I’m a fan of DiCamillo’s books. In this story, the writing is very moving, with back stories of parents who are gone and children just trying to deal with life. She has a gift for creating characters that draw empathy from the readers. Ramie’s, Louisiana’s, and Beverly’s lives have their sadnesses; yet they all are strong in their own ways. I enjoyed this book, but it’s sad. Do kids enjoy reading these types of texts?