Book Review: Raymie Nightingale

By Annell Gerson

Kate DiCamillo won the hearts of readers in her iconic debut novel, Because of Winn Dixie. She went on to write The Tiger Rising, The Tale of Despereaux, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The Magicians Elephant, and Flora & Ulysses. Now a two-time Newbery Medalist, DiCamillo once again writes a big-hearted story of friendship, hope, loss, giving back and great courage.

Her newest book, Raymie Nightingale, pulls from her own childhood in Florida and tells the story of Raymie Clarke, Louisiana Elefante and Beverly Tapinski. The three girls meet at the home of Ida Nee, baton twirling teacher extraordinaire, where each hopes to sufficiently master baton twirling in order to win the title of Little Miss Central Florida Tire, 1975. None of the girls are interested in winning the contest for the obvious crown, sash and pageant pedigree. Instead, each girl has her own personal reason for participating and believes that winning (or for one character, sabotaging) will accomplish another goal...a heart-breaking, tender, hopeful goal that only a young soul could imagine. Although initially they are competitors, the three quickly become an unlikely trio and dub themselves The Rancheros. Together, The Rancheros do what children do best; they have adventures including looking for missing pets, retrieving lost books, doing good deeds and some scary, not-so-good deeds. In the process, they learn the real, grown-up reason each wants to enter the contest, thereby learning each others hurts and broken places that need the splints of friendship. Raymie Nightingale is truly storytelling at its finest and a valuable springboard for classroom and kitchen table discussions about family challenges that some kids find hard to talk about.