Everyone needs a sense of belonging—that feeling that you have value, you are wanted and you are loved. Louisiana Elefante had that with her friends, Raymie Nightingale and Beverly Tapinski and even her Granny. But Granny wakes Louisiana in the middle of the night and takes Louisiana on a journey, not only away from her beloved friends, but a journey to find out who she really is. Louisiana questions where she belongs and who she is in a small town in Georgia. She discovers a new sense of belonging and learns that friendship and love can be found again. Kate DiCamillo plucks Louisiana Elefante from the pages of “Ramie Nightingale” and plops her into the middle of an adventure with smart writing and an engaging plot that makes “Louisiana’s Way Home” a page turner. The reader may even shed a tear or two as Louisiana’s story unfolds and new characters help her to learn her true worth to those around her, but most importantly, herself.

Wow, Kate DiCamillo does it again! This book had me laughing and crying in equal measure. The way she paints Louisiana’s story is beautiful, funny, heartwarming, and emotional. I absolutely loved Raymie Nightingale so I was looking forward to revisiting with a beloved character, Louisiana. Getting to read her journey was amazing. You don’t have to read Raymie’s story first but I think it adds something to this story if you do. I also must say that I lived all three generations of Burke Allens! I cannot wait to share this book with my patrons!

“I don’t know who I am. I only know that I am not who I thought I was.”

No one should utter this statement, but Louisiana, age 12, did.

This was the story of Louisiana’s hard and arduous forced journey with her grandmother. Both had to made difficult choices-choices that were actually fueled by love, though not initially recognized as such by Louisiana. Along the way, they met some kindhearted individuals that also played a role in their decisions and life.

Kate DiCamillo knows how to engage her reader. She knows how to pull at your emotions every which way... and then some. She knows how to write a bittersweet yet heartwarming story with complex and memorable characters that somehow over the course of the story find their way to a happier place…a stable place…a loving place…and finally…a family and a home.

This was a very well written and interesting story that I’m sure will find its way to children’s reading lists and classrooms libraries.
Very highly recommended!

Louisiana is such a special, little girl. Through all the trials in her very young life, she shows so much courage and resilience. I found myself so enamored with her. She’s truly a very unique and endearing character. I love this book!!

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.