Louisiana's Way Home

Louisiana's Way Home
Kate DiCamillo
Candlewick, October, 2018 227 pages
Grades 4-7
Realistic Fiction

Louisiana finds herself dragged out of her bed in the middle of the night by her eccentric grandmother who states, "The day of reckoning has arrived. The hour is close at hand. We must leave immediately." Louisiana, use to her grandmother's crazy midnight rantings, obediently hops in the car and the two explorers take to the road. Granny is hoping to break the family curse, but her plans are derailed once she is stricken by a terrible toothache. The pain becomes so intense that she must pull over in rural Georgia and twelve year old Louisiana takes the wheel and slowly finds the nearest dentist. Granny must have all of her teeth removed and recuperation must commence before continuing the quest. The duo finds shelter at the Good Night, Sleep Tight Motel, where Louisiana barters for their stay by agreeing to sing at a funeral. As Granny rests, Louisiana meets a boy with a crow who helps her obtain food and offers friendship. Life with Granny becomes even more complicated when she disappears and leaves a note completely rocking Louisiana's world. It is up to Louisiana to separate the fact from the fiction in her life, discover who to trust, and to try to figure out the best path to continue her course.

For the first time ever Newbery winning author (and for my money the best author for children currently writing) Kate DiCamillo has written a sequel. Well, actually more of a companion novel, to 2016's Raymie Nightingale. Raymie is not one of my favorite Kate DiCamillo books and, frankly, it didn't particularly stick with me. Louisiana, one of Raymie's friends is now getting her own story and I think it is more successful than the first. Told in a folksie first person narration, Louisiana's voice is clear and consistent all the way through. The reader will experience first-hand the disillusionment Louisiana experiences with Granny and her transition to independence and maturity. The writing is predictably stellar and every word counts, much like in Because of Winn Dixie. The southern setting is fully realized and the quirky characters become friends by the end. A quiet story, though full of plot and conflict, I enjoyed spending time in Louisiana's world during this pivotal time in her life. Louisiana often reference her favorite book Pinocchio in literal and figurative ways, perhaps leading kids to this classic children's book. The book is not long, has large print and reads quickly, making it a good choice for reluctant readers or as a read aloud. Another winner from a tried and true author.