Raymie Nightingale is written in the classic DiCamillo style, with a downtrodden and lonely lead character, with issues at home. The rural setting of the book, also a DiCamillo trademark, makes to the story more relatable to us. As always, the author does a tremendous job making us feel at home in rural Central Florida. The characters, an unlikely trio, have diverse backgrounds, which leads them down divergent paths, but yet towards the same goal, even if they don't realize it.
In addition to the main characters, the book is chock full of minor characters that help the main characters achieve their ultimate goal. These include a well-intending grandmother, who seems a little senile, a washed up twirling instructor, some crazy patients at a dysfunctional nursing home, and others that make the journey all the more interesting.
Raymie, who misses her runaway father dearly, wants to be Miss Central Florida Tire to bring him back. To do so, she must develop a talent. While attending batton-twirling classes, Raymie befriends two co-conspirators, Louisiana, a down on her luck orphan who lives with her grandmother, and Beverly, the street-smart daughter of a former beauty queen. The trio has their minds set on the Miss Central Florida Tire prize for different reasons. Louisiana dubs the girls “the Three Rancheros,” and with their every misadventure and escapade, the Rancheros pledge to rescue one another from their troubled lives.
I found the book to be highly entertaining and hard to put down. The riveting adventures through the Golden Glen Nursing Home, The Belknap Tower, and the Very Friendly Animal Shelter kept me wanting more. As always, DiCamillo's character development is extremely well done and makes the characters believable and wholesome. The rural setting allows readers to mindfully take the journey with the characters, rooting for them every step of the way. I love this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves realistic high jinx and cheering for the underdog! Now on to Louisana's Way Home.
