Revisiting once again the world of Raymie Nightingale, two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo turns her focus to the tough-talking, inescapably tenderhearted Beverly.

Beverly put her foot down on the gas. They went faster still.
This was what Beverly wanted — what she always wanted. To get away. To get away as fast as she could. To stay away.

Beverly Tapinski has run away from home plenty of times, but that was when she was just a kid. By now, she figures, it’s not running away. It’s leaving. Determined to make it on her own, Beverly finds a job and a place to live and tries to forget about her dog, Buddy, now buried underneath the orange trees back home; her friend Raymie, whom she left without a word; and her mom, Rhonda, who has never cared about anyone but herself. Beverly doesn’t want to depend on anyone, and she definitely doesn’t want anyone to depend on her. But despite her best efforts, she can’t help forming connections with the people around her — and gradually, she learns to see herself through their eyes. In a touching, funny, and fearless conclusion to her sequence of novels about the beloved Three Rancheros, #1 New York Times best-selling author Kate DiCamillo tells the story of a character who will break your heart and put it back together again.

Out September 2019

256 pages approx.

MY THOUGHTS:

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Geared for ages 10 and up, this book is the conclusion to a popular series written by the two-time Newbery Medalist, Date DiCamillo.

My only pet peeve, I really don’t like the cover of my ARC.

Kate DiCamillo is brilliant. She is able to take stories written for middle-grade aged kids and make them relatable. Her writing reminds me of the style used in creating the relationship between the two MCs in the movie “Gold Diggers…” I suppose this dates me, but Beverly reminds me of Jody.

Although I’ve not read the series in order, I felt that each book could be read as a standalone. If you like stories about relationships/friendships and want to be taken on adventures about self-discovery and redemption, then this book is for you. There are real-life issues dealt with in this book, such as running away, alcoholism, and abuse/neglect.

Her  meeting up with eccentric characters all very well fleshed out and full of flaws, funny antics and crazy notions. With their help, Beverly meets her goals and becomes whole again. What a great read!

I gave it: