Juvenile Book Review: “Raymie Nightingale” by Kate DiCamillo

Nightingale is not Raymie’s real last name, but it describes her well. Like Florence Nightingale, Raymie knows how to shed light and rescue the needy. She and two other girls meet at the home of a baton winner in order to learn how to twirl. Somehow, Raymie convinces herself that if she becomes a champion baton twirler, her father — who has run off with a dental hygienist — will see her name in the paper and return to her.

Her two new acquaintances also have reasons to learn to twirl a baton; Louisiana needs the prize money and Beverly likes the excitement of making things go amok. The three very different characters make accommodations for each other’s idiosyncrasies, and instead of getting annoyed, they each decide to cooperate.

Together they rescue a cat, return a library book, and save each other from disaster. DiCamillo allows her characters to brood, soar, be scared and feel their souls leap from inside their bodies. The girls lean on their individual strengths and cement themselves into a formidable force for good. Even though Raymie cannot make her father return, she is compensated by the rich friendships she has made with girls, like herself, who have also survived loss.

Candlewick Press (2016). Reviewed by Lillian Hecker, Children’s Services Librarian. For Ages10 and older.