Welcome to Litsy!

Picked this at random this morning.

#middlegrademarch. So loved this book, going straight to the next one in the series.

Another #BookSpinBingo space marked off which gives me two more bingos! @TheAromaofBooks

Like most of DiCamillo's books, this one is heartwarming, sweet, and a delightful read. Although her books are written for middle-grade, I find that they are wonderful for readers of all ages.

This story surrounds the budding friendship of three unlikely friends who discover they need each other more than they thought.

Day 19: Here are #3Books #IRecommendedToOthers this year. I love DiCamillo‘s Ranchero series.

Kate DiCamillo is always a good choice, and this sweet, short MG novel is no exception. Raymie is a sweet, hopeful girl aiming to win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire contest so that her father will see her picture in the paper and come back home. On this quest she meets two unlikely compatriots who are struggling with their own hurts. This is a beautiful exploration of hope & friendship & plans gone awry...and rescue from unlikely places.

Just recorded my final video for my online middle school book club... our school year is officially over next week and I've got very bittersweet feelings over it...
I still love this story though 😊

This book. This author. I CRIED. I haven‘t read a Kate DiCamillo book in YEARS and I don‘t really know why. Flora and Ulysses, the Tale Of Desperaux, The Magicians Elephant,& The Miraculous Journey Of Edward Tulane. Is it because I was afraid of the emotions that always come from reading any of her books? I really don‘t know, but I have MISSED her writing. Whatever you do, read this book.

This RF book is a National Book award finalist that deals with loss and separation. It is a story of Raymie Clarke so wishes to compete in the Little Miss Central Florida 1975 pageant, in hopes of gaining her run away fathers attentions. Through baton twirling, she meets Louisiana and Beverly and they go through many nerve wracking adventures together. This is the true story of friendship. This would be great to use for an AS of Kate DiCamillo!

More like Winn-Dixie but less like Despereaux. Quite dreary for a children‘s book. Character development was very brusque and forced. For a couple hour investment it wasn‘t hugely disappointing.

Despereaux is high on my list and it was such a treat to learn DiCamillo has many others! Digging into this one today during this grey lovely early spring day.

Well, I‘ve already finished my #bookspin title for the month - so I‘ll be trying for my #doublespin as well! @TheAromaofBooks

I absolutely looooved this book! Kate DiCamillo writes such charming characters, and I wanted to take all 3 of these girls home with me. I‘ve already called our elementary librarian and asked her to send Louisiana‘s Way Home to the high school for me.

I‘m am jumping right in with my #bookspin title on audio while I delete some weeded books today. I‘m loving it so far! @TheAromaofBooks

Book 2/6 #bfcr3

Cute story about three young girl friends set in 1975. Kate DiCamillo doesn‘t disappoint with the cast of characters she introduces you to in this story.

This was sweet and surprisingly funny at times, while also touching on some heavier topics like abusive/neglectful parents, anxiety, and loss. I liked how the three girls come together to help each other and we see them all as multifaceted characters. I did think the dialogue was sometimes a bit mature for 10 year olds (even taking imitating grownups into account) & wish we‘d gotten a bit more resolution. But overall a sweet little book. 3/5 ⭐️

Just when you thought that the day couldn‘t get any worse than Building 10 and the single lightbulb and the terrible howling and the cat killing, Ida Nee went and called the police because Beverly Tapinski had taken her baton.

[File under: Sentences you‘d only read in a middle grade book.]

Dang, Louisiana has a pretty dark mind for a little kid.

Definitely remember feeling this way at that age.

Feeling in the mood for a little middle grade, picked this one up on the recommendation of Krista at BooksandJams on YT 💙

After Raymie‘s dad runs off with a dental hygienist, she decides that winning a beauty contest will make him so proud that he‘ll come home. Along the way, she discovers the importance of her friendship with Beverly and Louisiana.

A lovely middle grade story about friendship.

#booked2019 #bookgiftedtoyou #mounttbr

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 I didn't plan it this way but I ended up doing some season hopping. This was a surprisingly hard prompt as I have very few books gifted to me. Most people just opt for gift cards. I did manage to find this in my stacks. I'm a huge DiCamillo fan and I enjoyed this but I don't think it's as good as her others. Raymie decides to enter a beauty pageant in hopes to win her father back home.

Loved this book and the delightful trio of young girls introduced here. Looking forward to reading the next in the series - this is up there with Kate DiCamillo‘s Because of Winn Dixie, one of my fave middle grade novels.

#hour6challenge #dedications #24in48

My time from last night. After going to bed late, getting back to it.

I loved this book! The plot came together well, and the themes were solid. Such a quick, pleasant read.

#AbbaInAugust Day 19: From Fats‘ review - In the #SummerNightCity of 1975, Raymie Nightingale tells the story of Raymie Clarke whose dad abandoned Raymie and her mom to be with a dental hygienist just two days prior. The chapters in Raymie Nightingale are short. Reading the book felt like peeling an onion one layer at a time. Full review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-eD8

This was a wonderful book! 3 young girls, each facing their own difficulties, come together to compete in a talent contest. They become friends and heroes as they work to take control of their lives. Exceptional girl power and true friendship and more than a little quirky.

Some books I‘ve read where there‘re some/lots of #swimming involved.

#readingresolutions

A girl who wants to learn how to twirl a baton so she can win a contest she has to deal with a girl who faints every day and a girl who wants to sabotage the contest

More than meh, but not quite a pick. I‘m wavering between 3 & 3.5 stars. I did not find this one quite as charming or engaging as some of her other books.

Read my full review on GR:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2427204369

#TripleThreatThursday
1. Hm, no one comes immediately to mind.
2. Pura Vida bracelets
3. tagged 😀

New York book haul~! Part 2!

Another audio book by Kate DiCamillo with a different narrator. At first, that threw me off but I realized that this narrator captured Raymie‘s voice perfectly. I enjoyed getting to know Raymie, Louisiana, and Beverly and following along on their adventures.

This was a sweet story about friendship and loss and childhood. Kate diCamillo is a beautiful writer.

You guys!!!

#teachersoflitsy

Approximately a million years ago now, both @Avanders and @TheLudicReader tagged me to post my #fivestarpredictions. Since I was tagged twice, I'll post twice! Here's my fiction stack. Everything I've heard/read about these makes me think that I'm going to love them.

Three 10-year old girls are thrown together one summer when they joined the Little Miss Central Florida contest. Each believes winning will solve all their problems. A lovely but sad story about their growing friendships, how they rely on each other and find courage. With reality themes like betrayal and abandonment, the story manages to lift our hearts and has its tender moments.

I really enjoyed the complex personalities of all three girls in this entertaining and heart-warming story of unlikely friendship.

The realistic fiction novel is too real! Dicamillo perfect captures the anxiety, depression and hoplessness we all face at time. She simultaneously perfectly illustrates the difference a single experience can make(like a baton twirling class) in changing the course of our lives. Check out the publisher's site for a trailer, didcusxion guide and more. http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763681172&pix=y
#UCFLAE3414su17

This HF was somewhat a slow read. Not a bad read, by any means, but perhaps a bit mundane and less than engaging. Kate DiCamillo is a good author but fell short of our expectations on this one. A good addition to her other books in your classroom library if nothing else.

http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763681172.btg.1.pdf

#ucflae3414su17

This HF is about 3 preteen friends and how they navigate through the hardships of life together & prepare for a beauty pageant. This story takes place in Central Florida which makes it interesting & relatable to readers. Although the book was cute, I personally found it to be slow and got bored with parts but it was still good book. A group discussion guide found here: http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763681172.bdg.1.pdf #UCFLAE3414su17

#besties #sizzlinsummerbooks

Three girls, three difficult stories collide and little stars are born. Masterfully written, this is a quickly moving plot packed with layers of color, symbols, loss and re-birth. A beautiful read.

Wonderful, sweet, sad, inspirational, hilarious. These words always cover a DiCamillo novel. A joy to read. #favoritenarrator

Great audio. 👍

Meh. Nicely written, just rather anti-climactic? Don't regret reading it, but wouldn't necessarily recommend to a friend.

No one writes quite like Queen DiCamillo.

This was the adorable yet heartbreaking pick for my June book club. I think it's supposed to be a middle grade book. The perfect amount of whimsy amid real-life issues.