I haven't read the previous books by Kate DiCamillo. I will now.

This book will warm your heart.
I love the characters, the setting and the story.
I love that she is fourteen and can drive a car.
I love that she doesn't like fish but she works at a fish restaurant and eats the tuna melts that Iola makes.
Mostly I love that the characters are quirky...
And I love that she finds a friend in the midst of it all.
I think I might have Christmas in August this year.
There is so much to love here. Thanks, Ms. DiCamillo.

First sentence: Buddy died, and Beverly buried him, and then she set off toward Lake Clara.

Premise/plot: The heroine of Beverly, Right Here is Beverly Tapinski who was first introduced in Kate DiCamillo's Raymie Nightingale. (Readers should also make a point of reading Louisiana's Way Home. All three books are set in the late 1970s.)

After the death of her dog, Buddy, Beverly runs away from home. She thinks of herself as an independent loner: someone who doesn't need--or want--anyone. But is that really true? Though Beverly's family has been less than ideal (an absentee dad, an alcoholic mother, countless boyfriends of her mother that have come and gone) she may just piece together a perfect-for-her family.

Iola Jenkins is an old woman who has lost her driving privileges. But she is not done living life on her own terms even if her son thinks she should be. Beverly, though not technically old enough to drive, becomes Iola's driver and "niece." Beverly is hesitant about this new relationship. Why is Iola willing to open up her home to a perfect stranger? But Iola has a lot of lessons to pass along to Beverly. Lessons about trust, friendship, attitude. ALSO how to dance.

Doris and Charles. Beverly buses tables at a local fish restaurant. Doris is the sole cook and Charles the sole dish washer. These two become a little protective of Beverly. Freddie, the sole waitress, talks big, but wouldn't hesitate to cheat Beverly from her fair share of tips.

Elmer. He works at a convenience store. His nose is always in a book. But he's aware of everyone that comes into the shop and has their interests in mind. He must protect little ones from the hand-made comics of hell fire and brimstone that one of the local ladies draws because she is so concerned about being God's Messenger. He also gives the occasional dime so that children can ride the horse in front of the store. He's hesitant--especially at first--to let Beverly into his life. But soon Iola, Beverly, and Elmer are fast friends.

My thoughts: I really LOVED this one. It's a great read, just what you'd expect from a new book by Kate DiCamillo. I loved the relationships of this one. It was just a joy to spend time with Beverly and Iola and Beverly and Elmer. I honestly don't know which character I love more--Iola or Elmer. Both were just WONDERFUL. There is something oh-so-human about this one. Not all the characters are lovely and genuine.

It's a great coming-of-age novel. It has a lot of heart and soul in it.

ARC COPY...It was short but still sweet. I describe it more as slice of life approach as Beverly works up the courage to leave her emotional abusive and uncaring mother for a better life. Narrative felt more of a character piece while exploring themes of family and home. Beverly I would best describe as yes very bold + brave with a side of grumpy/stay away. In comparison to Louisana's narrative both show in common the aspects of questionable initial parent-guardians, being uprooted from their first homes

I enjoyed this book by Kate Dicamillo. I really liked the main character who was confused and trying to deal with the decisions and actions that have shaped her. She has had more experiences in her 14 years than most of us have had in all of their lives. Throughout this story Beverly is guarded due to her happenings in her life. By the end she shows a maturity beyond her years and resilience
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for a honest review.

Oh my...OH MY!!! Kate Dicamillo has done it again. Between Iola’s spot-on southern granny sayings and Beverly’s wounded bravado I highlighted so many fantastic passages. #BeverlyRightHere is a perfect third installment in the tale of my favorite 70’s era Floridian trio.

Beverly, Right Here is the third book featuring characters from DiCamillo's beloved Raymie Nightingale.

After Beverly's dog dies, she decides to escape her old life and make a new one. She ends up in a beach town, bunking with an elderly woman who lives in a trailer park, and busing tables at a fish restaurant. She has no intentions of making connections (and possibly breaking her heart - again), and indeed, brusque Beverly is sometimes hard to love. But an eccentric cast of characters surround her, giving her the push she needs to move forward.

I'll be absolutely honest. Beverly was my least favorite of the Three Rancheros, so it's not surprising that I felt the least attached to her novel. That said, this was a very compelling read, and mature for a middle grade book. Beverly grapples with the bad relationship with her mother, feelings of abandonment (by her father and Louisiana), and a resigned suspicion that her life doesn't really matter. The book ends a bit awkwardly, but it reveals the evolution of her character, which is kind of a beautiful thing.

I do hope more books are written about these characters. They are all deeply multi-dimensional and interesting to read about.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Is "gem of a book" an official genre yet? What is it about those books, light in your hand and small on the shelf, where every word counts and every sentence roots itself into your heart?

Only a few authors can pull off these gems... Neil Gaiman. Patricia MacLaughlin. Laura Amy Schlitz. Kate DiCamillo.

Most of DiCamillo's books are gems, in my opinion. But her latest, Beverly, Right Here, is like a tiny, perfectly cut diamond. It might not have the mass and showiness of bigger gems, but when the light hits it just right, sunshine glitters around everything in reach.

Beverly, Right Here is the third book in Kate DiCamillo's "series" (I like to think of them more as "companion books") begun with the award-winning Raymie Nightingale and followed up by Louisiana's Way Home (which stars my favorite character of the three). Most authors would never get away with writing three books in a set that are so vastly different from one another. Each has DiCamillo's signature simple style. But Raymie is a little melancholy and more plot-heavy. Louisiana is whimsical and heart-breaking and hopeful. And Beverly goes way off to the side of the Venn diagram by being a sparse, slightly angsty, gentle and graceful Young Adult novella. It's really too short to call it a novel, or to compare the plot or character development to that of a longer book. It's almost a long short story, and--like the best short stories--every word does double duty...if not triple or quadruple. Every speck of conversation furthers both plot and theme. Every physical detail included is important. Every thought and action is sure to point you toward the climax.

Beverly, Right Here is a story about becoming. Not simply coming of age, like many of my favorite YA books, but of becoming who you really are in the first place; getting past all your baggage and hurt and sad memories and realizing the gem that shines underneath it all.

Beverly Tapinski is a clear-eyed soul; she's seen enough of the world to believe she's better off on her own, especially after the death of her beloved dog Buddy. When Beverly leaves home for the last time at age 14, she's surprised to find kindred spirits in Iola, an older woman who lives in a trailer park, and Elmer, a genius hidden behind the grocery store counter. As she settles into a new routine of tuna melts, bussing tables, and walking through an endless ocean, Beverly wonders if she'll ever find a place she truly belongs. Full of wondrous words and DiCamillo's classic prose, Beverly, Right Here may break your heart, but it sure will put it back together.

Beverly, Right Here is the story of a 14 year old girl named Beverly Tapinksi. Beverly gets her turn to tell her story after we heard from Raymie Nightingale and Louisiana Elephante over the last several years.
Beverly is sad. Her dog, Buddy, died and her friend Louisiana moved away. Her mother is checked out and Beverly feels alone. She makes her way to a beach town and meets an unlikely cast of characters who teach her many lessons in finding happiness.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. Beverly is sad and depressed for a lot of the book-which makes sense with all going on in her life. I worried about her a lot. But the emotion behind her story is raw and real and was very moving. I rank it behind Louisiana's Way Home but ahead of Raymie Nightingale. I highly recommend for middle grade students and beyond. Adults, too!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Editor's note: This review will publish in Mountain Times (Boone, NC) on Sept. 24, 2019

Hede: Finding family in 'Beverly, Right Here': Kate DiCamillo completes coming-of-age trifecta

We all learn, eventually, that there is a dramatic difference between running away from home and moving on.

But we don’t all learn this at age 14 — as does Beverly Tapinski, the heroine of Kate DiCamillio’s “Beverly, Right Here” (Candlewick Press), the sequel to the remarkable “Louisiana’s Way Home,” itself the sequel to the first in what developed as an unplanned coming-of-age trilogy, the National Book Award finalist “Raymie Nightingale.”

At the end of my review for DiCamillo’s second in the series, I wrote this: “‘Louisiana’s Way Home’ is not only a worthy successor to Ramie’s story, it stands alone in its own strengths and prompts the question, can Beverly’s tale be far behind? We can always hope” (https://bit.ly/2Qjj7F70).

This is Beverly’s story, and the hope that DiCamillo could again conjure an independent narrative voice for the third of the Three Rancheros was not misplaced. As with Rayme’s and Louisiana’s, there is magic in Beverly’s story.

Maybe, though, what is most magical is that DiCamillo can craft such fiction without resorting to the fantastic a la the trend of today. Blame it on Martin or Rowling — or go further back and fault Tolkien, Lewis, Le Guin or even Lloyd Alexander — but stories without magic paintings, wardrobes, walls or cauldrons and castles can be a tough sell to a young audience.

But not always, and DiCamillo shows us why.

As with the stories of Raymie and Louisiana, Beverly’s tale involves separation at the most human level: the family. As so, it ushers two questions: Can a broken family ever be mended? And if so, what might that look like?

DeCamillo did not win two Newbery Medals (“The Tale of Despereaux” and “Flora & Ulysses”) without knowing how to provide an answer to the likes of these.

After her dog, Buddy, dies, Beverly has nothing to keep her home. Her mother is an alcoholic and her best friends are no longer close at hand. The Three Rancheros have themselves been sundered and Beverly drifts away, “walking down A1A.”

At this point, it’s important to know that Beverly is well beyond her 14 years. She is a survivor who has learned, with the help of her friends, the value of friendship. She has learned that families come in flavors you don’t always choose but are palatable and even nutritious when there is love and loyalty and bonds between them.

And so, it is not remarkable that Beverly finds both a job clearing tables at a seafood restaurant and constructs a new family of misfits who somehow all fit together.

About those misfits — DiCamillo crafts a singular set of characters in Beverly’s story, and they will stay with you long after the end: Mr. C who owns the restaurant, the lonely Iola Jenkins, Doris, Freddie, Elmer and King Nod the cat because there must always be animals in a Kate DiCamillo novel.

Together, they may not form Beverly’s forever family, but they form the family she needs right now.

Within this temporary haven of unexpected stability, the fiercely independent Beverly will learn lessons to help move beyond survival and into maturity.

It is right here that Beverly will discover the importance of depending on others, and that trust and strength and dreams can be found even in the loss of those you love. And sometimes, as in this novel, only in such loss can these things be discovered.

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book~ all I knew was that I was SO excited that NetGalley approved my request. I read Raymie Nightingale in September 2016 and loved it (see my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1487357632). I didn't read Louisiana's Way Home~ it was on my list, but somehow got buried in my never-ending TBR pile. Still, Raymie and Kate D. books in general have left such an imprint in my heart that I felt a strong calling to read this one. My verdict is that Beverly, Right Here, like Raymie Nightingale, has characterizations that remind me of one of my favorite authors, Fannie Flagg. The authenticity and voice are undeniable. Short/small sentences, long/biiiiiiiig insights, and fun/detailed descriptions. Kate DiCamillo is brilliant that way. I had a few questions at the beginning and the end, but the emotional character arc felt totally complete to me. One thing to note: this did feel older to me. I entered it thinking I was going to be reading MG, but knew pretty quickly that (for me), it was in that lovely, elusive-and-less-promoted in-between place that doesn't quite fit firmly in MG or in YA. But you know what? It's a story well-told. And that works for readers of any age. Overall, I really felt connected to Beverly--so much that I wanted more concrete info about her "BEFORE", so I could connect more with her "right-here." Kate DiCamillo~ I will continue to gratefully read EVERYTHING you publish.

Kate DiCamillo does it again with Beverly, Right Here. This is the third book in the trilogy that includes Raymie Nightengale and Lousiana's Way Home. This book is all about Beverly who leaves home after she has had enough of her alcoholic mother and her dog passes away. When she gets to the new town, she finds a job bussing tables at a fish restaurant, even though she hates fish. An old lady takes her in and allows Beverly to stay with her. I originally read this because my elementary students love first two books. While I enjoyed this book, I'm not sure I would purchase it for the elementary library. The themes in the book have a tendency to move more into the young teen themes. If I was in a middle school library or a fifth grade teacher, I would purchase this book. Although I felt the age of Beverly and the themes were a bit older than the other two novels, they still work together to create a great trilogy.

I was not surprised that I adored this new title by Kate DiCamillo! I loved reading Beverly's story, and the character development was excellent. The pacing was perfect, and of course, DiCamillo's signature style is unforgettable and I never get tired of her depictions of the inner workings of the human heart of her characters. This will be a new favorite of hers and I am recommending this to all readers, young and old!

Beverly, Right Here by Kate DiCamillo is a closer look at the character Beverly Tapinski and her adventures in running away to find herself in the oceanside town of Tamaray Beach. Beverly, a fourteen year-old runaway gets a job at a local fish restaurant and moves in with an elderly lady at the Seaside Court RV park. Beverly tries to act independent, but eventually comes to rely on the people around her for support and love. Kate DiCamillo writes a heartwarming tale about a girl trying to find herself through work, grief, friendship, and love.

If you liked reading about Raymie and Louisana, you will like reading about Beverly.

Whenever I finish a book by Kate DiCamillo, I wish there was more.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book, as I do all of Kate DiCamillo's books, but somehow it didn't seem quite as finished as the other two in this set. Kate's writing is always so beautiful and thoughtful, though. I will definitely be purchasing this for my library when the time comes.

Beverly, Right Here was a book I had been long waiting for! I was so excited to finally read the third girl's story. Beverly needed her story told. We needed to know how she handled the death of Buddy, the disappearance of Louisiana and the ongoing alcoholism of her mother. Beverly is a strong, brave and independent girl who wants to belong. She finds herself and a sense of belonging when she runs away. The people she meets, the situations she gets herself into and the problems she solves on her own, show a great deal about who she is.
This book definitely lives up to the expectations and I am just sad it's the final tale. Bravo to Kate DiCamillo for being brave enough to tell all the girls' stories.

This beautifully written story is the third in a series about three girls. I sincerely hope it won't be the last, because this one was my favorite! It's about Beverly, a girl who is hard on the outside, because she's grown up with a neglectful mother and believes that life is hard. So at 14, when her dog dies, she decides that she doesn't want to be at home any more and sets out to find something better. The better turns out to be a small beach town in Florida. She finds a job as a bus boy at a local fish restaurant and then finds housing with an elderly lady who is looking for company and someone to drive her places. What she finds is sprinkles of poetry and art that move her in ways she never imagined. She ends up connect in ways she never thought possible and the end gives lots of options for what might happen next. I really liked this one a lot and I think the kids are going to like it too.

Beautiful book. I've read Raymie Nightingale and Louisiana's Way home, so I love getting to know more about the last of the three girls—Beverly. This one feels a little more mature than the previous two, but I think middle-grade readers can still enjoy it.

A wonderful third book in a companion series about friendship and discovering and being who you are. Beverly was my favorite from Raymie Nightingale, so I was looking forward to this one. It didn't disappoint--I loved Beverly's surly attitude and big heart, and I especially loved her getting to be in the spotlight and learning her own definition of home and family, and her wants and needs. Another brilliant novel by Kate DiCamillo.