Beverly, Right Here is the third part of an unintended series (Raymie Nightingale and Louisiana's Way Home being the other two parts) that focuses on the exploits and growth of the three titular characters. Set in an idealized 1970s, Beverly has run away from home after being abandoned by her father (who left the family), her mother (who exists in a state of perpetual drunkenness), her friend Louisiana (who has moved to Georgia), and now, at the start of the novel, her dog Buddy (who has passed away). She soon finds herself in a small Florida town largely populated by eccentric (but generally kind) individuals. Beverly's longing for meaning and place is palpable throughout the prose and DiCamillo should be lauded for her skill in doing this.

Young readers might like this novel rather less than adult readers (who might better identify with the wistful treatment of both Beverly's angst and genuine trauma) and more critical readers might balk at the near fairyland (or perhaps overly nostalgic?) vision of 1970s small town life both in this novel and across the series. All three girls continually find themselves in towns where strangers immediately offer shelter and love to runaways and abandoned girls and where the only real threats are the death of pets and disappearing parents (who are, as mentioned, almost immediately replaced). The quality of the writing makes the unlikelihood of these events less evident in the moment, but I find those questions generally return within 15 minutes of completing the novel.

Beverly, Right Here is the perfect finale to Kate DiCamillo’s wonderful series. This book is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. But above all else, it highlights the importance of seeing the good in others, the need to trust and rely on other people, and the power of letting people in.

If you’re looking for a book with complex, utterly lovable characters, and insightful dialogue, pick up Beverly, Right Here!

I haven't read the series of books so I feel like I have probably missed some of the story. Beverly is a unique kid who reacts badly, by running away, when her dog dies. She then finds comfort and support amongst a group of unlikely characters who allow her to befriend them, work with them and even live with them. She is a precocious 14-year-old and seems both vulnerable and fearless depending on the situation. She is a well written character and this is an interesting book for young readers. Very sweet story.

#BeverlyRIghtHere #NetGalley #CandlewickPress #Candlewick

Beverly Tapinski is 14-yrs old when she runs away from home, spurred on by the death of her dog Buddy and her single mother's drinking. Despite that depressing premise, this story is actually a hopeful one of friendship and joy. Set in 1979 on America's south coast, we see Beverly transformed from an angry and wounded kid, into a caring and happy young lady (not that she'd appreciate that epithet). The people she meets after running out of her cousin's car somewhere she's never been before are an eclectic mix of helpers and helpees.

I hadn't read DiCamillo's previous books about Beverly's friends Raymie Nightingale and Louisiana Elefante, but my 11-yr old daughters have and they filled me in. I'm eager for them to read Beverly, Right Here next, and this book is excellent as a stand-alone, one need not read the entire series to appreciate it, and thankfully this doesn't read like a serial at all. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Beverly has run away from home for the last time. This time it is just leaving and finds herself in Tamaray. She finds a job busing tables at Mr. C's fish restaraunt and living in a tiny trailer with Iola. Beverly misses her friends Raymie and Louisiana, but mostly her dog Buddy who is buried beneath the orange trees in her backyard. Despite trying to remain aloof, Beverly makes friends with Iola and Elmer and Nod the cat. They make their own kind of family.

I loved this series of books and I think I might love Beverly's story the most. We are just dropped into her life for this week. If you haven't read the other books you probably don't even know what she is referring to when she talks about Raymie and Buddy and Louisiana, but that doesn't matter. Beverly is a force of her own and I feel like she really comes into her own in this book. I loved that we just get a glimpse of this week and we don't know what is going to happen after or where Beverly is going from here.

It true Kate DiCamillo form, it took unlikely characters and put them together to form a family. This book reminded me of Because of Winn Dixie. However, this in this book, the characters are older. I wasn’t quite sure how I would like it for my class, as in the opening chapter, Beverly runs away from home. However, not too long into the book, I found myself falling in love and rooting for all the characters; which is something that I find Kate excels at getting the reader to do.

I received an Advanced Reviewer Copy of Beverly, Right Here by Kate DiCamillo from the publisher Candlewick Press through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Beverly is the daughter of a single mother who cares more about drinking than about being with her daughter or really what her daughter is up to. Beverly's dog has just died and devastated by the loss Beverly decides to leave and go to another part of Florida where she meets a few misfits. While this appears to be part of a series, it is is unnecessary to read all the books to enjoy this one (I did not).

What I Loved: This book was nostalgic. I read Because of Winn Dixie when I was little and this book really reminded me of it (same author, not a huge surprise). The descriptions of summer in Florida and the fierceness of the female protagonist as well as the unique characters she meets and befriends is just so lovely and makes reading this a delight.

What I didn’t like so much: Sometimes Beverly was a bit too crabby and sarcastic for me and seemed more adult than I expected a 14 year old to be, but that might just be her circumstances. She could be very mean and dismissive at time, but then again so can other 14 year olds. I wouldn't say this was a huge problem.

Who Should Read It: People who love DiCamillo's writing. People who love a story about misfits coming together. People who love stories about grumpy/angry people coming out of their shells. People who love middle grade.

General Summary: A story of a young girl who finds a sense of belonging with a cast of misfits.

Kate DiCamillo is a masterful storyteller. I devoured this book in one sitting. The plot unfolds beautifully in her latest book, Beverly, Right Here. The characters are complex and quirky. I enjoyed getting to know Beverly even more in this final book of the trilogy. She has some grit, and readers will love her. Readers who enjoyed Raymie's and Louisana's stories will love Beverly's story as well.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this test to read and review.

I adored Beverly's voice in this story. She's the toughest cookie in the trilogy, but that made her journey that much more satisfying as she learned to let people in. A lovely finish to a lovely trilogy from Kate Dicamillo.

I already loved Raymie and Louisiana, and reading Beverly’s story was the cherry in the ambrosia. Kate DiCamillo is a magician with words and Beverly, Right Here is no exception. A lovely conclusion to the series. Sure to be beloved by students.

Kate DiCamillo has such a way with words. From her facebook posts to her novels, she creates magic with her words all the time! Beverly, Right Here is no different! Magical, it is! After Raymie Nightingale, Louisiana's Way Home dragged me deeper into the world of these three girls, and I couldn't have been more excited to get my hands on Beverly, Right Here. The gorgeous cover allows Beverly Tapinski to quietly beckon to the readers, enticing them to hear her story. The author's note at the beginning and the first chapter are nothing short of spectacular, and remind the reader that while these three girls are so different from one another, their stories are amazing and beautiful. Love, Love, Love!

One day Kate DiCamillo will write something I dislike. Today is not this day.
Beverly, Right Here finishes out the tales of the Three Rancheros first introduced in Raymie Nightingale. Often sullen and rebellious, especially towards her mother, Beverly's story begins with her running away from home after the death of her dog, Buddy. Beverly wanders into a small Florida town, promptly lies about her age to get a job, and is invited to sleep on the couch of an old woman, Iola, who owns a trailer. (It's the 70s.) She meets Elmer who works at the local grocery store, Doris and Charles at the restaurant she works at, and, of course, becomes endeared to Iola who needs Beverly's help driving to places. Throughout the story, we watch Beverly open up to ideas of joy and love as she becomes more strongly linked to the people surrounding and supporting her.
Each character, in true DiCamillo fashion, is a fully rounded human, from Iola's disagreements with her adult son about what she should be allowed to do, to Mr. C the restaurant owner who is always reminding everyone that he must support his three daughters. The story moves at a gradual pace, but never feels slow, rather it matches the mundane-ness of everyone's daily Florida lives going to work or bingo. My one critique of the story is the abrupt ending that perhaps would have made sense if this book was more of a standalone, but as the culmination of the Three Rancheros, I was expecting something reconnecting them all.
Overall, a necessary purchase and, in my estimations, another Newbery contender.

I had already read Raymie Nightingale and Louisiana’s Way Home, so this one was a must read. Beverly was my favorite character because she has such a strong exterior. In this book, Beverly leaves after a tragic event. She gets a job at Mr.C seafood restaurant, and lives with an eccentric old woman named Iola. I enjoyed each of the characters of the book and the story line. I gave it 4 stars because the ending didn’t give closure. I read this book in one day because I enjoyed it so much.

A lovely rounding out of the stories of Raymie and Louisiana. Not exactly a trilogy, but this one definitely complements the other two, I loved the exploration of how we find home.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the digital ARC

Beverly, Right Here is title number three in a set of books by Kate DiCamillo featuring strong female characters. The trilogy began with Raymie Nightingale and continued with Louisiana's Way Home.

Beautifully written coming-of-age story. I loved Raymie Nightengale but I have to confess that my least favorite character in the book was Beverly. I loved Raymie's optimism and Louisiana's pluckiness but I had a really hard time with a very contrary Beverly. However, this book allowed me to see things through Beverly's eyes. I understood and felt how confused and lonely and angry she was with her life. I also got to see a sweet, thoughtful, empathetic and generous young girl who just wants to belong. The writing is amazing and powerful and reaches right into your heart. Recommended for 4th-8th grade. Would make a powerful class read aloud with plenty of opportunities for discussion.

I am a huge fan of Ms. DiCamillo. Everything she writes speaks to my heart, and this book is no exception. I only wish this series was more appropriate for my second graders who love this author just as much as I do.

Beverly, Right Here
by Kate DiCamillo

Candlewick Press

Candlewick

Children’s Fiction

Pub Date 24 Sep 2019

I am reviewing a copy of Beverly Right Here through Candlewick Press and Netgalley:

Beverly wanted to get away, it was what she always wanted, to get away as fast as she could and to stay away.

Beverly Tapinski has run away plenty of times when she was a kid, but now that she’s not a kid, she figures it is not running away, it is leaving. Beverly finds a job, she finds a place to live, and she tries to forget about her dog Buddy now buried under Orange Trees back home. She left her friend Raymie without a word, and her Mother Rhonda who has always only cared about herself. Beverly doesn’t want to have to depend on anyone and certainly doesn’t want anyone to depend on her. Despite her best efforts, she can’t help forming connections with the people around her — and gradually, she learns to see herself through their eyes. In a touching, funny, and fearless conclusion to her sequence of novels about the beloved Three Rancheros.

If you are looking for a powerful young Adult, coming of age novel, Beverly Right Here is just the book!

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

DiCamillo's consistent, pitch perfect, precise language sound-bites, intentional repetition, and syncopated names illustrate a certain complex simplicity, if you will, that reflects a level of humanity that strikes truth. Beverly's arc is both funny and melancholy. DiCamillo's writing is a reflection of the real world, realized through wonder, language and empathy.

Beverly, Right Here is a sweet story about Beverly finding her way in a new town. It’s a quick read with both laughs and heartfelt moments. Raymie Nightingale is still my favorite book in the series, but it was wonderful to get to read Beverly’s story.