I love this third book in Kate DiCamillo’s series about Raymie, Louisiana, and Beverly! I had to read it so slowly, to savor it and not let it end. Beverly’s story is so different from the others’ but is so so good! I feel like I can’t say more because it will give too much away, but if you are a fan of Kate’s work, you won’t want to miss this one!

Beverly, Right Here by Kate DiCamillo is the third book in the Raymie Nightingale trio. When we first meet Beverly in Raymie Nightingale, she is hardened by life, angsty, and cantankerous. Despite these things, we soon learn that underneath her tough exterior Beverly possesses a heart of compassion for others and a strong sense of loyalty to her friends.

In Beverly, Right Here, Beverly has run away from home. She is grieving the loss of a friend and feels abandoned and alone. Life has taught her that the only person she can rely on is herself. Regardless of her efforts to barricade her heart, Beverly meets several individuals that remind her of the value of friendship and that familial bonds are not always biological.

Kate DiCamillo began a story of friendship, loyalty, and bravery in Raymie Nightingale. She gave us hope with Louisiana’s Way Home, and in Beverly, Right Here she explores the theme of trust and teaches us that it is possible to “slip the surly bonds” even if they are of our own making. Like her other books, Kate DiCamillo has written a story filled with eccentric but endearing characters and beautiful prose sprinkled with poetry.

Oh, Beverly! DiCamillo gets it spot on again with this story of the third girl in "Ramie Nightengale." This story pulls at the heartstrings and then makes you laugh all at once. True to real experiences in childhood, Beverly's quest for belonging and being able to trust and be vulnerable, is at once classic and totally unique. This book is not only for children now, but for the adults that were once living this childhood. Sure to be a classic with the other two in this trilogy.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Every time I read a Kate DiCamillo book, I just melt a little! Raymie Nightingale, Louisiana’s Way Home, and now Beverly, Right Here are such beautiful, emotional novels. 5/5 stars for sure

I have to confess that I met Kate DiCamillo at an ALA event in Chicago. I had brought my 2 daughters with me and she was so wonderful to meet and interact with. My daughter has been a huge fan since grade school and Kate had a way with my daughter that made me want to go and read her works given my daughter's love of them.
I was not disappointed in any of them that I have read including this one. I felt that the writing was so splendidly presented that you could not help but be brought into their world. I loved the characters too. To say I am a fan now is kind of an understatement.

Beverly, Right Here is another wonderful middle grade story by Kate DiCamillo. I feel like Beverly was older than the characters were in the other two companion books. I liked that, though I’m not sure which age bracket to really put this in. Beverly struck out on her own in search of her true self. She wanted to re-invent her life and leave her troubled family life behind. She winds up in a beach town and befriends an older woman in a trailer home. Having grown up in a Florida beach town myself, Kate’s attention to detail for this setting was spot on. It even brought back memories of my own.


When I close Kate’s books, I always want to re-read them. Thank you NetGalley and Candlewick for a digital copy to review.

The final book in the trilogy of unique girls who found each other in the first book about Raymie Nightingale, I at first found myself surprised by the surliness of Beverly Tapinski in this novel. But soon, it fell into what I like to call the "DiCamillo Rhythm." With this series, you know exactly that you're reading a book that is heartfelt, and has deep, abiding truths about the nature of the world. DiCamillo fills the story with characters that you want to know more about, and can't help but cheer for. Though it begins as a story about running away, it leaves us with the satisfaction of making your own family, finding friendships in unlikely places, and letting your true self shine out. Beverly doesn't suddenly become a changed person; it's in fits and starts, and reflects the ways we yearn to change but are scared to take the plunge. Overall, I think this story has a more mature story line than either of the first two, but it makes sense as Beverly is now fourteen. and it shows the world through those early teen eyes. Great for middle grade readers who want to see how these characters have fared over the years. This would make an excellent book club book as there is a lot of potential for character, setting, and theme discussions. Thanks!

Just beautiful! I fell in love with Beverly -- her spunk, her courage, her tenacity, and ultimately her compassion. A must read and a beautiful compliment to Raymie Nightengale.

We loved Raymie, sobbed over the sweet and spunky Louisiana, and embrace the strong, independent Beverly. It is simply amazing how Kate DiCamillo can weave three beautiful tales from the voices of three different characters. Although not may favorite of the three (we had so many questions at the end), Beverly will have you captivated. A must for the library.

First there was Raymie Nightingale, then Louisiana's Way Home, now we have Beverly Right Here. Beverly is definitely the darkest one of the trio, but I think I like prickly Beverly the best. She reminded me of Ada from The War that Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won. Beverly is desperate for someone to care for her, but when someone does, she doesn't really know how to handle it. Just like you'd expect from a Kate DiCamillo novel, you have quirky characters in unusual settings, and you find yourself hoping everything works out for all of them. Looking forward to adding this to my library collection in September. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read it early.

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.