Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

Raymie Nightingale is another great story from Kate DiCamillo. I know that the central character of the book is Raymie, but my favorite character is Raymie’s friend Beverly. Beverly is droll, tough, kind and specializes in sabotage and lock picking. She made me laugh. The whole book is a treat. If you enjoy this, check out the sequels: Louisiana’s Way Home and Beverly, Right Here.

Find it in CWMARS

Summary from GoodReads:

“Raymie Clarke has come to realize that everything, absolutely everything, depends on her. And she has a plan. If Raymie can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition, then her father, who left town two days ago with a dental hygienist, will see Raymie’s picture in the paper and (maybe) come home. To win, not only does Raymie have to do good deeds and learn how to twirl a baton; she also has to contend with the wispy, frequently fainting Louisiana Elefante, who has a show-business background, and the fiery, stubborn Beverly Tapinski, who’s determined to sabotage the contest. But as the competition approaches, loneliness, loss, and unanswerable questions draw the three girls into an unlikely friendship — and challenge each of them to come to the rescue in unexpected ways.”

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

During this time when so many people on our planet have been pushed from their homes and are on the move, this book shows what it is like to be far from home and in a new culture. Loved it.

Find it in CWMARS

Summary from Goodreads:

“Kek comes from Africa. In America he sees snow for the first time, and feels its sting. He’s never walked on ice, and he falls. He wonders if the people in this new place will be like the winter – cold and unkind.

In Africa, Kek lived with his mother, father, and brother. But only he and his mother have survived, and now she’s missing. Kek is on his own. Slowly, he makes friends: a girl who is in foster care; an old woman who owns a rundown farm, and a cow whose name means “family” in Kek’s native language. As Kek awaits word of his mother’s fate, he weathers the tough Minnesota winter by finding warmth in his new friendships, strength in his memories, and belief in his new country.”

If you like Home of the Brave you might like The Red Pencil