Raymie Nightingale

I forget how cut and dry and matter-of-fact DiCamillo writes. What's left is room for the reader to put themselves in the story, so I like that. I also loved this story of three young ladies meeting each other at a time when they all needed a good friend. I'm glad I waited to read the series after it was complete. I'm also reading them out of order, but I don't think that's the end of the world.
A note about the new cover on this one (I read a copy with the original cover, where Raymie looked a teenager standing in water with a baton): I think Raymie now looks TOO young, like a 6 year old. This is just my opinion.

Kate DiCamillo just doesn't write disappointing books. She gets kids. She gets stories. She gets real.

This is just a little tale but it is sparklingly wonderful in the way all the characters are absolutely mesmerizing and in the way the little problems everyone has don't ever get completely fixed but do get a bit better when people become friends.

I really liked this book for young readers - I only wish there was a little more diversity in it.

A great story for grade school and Jr high girls. The characters are so lovable and the storyline is sweet and powerful.