Flu Review - Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

Posted on Apr 18, 2022 by Anna Jackson  | Comments (0)

If you are in the market for a heart-felt middle grade novel, look no further than “Flora and Ulysses” by Kate DiCamillo. From the author that brought you “Because of Winn-Dixie” and “The Tale of Despereaux” comes another fantastic novel that is perfect for a school classroom, a family read-aloud, or even just to hand to a pre-teen (or adult)!

Flora is an eleven year old, self described cynic who witnesses an amazing event one morning. A squirrel accidentally gets sucked up by a vacuum cleaner and gains superpowers! Thus ensues an adventure of epic proportions as Flora attempts to keep the squirrel (dubbed Ulysses - after the vacuum cleaner) despite her mother’s protests. Along the way, she meets several new friends and learns some poignant lessons about life.

Overall, I would highly recommend this title! With a fun and diverse cast of characters (including a lamp shaped like a shepherdess), “Flora and Ulysses” is an exciting ride that also knows how to sucker punch you with emotions. Hand this one to middle grade readers who enjoy poignant stories, poetry, or superheroes!