I love Kate DiCamillo and this book did not disappoint. A lot of people and a lot of children can relate to Raymie. Raymie wants to impress her absent father by entering a competition because she wants to please him and convince her father to come back to her and her mother. This book touches on life, death and human relationships. Making friends is hard and awkward and this book beautifully describes the complexity of human relationships. There are loud people, shy people, know it alls, weird people but somehow these different types of personalities can create unexpected bonds.

This just wasn’t for me. I need more plot, more action. Everyday lives of people working through emotional upheaval is not a story that I enjoy. Although I love Kate Dicamillo’s writing, this one lacked her usual beautiful word choice and syntax.

Not a lot of plot, but I'm still thinking about the trio of girls at the heart of the story -- I appreciate the friendship that develops between this little band of misfits.

"Mrs. Sylvester was very short, and the swans were tall and long-necked. When Mrs. Sylvester stood in the middle of them with her scarf on her head and the big bag of swan food in her arms, she looked like something out of a fairy tale.

Raymie wasn't sure which fairy tale.

Maybe it was a fairy tale that hadn't been told yet."

Cute. Adolescent fiction. Felt more like a short story.

Wonderful juvenile fiction about three young girls, each dealing with loss in their own ways, and finding hope in their friendship.

4.5 ✨ a beautiful read! DiCamillo creates and enchanting, exciting world and a very relatable protagonist with Raymie. Love this!

DiCamillo deals with some grown up issues from the perspective of a child. An endearing read.

Raymie Nightingale's father has left their family and run off with a dental hygienist. In order to regain her dad's attention, Raymie decides she must win the local beauty contest. She signs up for baton twirling lessons where she meets two unlikely friends. This story is populated with flamboyant and unlikely characters, takes place in 1975 Florida, and is a sweet & beautiful story of friendship and growth.