FLORA & ULYSSES by Kate DiCamillo

Bibliographic Data

DiCamillo, Kate.  2013.  FLORA & ULYSSES.  Somerville, MA:  Candlewick Press.  ISBN:  9780763660406

Plot

Flora is a practical, cynical girl who lives vicariously through the lives of her favorite comic book superheroes in order to avoid the dreadfully dull reality of her own life.  She is unappreciated by her divorced, self-absorbed mother and only has occasional visits with her timid, pushover father.  But when bizarre circumstances lead her to befriend a squirrel who seems to have superpowers (and the uncanny ability to write deep, thoughtful poetry), she experiences adventure, new friendships, and learns little known truths about her familial relationships.

Critical Analysis

Kate DiCamillo has written a touching story of love and family in this low-fantasy novel about a girl and her squirrel, Ulysses.  Ulysses is a sweet, loveable, always-hungry character who survived an unfortunate mishap and discovers newfound superpowers such as flying, super strength, the ability to understand humans, and an astonishing knack for writing poetry.  Flora is a lonely, unhappy girl who longs to escape reality because it holds no joy for her.  The two quickly become the best of friends and embark on a series of mishaps and mayhem that prove to be both humorous and educational.

An oddball cast of characters and delightfully quirky vocabulary truly make this an enjoyable and entertaining read.  Chapters are brief and draw the reader in with bizarre titles like “Victims of Extended Hallucinations,” “The Inadvertent I,” and “What It Said.”  With a nod to classic superhero comics, Flora mentally narrates the strange and exciting events occurring around her with quips such as “Holy unanticipated occurrences!” and “Destiny could no longer be forestalled!  The arch-nemesis must be faced!”  Fanciful fonts,

Perhaps the best part of the story is Ulysses’s love and admiration for Flora.  When he discovers a typewriter in her home, he is finally able to express the innermost thoughts of his soul, in a heartfelt poem:

I love your round head, 
the brilliant green, 

the watching blue,

these letters, 

this world, you.

I am very, very hungry.

Through a series of strange events and “unanticipated occurrences,” Flora not only gains a gaggle of new friends, but discovers that both of her parents do, truly indeed, love her more than life itself.

Review Excerpts

Original, touching and oh-so-funny tale starring an endearingly implausible superhero and a not-so-cynical girl.  —Kirkus Reviews

Despite supremely quirky characters and dialogue worthy of an SAT prep class, there’s real emotion at the heart of this story involving two kids who have been failed by the most important people in their lives: their parents.  —Publishers Weekly

Rife with marvelously rich vocabulary reminiscent of the early superhero era (e.g., “Holy unanticipated occurrences!”) and amusing glimpses at the world from the point of view of Ulysses the supersquirrel, this book will appeal to a broad audience of sophisticated readers. There are plenty of action sequences, but the novel primarily dwells in the realm of sensitive, hopeful, and quietly philosophical literature.  —School Library Journal

Connections

• Read other books by Kate DiCamillo, such as the MERCY WATSON series, TALE OF DESPEREAUX, or THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE
• Use in a study of fantasy books
• Include in a study of Newbery Award winning books

Awards and Honors

• John Newbery Medal (2014)

BABYMOUSE: QUEEN OF THE WORLD! by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

Bibliographic Data

Holm, Jennifer L. and Holm, Matthew.  2005.  BABYMOUSE:  QUEEN OF THE WORLD.  New York:  Random House.  ISBN:  9780375832291

Plot

Creative and imaginative Babymouse dreams of being “Queen of the World.”  Life, however, has other plans.  From stuck lockers to being snubbed by the popular girls, Babymouse faces many challenges in her daily routine.  A chance to attend a sleepover of the most popular girl in school seems like the perfect solution to all of her problems, but she will soon realize that the opportunity comes with a cost!

Critical Analysis

Babymouse is a character that children will easily identify with and root for, as she struggles through the life’s little challenges:  hard-to-comb whiskers, stuck lockers, overdue library books, an overactive imagination, and trying to fit in.  While she longs to be best friends with the insanely popular Felicia Furrypaws, she is regularly belittled and ignored by Felicia and her friends.  A poor decision and potential consequences help her to learn what true and meaningful friendship really is.

This story will appeal to emergent readers who want to dive into the graphic novel genre, as the text is simple yet engaging, and the plot is highly relatable.  Illustrations are basic black and white line drawings, with pops of pink which draw attention to important objects and actions.  Engaging short stories play out in Babymouse’s imagination and these are interspersed throughout the text at critical points in the plotline.  

Most importantly, Babymouse learns an important lesson about actions and consequences, and readers will take pride in the way she resolves her problem.

Review Excerpts

"Cute, smart, sassy Babymouse is fun and funny, and this book, like its predecessors, will draw reluctant readers as well as Babymouse fans." - Booklist

"An almost absurdly likeable heroine." - The Bulletin

"Move over, Superman, here comes Babymouse!" - The Chicago Sun-Times

"Nobody puts Babymouse in the corner!" - The Horn Book

"Emergent readers will cheer 'Babymouse!'" - Kirkus Reviews

Connections

• Read other books in the BABYMOUSE series.
• Read other graphic novels for emergent readers, such as CLUES IN THE ATTIC by Cari Meister and Remy Simard or THE CAT THAT DISAPPEARED by Lily Mortenson
• Use as a mentor text for creative writing, where students can plan out their plot in graphic novel form.

Awards and Honors

• ALSC Notable Children’s Book (2006)

LILY'S CROSSING by Patricia Reilly Giff

Bibliographic Data

Giff, Patricia Reilly.  1997.  LILY’S CROSSING.  New York:  Yearling.  ISBN:  0440414539

Plot

As Lily begins her annual trip to her family’s summer home by the ocean, she is unaware that this summer will be nothing like the joyful escapes she has had in the past.  Her father is about to leave for the war, her best friend’s family is relocating for wartime work, and a mysterious foreigner is about to

Critical Analysis

Patricia Reilly Giff writes of the beautiful seaside town of Rockaway in 1944, inflicted with the adversities of World War II.  Shop owners struggle to stay in business as supplies are harder to come by, and ships line the horizon as they head into war.  

Lily is a spunky and strong-willed character who cares little about the consequences that accompany her poor choices.  But her guiltless lying and thieving habits are challenged when she befriends a boy who is depending on her to help him find his lost sister.  As the two share secrets and grief over war-torn relationships, Lily begins to see her prejudices and assumptions in a new light, and grows to realize that her choices can have serious and painful effects for herself and others.  

Giff uses well-written characters to bring the hardships of war to life.  Motherless Lily is so angered by her father’s announcement that he is being called to war, she leaves home for the day and is burdened with guilt over not saying good-bye.  Lily’s father, Poppy, faithfully writes her letters and keeps his promise to let her know where he is (despite the required military censorship) through clues left in book titles.  Stern Gran, constantly trying to keep Lily’s behavior in line, exposes her soft side through moments of tears and worry over her son’s deployment.  Margaret, Lily’s friend who has had to relocate for her father’s wartime employment, writes of the terrible fear her family lives with as her enlisted brother has gone missing in battle.  And the reader’s heart will be most torn when they learn the story of Albert, whose parents were murdered by the government for printing an anti-Hitler newspaper and who was separated from his sister – his only remaining family – during their long, covert trip towards America.

This story starts as a simple summer vacation, but each page peels back another layer of an emotional, wartime story and the community that presses on through hardship and tragedy.

Review Excerpts

"Details...are woven with great effect into a realistic story." --The Horn Book Magazine

"Exceptional characterizations and a robust story line...this has all the ingredients that best reward readers." --Publishers Weekly

"Brilliantly told." --The New York Times Book Review

"With wry comedy and intense feeling...Giff gets across a strong sense of what it was like on the home front during World War II...The friendship story is beautifully drawn." --Booklist

Connections

• Read other World War II stories such as The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley or Duke by Kirby Larson
• Include in a study of World War II
• Include in a thematic study of strong female characters

Awards and Honors

• 1998 Newbery Honor Book
• ALA Notable Book
• Horn Book Honor Book

THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Bibliographic Data

Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker.  2015.  THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE.  New York:  Dial Books for Young Readers.  ISBN:  9780803740815

Plot

Ada, a disfigured 10 year old girl, lives in poverty-stricken London during World War II.  Never allowed to leave her apartment, she has no clue what lies beyond her view from their third story window, but she longs to find out.  Feeling unloved and unwanted by her mother, Ada escapes her confinement and joins her brother and the other children at his school who are being relocated to the country for their safety during the war.  Ada experiences a multitude of joys and troubles, as she navigates being part of the world for the first time, being different than others, and learning how to trust the love and friendship that is offered to her.

Critical Analysis

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley has crafted a masterpiece in the story of Ada Smith:  a young girl who has lived her life unloved, unwanted, and unaware of the simple joys that await her beyond the view of her apartment window.  Ada’s naiveté paired with her genuine intelligence and bravery makes for an impactful, emotional story, as she struggles to learn how to behave in social situations, how to converse while lacking basic vocabulary, and how to survive from day to day when she isn’t sure what love and family actually look like.  Readers will cry during her struggles and rejoice at her victories; but most of all they will applaud her courage and determination for pressing on in every challenging situation. 

Settings are honestly depicted, from the dirty, noisy streets of London to the rolling expanse of grass and ocean in the country.  The hardships of wartime are evident through the stories of those who give up their children for fear of their safety, and those who take them in, some unwillingly, and struggle to provide when government rations become more scarce.  Without being gruesome or instilling fear, the author accurately depicts life in World War II, from blackout curtains and underground shelters to bombings, spies, and casualties of war.  All while telling a story of family, belonging, friendship, and love.  This is truly a book not to be missed!

Review Excerpts

"Achingly lovely . . . Nuanced and emotionally acute, this vivid tale from the wartime home front will have readers ages 10-14 wincing at Ada's stumbles and rejoicing to the point of tears in her victories." —The Wall Street Journal

“Ada's voice is brisk and honest; her dawning realizations are made all the more poignant for their simplicity. . . . Things come to an explosive head, metaphorically and literally. Ignorance and abuse are brought to light, as are the healing powers of care, respect and love. Set against a backdrop of war and sacrifice, Ada's personal fight for freedom and ultimate triumph are cause for celebration.” —Kirkus, starred review

"Proving that her courage and compassion carry far more power than her disability, Ada earns self-respect, emerges a hero, and learns the meaning of home. "—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Involving, poignant, nuanced . . . This is a feel-good story, but an earned one . . . distinct and powerful in its own right." —The Horn Book, starred review

Connections

• Read Jefferson’s Sons by the same author
• Read other World War II stories such as Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff or Duke by Kirby Larson
• Include in a study of World War II
• Include in a study of social justice, disabilities, or diversity

Awards and Honors

• Newbery Honor Book
• #1 New York Times Bestseller
• Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award (Middle School)
• Wall Street Journal Best Children's Books of 2015
• New York Public Library's 100 Books for Reading and Sharing