Middle Grade Monday and Arc Review: Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo

Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo. 240 p. Candlewick Press, October 2, 2018. 9780763694630. (Review from arc courtesy of the publisher.)

Louisiana Elefante is not a happy little girl. Life with Granny has not been easy; but she is grateful that she has her considering her trapeze artist parents are not in the picture. She finally made a couple of best friends in Raymie and Beverly (from Raymie Nightingale) and now Granny has dragged her out of bed in the middle of the night muttering about a reckoning. They are leaving Florida forever, never to return and Louisiana is devastated. Soon it is evident that Granny is suffering or ill and Louisiana has to drive the car to find a dentist. They are broke; so paying for services is going to be a bit difficult. Louisiana and her Granny are resourceful though. Louisiana is determined to find her way home. Only it may not be what she expects. 

Louisiana's voice captivates from page one. There is hilarity but there is also plenty of heartbreak - more than enough for one little girl to carry so resiliently. Resilience seems to be a theme in middle grade literature this year. 

Kate DiCamillo is a fearless writer. Each of her books is different. I will be honest. Raymie Nightingale was not a favorite of mine. I enjoyed it but wondered what kind of reader among my students would tackle this quiet story set in the 1970s. Still, I was eager to read this companion. It is not necessary to have read Raymie Nightingale. Louisiana's Way Home utterly floored me. The writing is spare and lovely. Little moments are so beautifully nuanced you might stop to savor or go back and reread. I marked this as a rare reread. I will most likely reread it with my ears. I cannot wait.

Louisiana's Way Home is a must-purchase title for any library. Your DiCamillo fans will thank you as will your gentle readers who love sad books. Will it be DiCamillo's Newbery hat trick? Not sure. The competition seems fierce this year. Each MG book I read seems better than the last. It's not one you want to miss.

Picture Book Review: Red & Lulu by Matt Tavares

Picture Book Month Day 3:

Red & Lulu by Matt Tavares. unpgd. Candlewick Press, September, 2017. 9780763677336. (Review from finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

I have a personal collection of holiday books within my home library. Since our family celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah, we have collected stories about both holidays over the years. The collection is fairly large and quite varied but there were favorites that were requested each year. Were my sons still small, Red & Lulu would become a fast favorite and one of those requested frequently. It's totally lovely.

Red & Lulu are a cardinal couple who make their home in the branches of a huge Norway spruce conveniently located in the backyard of a family with a bird feeder in the yard. It's an ideal home for the devoted couple being close to a reliable food source and densely branched so that they are protected. Their favorite season is winter because of the Christmas caroling and lights that are strung. O Christmas Tree is their favorite carol. They sometimes even sing along.

On one chilly morning, Red sets out to find some food. A spot illustration reveals that the feeder appears to be empty and a squirrel is perched on it scavenging for seed. A glance at the full-page recto illustration shows a top-down, bird's eye view of the yard, the tree, and Red flying off. But the family is gathered in the yard and one of the children appears to be flagging something down. Two trucks are trundling down the street.

The family's tree is being cut down and for some reason, Lulu doesn't fly away but hunkers down in a cavity. When Red returns, he finds his home strapped to the flatbed of one of the trucks and Lulu singing. He follows the truck to the George Washington Bridge but soon can't keep up.The city is a strange place to this suburban bird and a series of luscious illustrations depict a variety of New York City locations, including one of the lions in front of the New York City Library as well as Times Square. Soon he hears the sound of O Christmas Tree being sung and Red finds his way to Rockefeller Center where his tree is being lit with thousands of colored lights. The double-page spread depicting Red & Lulu's reunion is one to be lingered over. But what happens when their tree is taken away on the day after New Year? Read this instant Christmas classic and find out. 

A page at the end of the story provides information about how the tradition of a decorated tree at Rockefeller Center began. Don't forget to turn the page though. A final illustration provides the perfect environmentally friendly wordless ending as the copyright/ dedication page. It is hard to rush past the watercolor illustrations. They come in a variety of sizes and feature nifty little details and perspectives. Eagle-eyed readers have much to spot, including the family taking a selfie at Rockefeller Center in front of their tree.

Red & Lulu is a first-purchase and a much needed addition to any library collection. I wish I had a little one to curl up with to share this heartwarming story. 

Arc Review: Free Verse by Sarah Dooley

Free Verse by Sarah Dooley. 335 p. G.P. Putnam's Sons, March 17, 2016. 9780399165030. (Review from arc courtesy of editor)

This quiet novel, part of which is in verse, packs a powerful punch. There is so much loss in young Sasha's life, it's no wonder she has anger issues. Her mother abandoned the family when she was five. Then her father died in a mining accident when she was eight, leaving her and her brother Michael to fend for themselves. Michael, who desperately wanted to join the military and leave Caboose, West Virginia, put his dreams on hold to care for Sasha. When he died fighting a fire, Sasha believes she has no one. 

Luckily for her, there are a number of caring adults in her life who won't give up on her despite how many times she runs away or erupts violently. Phyllis takes her in to foster and tries to provide stability and space. Slowly, Sasha lets her guard down and when family is discovered right next door, Sasha warily begins to hope. But then a new loss causes her to stop speaking. She retreats into her poetry notebook, where she finds her voice.

Ms. Dooley (Livie Owen Lived Here) paints a vivid picture of the hardships that residents of a mining community face - the dangers for the workers, the poverty, as well as social problems such as addictions, that might arise. But all is not bleak, there is beauty, even in the grime, and a strong sense of community as well. This novel is peopled with memorable characters.

The language is lovely. I dog-earred quite a few pages to revisit. Lines like, "We see houses in town that lean toward each other like they're cheating on a test." (p.196)

I agree with the marketing blurb that teachers and librarians should give Blank Verse to fans of Sharon Creech, specifically, Walk Two Moons. Fans of emotionally wrenching books, or first-person narratives, or introspective, character-driven books will appreciate Sasha's voice. Don't miss this gem.