REVIEW: FLORA & ULYSSES

Flora and Ulysses 

by Kate DiCamillo

*****5 of 5 stars

Candlewick Press

Release Date: September 24, 2013

Genre: Middle-grade, graphic novel

Pages: 233

Amazon | Indiebound | Goodreads

Synopsis: 
Holy unanticipated occurrences! A cynic meets an unlikely superhero in a genre-breaking new novel by master storyteller Kate DiCamillo. It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry—and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart. From #1 New York Times best-selling author Kate DiCamillo comes a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format—a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black-and-white by up-and-coming artist K.G. Campbell.

This book kicks off like any well-known superhero story: an unexpected event leads to unexpected greatness. Flora, an eccentric, self-proclaimed cynic, spares Ulysses (a squirrel) from a tragic death, thanks to guidance from her comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You! This book follow the adventures of Flora and Ulysses as they discover Ulysses' new powers, and as Flora finds she is capable of hope and love.

"Holy unanticipated occurrences!" This quote from the book completely sums up my reaction to it. I was floored by how incredible this story was. It was filled with love, passion, and friendship; showing the true goodness of people and what can happen if you hope and believe in something. It was refreshing to look through the eyes of a young, restless, innocent soul (not to mention through the eyes--or stomach--of a squirrel at various points in the story). I was, quite literally, laughing out loud throughout the entire book.

Kate DiCamillo has such a talent for taking the unique perspective and quirkiness of childhood and turning it into something simply profound and funny. And a lot of funny and random things happen, things that will hold a lot of appeal to a middle-grade audience. Super-charged, life-threatening vacuums, giant donuts with sprinkles, and an arch-nemesis that kidnaps. Also important to note, the illustrations by K.G. Campbell give the story more of the grand tone that you find in superhero comics, while still relating perfectly to the everyday occurrences of childhood. Text-graphic mixes like this are fabulous for the struggling reader crowd. This one is mighty delightful--I bought it in hardcover to keep & read to kiddies.

Review by JR. 

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REVIEW: IN DARKNESS

In Darkness by Nick Lake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's easy to fall into the habit of reading fluffy YA about yet another dystopian world, love triangle, paranormal romance featuring zombies/angels/vampires, or  . . . fill in the blank. This book has zombies (not even really the kind you're thinking of) but it's similarities to much of the YA genre stops there. Every once in a while a book like this is necessary- to wake you up, rub you a bit raw, and expose you to something entirely new, foreign, and not really pleasant. This, really, is what reading can do for you. One of the most important things it can do for you. I read it because of the Printz,and I hope that others will find and read it since the award has brought it more to light.

In Darkness is a raw, well-crafted story that tells what it's like to live in poverty and oppression, but also explores the nature of freedom, hope, and fate amid violence. Now, Shorty is a teenager trapped in the rubble of a hospital after the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Then, (two hundred years ago) Touissant L'Ouverture is a Haitian slave who led the rebellion that overthrew French and English forces. Always, they are connected as they try to be free and survive.

The themes and undercurrent of darkness bring everything full circle. Really, this book is dark in places in more than just setting. Dark in emotion. So many horrors of the realities of the life in the slums with Shorty, and of the fight for freedom with Touissaint-- that I spent the book in almost constant shock. Poverty. Violence. Rape. Hunger. No education. No help. And then the earthquake . . .

The richness of the two stories and how they intertwine is beautiful and haunting, with voodoo and the culture of the island as a powerful way to connect them. Toussaint L'Ouverture's incredible (true!) story is well researched and told in such a way that his character, bravery, and love of freedom sticks in your mind. Sometimes I was anxious to get back to Shorty, but I still appreciated those parts, especially because I think Toussaint's background gave more meaning and significance to Shorty.

Shorty, who is a powerful character that you still feel for even though he has committed so much violence and crime. Even more overwhelming is the power behind the character of Marguerite. She represents the light and goodness and hope in Shorty's world. Which, in the end, still doesn't fade even though not all of Shorty's problems are resolved. Yes, there is a lot of darkness--a powerful, hungry, encompassing darkness-- but there also is a lot of light in this book.

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