship to Kate DiCamillo’s books is one built entirely on meaning. ![]()
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