Monday, December 9, 2013

Bibliophile's Corner

Flora & Ulysses
by Kate DiCamillo

Amazon Description:
Holy unanticipated occurrences! A cynic meets an unlikely superhero in a genre-breaking new novel by Kate DiCamillo. It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry - and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart.

My Thoughts:
Master storyteller Kate DiCamillo has written a delightful new middle grade novel that is definitely not an unanticipated occurrence. With creative and colorful characters, and a wild and whimsical plot, Flora & Ulysses is a middle grade novel reminiscent of Roald Dahl's Matilda. This semi-graphic book has already produced quite a buzz in the world of children's literature. Bravo, Kate DiCamillo, you've done it again. I would highly recommend Flora & Ulysses to readers from the ages of eight to twelve, and to aspiring storytellers of all ages.