Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

Oh, my goodness. I finished Kate DiCamillo’s Louisiana’s Way Home last night, and it was BEAUTIFUL. (It was also the first book I’ve read of hers in forever that seemed more akin to Because of Winn-Dixie than to her odder (yes, odder, not older!) titles.) Louisiana’s voice is captivating, a mixture of innocence and experience, and the supporting cast of characters constitutes a vibrant slice of southern life. I don’t know that the plot needs more explaining than the title already gives, but this is a story of curlers, caramels, a crow, and kindness when it really matters, and it needs to be on your shelf. If you haven’t read Raymie Nightingale, you’ll still thoroughly enjoy it; on the other hand, if you have, there’s going to be a bit of added background knowledge that will probably enrich your reading experience. On the other hand, I enjoyed Louisiana quite a bit more than Raymie, so it’s your call!