Sunday, October 27, 2013

ARE YOU LISTENING? FLORA & ULYSSES: A KATE DiCAMILLO AUDIO BOOK REVIEW

WELCOME TO BOOKIN' WITH BINGO'S" 
ARE YOU LISTENING? DAY"
I AM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE TODAY'S
AUDIO BOOK CHOICE....

 FLORA & ULYSSES
The Illuminated Adventures
BY KATE DiCAMILLO
Read by Tara Sands
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Holy unanticipated occurrences! A cynic meets an unlikely superhero in a genre-breaking new novel by master storyteller Kate DiCamillo.

It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry — and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kate DiCamillo comes a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters.

PRAISE FOR FLORA & ULYSSES AND KATE DiCAMILLO:
Newbery-winner DiCamillo is a master storyteller not just because she creates characters who dance off the pages and plots, whether epic or small, that never fail to engage and delight readers. Her biggest strength is exposing the truths that open and heal the human heart. She believes in possibilities and forgiveness and teaches her audience that the salt of life can be cut with the right measure of love.—Booklist (starred review)

Original, touching and oh-so-funny tale starring an endearingly implausible superhero and a not-so-cynical girl.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Despite supremely quirky characters and dialogue worthy of an SAT prep class, there’s real emotion at the heart of this story involving two kids who have been failed by the most important people in their lives: their parents.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Rife with marvelously rich vocabulary reminiscent of the early superhero era (e.g., "Holy unanticipated occurrences!") and amusing glimpses at the world from the point of view of Ulysses the supersquirrel, this book will appeal to a broad audience of sophisticated readers. There are plenty of action sequences, but the novel primarily dwells in the realm of sensitive, hopeful, and quietly philosophical literature.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Eccentric characters, snappy prose and the fantastical plot give this delightful novel a giddy, over-the-top patina, but the core is big and hopeful, contemplative and bursting with heart. No small feat, even for a superhero like DiCamillo.
—Shelf Awareness

In "Flora and Ulysses," longtime fans will find a happy marriage of Mercy Watson's warmth and wackiness and Edward Tulane's gentle life lessons. In Flora, they will find a girl worth knowing, and one they will remember.
—The New York Times Book Review

Full of Ms. DiCamillo's dry, literate wit and bursting every so often into action-packed comic-strip sequences illustrated by K.G. Campbell... [a] funny, eccentric novel.
—The Wall Street Journal

[L]augh-out-loud funny, tender, difficult and hopeful all at once. ... Cynics beware, this book is meant for those open to joy, wonder, loyalty and friendship of all stripes.
—The Huffington Post

Kate DiCamillo's newest book ... is that rarest of all treasures, a truly inventive and appealing children's middle-grade novel.
—The Boston Globe

[A] fast-paced, funny tale. ... Like all of DiCamillo's books, Flora & Ulysses is filled with adventure, but also plenty of humor and soul. ... DiCamillo has seamlessly blended comic-book elements and a zany cast of characters into a thoroughly original, heartwarming tale.
—BookPage 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kate DiCamillo is the author of THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX, which received the Newbery Medal; BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, which received a Newbery Honor; and THE TIGER RISING, which was named a National Book Award Finalist. 

She says, "Mercy Watson had been in my head for a long time, but I couldn't figure out how to tell her story. One day, my friend Alison was going on and on and on about the many virtues of toast. As I listened to her, I could see Mercy nodding in emphatic agreement. Sometimes you don't truly understand a character until you know what she loves above all else."

I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, raised in Clermont, Florida, and currently live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I write for both children and adults and I like to think of myself as a storyteller.

Here are a few more facts about me: I am short. And loud. I hate to cook and love to eat. I am single and childless, but I have lots of friends and I am an aunt to three lovely children (Luke, Roxanne, and Max) and one not so lovely dog (Henry).

I think of myself as an enormously lucky person: I get to tell stories for a living. 

SOME OTHER BOOKS BY KATE DiCAMILLO:
 
 
MY THOUGHTS ON AUTHOR KATE DiCAMILLO AND FLORA & ULYSSES:
Kate DiCamillo is one of my favorite authors as a former reading teacher. If you haven't read THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TOULANE, you MUST! It is one of my top 5 favorite all time books! In FLORA & ULYSSES she doesn't disappoint. This is a wonderful tale that you will want to listen to over and over again. 
A "WISE OWL" SPECIAL GIVEAWAY
(In this case, meaning one that was scheduled before my break from blogging)

9 comments:

debbie said...

I have to say, a squirrel with superpowers is my worst nightmare. I have been at war with them, ever since they dug up 290 of the 300 daffodil bulbs I planted. Plus, there was the time one threw an apple and hit me in the head with it. Anyway, I would like to see how this squirrel helps the girl.

Carol N Wong said...

So sorry for your garden, Debbie! I love to watch squirrels but I think that they should have super powers in books only. I hzd a black dog when I was growing up . Two squirrel ganged up on him. They threw acorns at him. Whenever I heard him squealing I knew that he was under the trees again!

Sue Farrell said...

My beagles are thwarted daily by the squirrels in our yard---I had to think what a squirrel with super powers would do to them. I'm sure it would be worth watching. This sounds like a really cute book.

Unknown said...

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Margie said...

A squirrel super-hero sounds so funny! Our squirrels dig up the plants in our pots, then fill the pots with acorns and throw the plants on the ground.

traveler said...

A captivating and special book that is so unique and wonderful. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

Squirrels did a lot of damage to a house of ours. I find them to be annoying rodents. I find this interesting. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Bingo said...

It certainly is a cute one. I adore this author and hope you will all read some of her books sometime.

Becky said...

I love Kate deCamillo books especially Because of Winn Dixie. Thank you for highlighting this one! Definitely one that I want to read.

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