From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026…

Raymie Nightingale

Kate DiCamillo

Start date: May 1, 2016

Finish date: May 31, 2016

Discussion: Book of the Month - 2017

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Book of the Month - 2017

March Read- Pax
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What Members Thought

Dec 30, 2016 Chris rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grades-or-beginning-reader

4.5 This is a really hard book to rate. There were many hugely depressing parts to the story, which I personally look down upon if it's a book for kids and there's an overwhelming amount of sadness. However, there was humor and humanity and some really beautiful language, including high level vocabulary. I loved listening to this, because the reader was just wonderful. Talk about a quotation mark voice! This book was plump full of voice, and the reader accentuated that. ...more

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Nov 02, 2017 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grade, 2017

A sweet book; I didn't quite know where it was going, but I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. At times I felt like this was a series of vignettes instead a comprehensive narrative, but DiCamillo pulls it together at the conclusion. No, this will not be all rainbows and sunshine -- but there were a lot of funny, touching moments that speak to growing up. I particularly liked the plotline about the janitor and his love for Chopin. ...more

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May 08, 2016 The Reading Countess rated it it was amazing

Shelves: middle-grade, historical-fiction

Reminiscent of BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE, DiCamillo has once again led us to a Florida town full of quirky, yet lovable, characters. Raymie and her two friends spend the summer initially learning how to twirl for a contest that holds a separate promise for each girl. In the end, they each discover a bond that will unite them and uncover their own life's truth in a way only DiCamillo can reveal.
Highly recommended ...more

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Apr 29, 2016 Carol Royce Owen rated it it was amazing

So, to be honest, when Kate DiCamillo comes out with a new book I do not go running to the bookstore to get it, nor do I have it on pre-order for months in advance. My affection for her books have been up and down. I was never a huge fan of Because of Winn Dixie (gasp - I know, I'm in a minority and will probably get hate mail for that comment), but loved The Tale of Despereaux and even Tiger Rising was ok. Then, once again, I was disappointed with The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (just f So, to be honest, when Kate DiCamillo comes out with a new book I do not go running to the bookstore to get it, nor do I have it on pre-order for months in advance. My affection for her books have been up and down. I was never a huge fan of Because of Winn Dixie (gasp - I know, I'm in a minority and will probably get hate mail for that comment), but loved The Tale of Despereaux and even Tiger Rising was ok. Then, once again, I was disappointed with The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (just found him too unlikable for too long before he turned nice), was intrigued by The Magician's Apprentice, and really disliked Flora and Ulysses (don't get me started).

So, when I heard about Raymie Nightingale, I held out for a while. I'd read a glowing recommendation from a friend, nope...not going to bite. Terri Lesesne talks about it on her FB page...well, maybe I'll put it on my wish list on Amazon....John Schu gives it 5 stars on FB....a friend from Maine can't say enough about it....Donalyn Miller gives it 5 stars...okay, I break down. Vacation was coming, and I needed some fresh books anyway (never mind the mountain I already had at home). It comes off of my wish list and into my cart and makes it here the day before vacation. But still, I held out. After all, there were a few other gems in that order. Then one night, I dubiously opened it, and before long, I was back to the top of the roller coaster.

The story is about friendships. Three girls - Raymie Clark, Louisiana Elefante and Beverly Tapinski, all entering a beauty pageant, but for very different reasons. For Raymie, it is so that her dad will see her picture in the newspaper and come home. Louisiana wants the prize money so she can get her cat back from the shelter where her grandmother brought it when they could no longer afford to feed it. As for Beverly, she has one thing in mind...to sabotage the pageant. Somehow, these three girls become great friends as they enter into adventures to rescue books, rescue the cat, and rescue each other. ...more

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Apr 24, 2016 Deb rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grade

I struggled with rating this book as I REALLY liked it. I will think about the characters in this book for days after reading this. But, I am not certain that the audience this book is intended for (age 10-14) will fall hard and fast for this book. It is slower paced at first...those young readers that are plot driven kids, ready to be sucked into a book within the first few pages may drop this book long before they get to the action. So my rating is as an adult reader who enjoyed the book (4 st I struggled with rating this book as I REALLY liked it. I will think about the characters in this book for days after reading this. But, I am not certain that the audience this book is intended for (age 10-14) will fall hard and fast for this book. It is slower paced at first...those young readers that are plot driven kids, ready to be sucked into a book within the first few pages may drop this book long before they get to the action. So my rating is as an adult reader who enjoyed the book (4 star)...as a book written for it's intended audience it would get a 2 star from me.

The year is 1975 and Raymie's father has left down with the dental hygienist. Raymie has decided that if she enters (and wins) the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition this will get the attention of her father and hopefully bring him back home. She plans to compete in the baton twirling portion of the competition and attends lessons with Ida Nee to work on her new skill. While at baton class, Raymie meets Louisiana (who has fainting tendencies) and the tough, brave Beverly. Each of these 3 girls is dealing with their own hardships & struggles…really tough and real struggles. The three form a somewhat reluctant friendship trio (Louisiana names them The Three Rancheros). They embark on a series of adventures, from retrieving Raymie's library book from the local nursing home to trying to get Louisiana's cat from the pound.

This is a story of friends helping one another through crazy and tough stuff that life throws their way. Each young girl in this book has a heavy life issue that she is dealing with...Raymie's mother is depressed, her neighbor dies, and remember, her father has left the family with another woman. Louisiana's parents have drown and she is living with her grandma, social workers want to take her to a group home as her grandmother is struggling financially. Beverly's parents are divorced, her father lives in New York, and her mother occasionally beats her. Heavy stuff, right? But I must say, it is done well. Heavy issues, true, but there is also humor and a lightness to some of their adventures. Plus, I am a sucker for a book on loyal friendships. :)

...more

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Dec 14, 2016 Sandy rated it liked it

Shelves: juvenile-fiction, friendship, historical-fiction, family-issues

I wanted to like this book more than I did.

To be fair, the book does some things wonderfully. It's Kate DiCamillo, so the prose is just beautiful. And I loved the three main characters, especially sweet, naive Louisiana.

But for all of that...I just could not quite figure out what this book was supposed to be about. It was a lovely journey, but as Raymie and the other girls drifted in and out of different plot lines I really had trouble seeing how they all fit together. I spent the entire time I ...more

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Aug 29, 2017 Deanna Day rated it liked it

Historical fiction, 1970's, friendship, family.

It was hard to get into this book at first and I didn't understand how it was a National Board Book contender.....then slowly at around page 100 I began to enjoy the friendship between the three girls. I made many connections to baton twirling, summer vacation, desiring approval from a Dad, and more. ...more

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May 22, 2016 Donna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: tweens, children

Three unique and wonderfully realized characters connect through their individual efforts to win a local talent show. Kate DiCamillo has seemingly endless capacity to envision a small community filled with happenings and people of interest. Its her super power and I eagerly await her every creation.

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Oct 31, 2016 Lorelie rated it really liked it

Shelves: children-s-lit

Loved this one. Loved watching Raymie find friendship.

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Nov 17, 2016 Kirsten rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, middle-readers

Kate DiCamillo does it again. A tender, tough, happy, sad, funny and very serious novel. Beautifully simple and complex writing. I wonder how middle schoolers and older elementary school kids will respond to the underlying loneliness and the important friendship that envelopes Raymie, Beverly and Louisiana Elefante. I loved the miracle. Read this book. It's a paradox. Or not. Let me know what you think or keep it to yourself, if you want to. Either one works. ...more

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Feb 01, 2020 Emily Rozmus rated it really liked it

How does Kate Dicamillo do it? This is a simple little book and I kept thinking I had all these details sorted out and the characters in place. I thought, “ oh Kate DiCamillo is becoming formulaic and I’m not falling for it.” But the last 15 or pages of the book, I felt my heart constrict and then grow and I was like,”Wow. How does she do it?” I’ll keep reading her and figuring it out. But I won’t take her for granted. She k it’s what she’s doing!

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