Raymie Nightingale and Louisiana’s Way Home

I remembered loving Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo. However, I didn’t write a review the first time I read it. I reread it on Christmas Eve (20. I laughed. I got teary. I am continually amazed by DiCamillo’s ability to tell such a beautiful story with few words.

I was excited to see DiCamillo wrote a companion book, Louisiana’s Way Home. Louisiana and her granny were two of my favorite characters in Raymie Nightingale, and provided hilarious moments in that book.

In Louisiana’s Way Home, Granny is just as crazy. Louisiana is just as dramatic – but much sadder. There are still funny moments. The ending made me happy-cry.

Highly recommended for ages 8 and up.

Parent note: both stories deal with a parent abandoning the family and searching for identity. They’re also about friendship.