Kate DiCamillo knocks it out of the park again with another poignant story about love and family! Louisiana with the beautiful singing voice is a girl trying to figure out who she is when the Granny she thought she knew abruptly abandons her. As an adoptee, this story resonated with me on so many levels. I've always thought of my parents as my parents without hesitation, but there's always been the nagging question of, "Who am I? Where do I come from?" I also began singing at the young age of 10 and I loved how DiCamillo talked about becoming one with the music as Louisiana was singing; it's absolutely true. For me personally, the music always seeps into my soul and it's impossible to not become one with it. I truly loved this book and can't wait to share it with others.

I loved this book. DiCamillo's characters are always just a bit "off" and yet so relatable. The main character Louisiana is so lovable. I didn't find myself pitying her as much as found myself in awe of her resilience. I think tweens will relate to Louisiana's can do attitude in the face of such adversity and yet find the safety net of love from strangers very comforting.

DiCamillo has another winner here. Her books so move me. Louisiana, whom we met in the Raymie Nightingale book, is swept away from her home by her caretaking Granny in the middle of the night. Granny falls ill and Louisiana has to act mature way beyond her years to get them in a safe place. As usual this is a thought=provoking book about who we are and where we belong and who is our family. Time to re=read Raymie Nightingale!

Louisiana Elefante has been torn away from everything she knows. In the middle of the night, her granny bundles her in the car to take her across the state line from Florida into Georgia, muttering dire predictions about the curse that has caught up with them. After running out of gas, making an emergency trip to a dentist, and inveigling a room at a small town motel, Louisiana finds her situation growing more dire by the hour. But in the midst of all her troubles she also finds kindness--from a friendly boy with a crow on his shoulder and a bologna sandwich to offer, from a cheerful grandpa happy to share his ice cream sundae, from a mother not too busy with her county-famous cakes to wash a strange little girl's dress, and from a church minister with a walrus' face and an ear ready to listen.

I am curious to see what a middle grade child would make of this story. As an adult, I found it gloriously poignant and breathtakingly heart-wrenching...which is to say, I cried through nearly half of the book. The story is a beauty from ashes tale that shows the power of kindness, charity, forgiveness, and hope, all seen through the eyes of an unforgettable child.

The theme of Pinocchio is deftly woven into the story, as Louisiana compares her own life to the wooden puppet's and looks for her own Blue Fairy. By the end, the group of stars which Louisiana knows as the "Pinocchio constellation" (with the puppet's long nose that comes from telling lies) is renamed as the "Big Dipper," the home of the North Star that can keep everyone, even a little girl from Florida, from being lost and alone in this big old world.  

"The world smelled of unshared caramel candy and dust and beeswax. Everything was broken; I knew that. But I felt like I could fix it if I just kept singing. And so I kept singing."

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I read Raymie Nightengale when it first came out, so I only remembered Louisiana in a really hazy way. This book DEFINITELY stands alone - one need not read Raymie Nightengale first (though you should, because it's fantastic). Louisiana's Way Home is quintessential Kate DiCamillo with voice for eons and characters who rip out your heart. So much love for this one.

This was not DiCamillo's best work. The first third of the book was an effort to read. Though I haven't read many of DiCamillo's books, I know how beloved many of them are.

Louisiana’s story is simultaneously heartbreaking and beautiful. Kate just has a way of addressing tough topics with love & hope, and this is no exception. Gorgeous writing, as usual!

I enjoyed this even more than Raymie Nightingale. Louisiana's voice is so unique and lovely. If everything works out a little too perfectly to be believed, you won't hear me complaining. Kate Dicamillo has created another wonderful, sad, quirky but ultimately hopeful story.

Honestly, Kate DiCamillo isn't generally my favorite author. I don't find her characters particularly realistic or relateable. On that note, I did enjoy this title, though I find that it hasn't really stuck with me. I will certainly purchase for my school library, would recommend for DiCamillo fans.

Louisiana finds herself on the road with her Granny. She wants nothing other than to turn around and go home. Having to leave her friends and parts is very hard for Louisiana. She wants to be Home. Home is very important to her. This was a very enchanting look at a young girl on a mission to be happy. She must find where she belongs. You will love this novel by Kate DiCamillo! You will love it! I know my fifth and sixth graders will love it too! I plan on putting it in my classroom library!

Disappointing. I loved Raymie Nightingale but felt this was lacking. Not enough character development.

I loved Louisiana! She was a character that appeared in DiCamillo's previous book Raymie Nightingale and now she has a book of her very own.
Louisiana is raised by her grandma, and grandma needs to get out of town. Louisiana begins to write about her feelings on this journey and the reader comes along for the ride. Typical to DiCamillo's work, readers will enjoy the wonderful characters, gorgeous writing, humor, and bittersweet moments. Louisiana's Way Home was a joy to read!

Seriously, I love every book I have read by Kate DiCamillo and this one was not exception. The book drew me in from page 1 and I couldn't put it down. It's so easy to become engaged with the characters and lose yourself in the story. I look forward to having my 6th grader read this book!

This book was wonderful. Kate DiCamillo revisits one of the characters from Raymie Nightingale in a very sad yet funny and sweet story. Louisiana Elefante lives with her Granny in Florida. Granny wakes her up in the middle of the night to tell her that the day of reckoning has arrived and they have to leave so they hope in the car and head west. Granny and Louisiana stop in a small town in Georgia and several crazy, funny and sometimes sad things happen to these two. Louisiana wants to find her way back home and maybe some of the people in this little town can help.

The story is told in first person which I really loved. Louisiana's voice is perfect to tell us about the ups and downs that she is dealing with in these situations. She is very sweet and trying to figure out how to deal with Granny who she is very mad at. Another fantastic Kate DiCamillo book. While Louisiana appeared in Raymie Nightingale, this book works well as a standalone. Highly recommended.

Ever since I met the brave, kindhearted, tenacious, adventurous Louisiana Elefante in Kate DiCamillo's Raymie Nightingale, I knew she was a kindred spirit. Reading Louisiana's Way Home was like catching up with an old friend. This incredible, realistic fiction, middle grade novel tells the story of Louisiana, her Granny and what happens next. Louisiana's life hasn't been easy and when Granny wakes her in the middle of the night and rushes her into the car, Louisiana takes it in stride until she wakes up to find herself miles away from home and in a new state. Things quickly get worse when Granny gets sick and Louisiana has to find a dentist to save her granny. Louisiana finds herself with no money, no place to stay and a granny with no teeth. And then things take a turn for the worst. Throughout it all, Louisiana's bravery and determination shine. This story is a wonderful reminder of how life and living doesn't look the same for everyone, things don't always go as planned, and most importantly the power of kindness. Recommended for 4-6 grade.

Kate DiCamillo has such a thoughtful way with words...if you remember Louisiana from Raymie Nightingale, she’s the one with grandma. Well, grandma leaves Louisiana and this is her story of forgiveness.

Louisiana’s Way Home

by Kate DiCamillo

Candlewick Press

Candlewick

Children’s Fiction

Pub Date 02 Oct 2018

I am reviewing a copy of Louisiana’s Way Home through Candlewick Press and Netgalley:

Louisiana’s Elefante’s granny wakes her up in the middle of the night to tell her the day of a reckoning has come and they have to leave home right away.

Louisiana isn’t overly world though her Grandma is full of many middle of the night ideas but this one is different this time she does not have any intention on them coming home. Louisiana finds herself away from her best friends Raymie and Beverly, Louisiana struggles to find a way home but fate and her Granny but soon her life becomes entwined with a motel owner, a preacher and a boy with a crow on his shoulder.

Will Louisiana find her way home?

Or will she have to build a new life elsewhere?

I give Louisiana’s Way Home five out of five stars!

Happy Reading

It’s difficult to provide a synopsis of this book without giving away the plot. In short, it’s a heartwarming story of self-discovery for young readers. Louisiana’s honest and sweet perspective is a pleasure to read.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

There is something about a Kate DiCamillo novel that brings you right back to your childhood, even if the character’s childhood is nothing like your own.

Louisiana Elephante has an unusual upbringing that involves family curses, a con-artist grandmother, and deceased-trapeze artist parents.

Louisiana is a clever, funny character that readers first discovered in Raymie Nightingale. Louisiana’s plight is a strange and difficult one. Life is often difficult, even for children. All of Louisiana’s struggles and interactions with uncaring adults are beautifully counter-balanced with the good in the world, to bring hope.

The writing is strong and the characters are even stronger. The humour in Louisiana’s first-person narrative adds a bit of joy in tough situations. Secondary characters are multi-dimensional as well. I still want to taste one of Mrs. Allen’s cakes!

This is a wonderful middle-grade novel. Readers will enjoy Louisiana’s whimsy. It is what you would expect of DiCamillo. Highly Recommended.

I read this book in 2 days. I love Kate DiCamillo and I was expecting it to be good and it was great. I loved it better than Raymie N. because it went deeper into the plight of many children in today's world. This book explored many issues that children have to deal with, live with, and figure out and many adults don't have a clue about what is going on in their young minds. I am a teacher and I think Kate developed the character's words, actions, and fears quite authentically. I loved the 17 cakes detail, the walrus image, the reference to Pinoccio and his story. I love the minister, Kate seems to bring religion into her stories as a way for kids to even think about going into a church, which many of them have never been exposed to. I love the friendship theme, and exploring how some people are alone. My favorite part was in chapter 24 when she learns that she needs to forgive. This is such an important message. The fact that we may and will not ever understand things is very important to tell children and adults. I cannot say enough about how well this book is written. I also love how Kate is trying to explain about how there is hunger in this world and it is very real. The fact that this girl wants 14 packs of peanuts is something that I never would have even thought about. She is hungry and knows hunger and hunger is part of her life. I remember that from the Raymie book about stealing food from the buffet and buying tuna cans because they're cheap and good protein. Again, Kate is bringing to the forefront an issue that many families struggle with: not having enough food.