“Flora & Ulysses” by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by K.G. Campbell.
Candlewick Press, Somerville, Mass., 2013, 233 pages, Grades 4-6.
Growing up has never been easy, and it continues to be difficult today. Many issues account for this.
First, the constant change in society can leave people unsettled. Second, economic issues cause stress in many lives. And finally, the multiple issues involved with divorce have caused great trauma in children’s lives. How do children address these problems? What damage has been done to their sense of security? How do they continue to make positive choices in these situations?
The answers are sometimes found in painful and difficult decisions. Kate DiCamillo has written a poignant novel addressing these sensitive subjects in her 2014 Newbery Award winning book, “Flora & Ulysses.”
Flora Buckman is a complicated girl. She sees beyond the usual understanding of the world and has a magnanimous heart. Her mother is a self-absorbed romance writer with little time for anyone other than herself. This has led to her divorce from her kind-hearted, accountant husband. Flora tries to make sense of her new situation by reading escapist cartoons about superheroes. These superheroes are often disguised as humble people but can turn into powerful personas to rescue the downtrodden.
While sitting alone in her room, Flora hears the peculiar family vacuum cleaner roaring across the floor and devouring some small animal. When Flora goes downstairs, she pulls a squirrel out of the vacuum cleaner. He is truly the oddest-looking squirrel she has ever seen, since half of his hair has been sheared by the vacuum cleaner. The squirrel, whom she names Ulysses, reminds Flora of the superheroes she is constantly reading about in comic books.
In short order, Flora learns that Ulysses can do magical things just like the superheroes. The first episode of this is when he flies. But Flora’s mother hates the squirrel and is determined to kill it.
Flora’s dad drives by and picks her up for the weekend and is also given a shovel and a sack, and orders to kill the squirrel. When they go back to his apartment, Flora’s timid father is attacked by a house cat named Mr. Klaus. On seeing the attack, Ulysses turns into a superhero and picks up the cat and hurls him down the hall. Flora is amazed. Does this mean that a person showing courage and determination can change their situation? Could caring for others improve people’s lives?
Mr. Buckman’s neighbor, Dr. Meescham, begins telling Flora about the importance of loving and accepting others. Dr. Meescham shows Flora how the love her husband gave her made her heart come alive. This is what is really important in life. As all these thoughts are spinning through the young girl’s mind, her father takes her back home.
On again seeing the squirrel, Mrs. Buckman goes into a robotic trance and begins chain smoking. That night she kidnaps the squirrel and heads out to the woods with a shovel. Flora wakes up and follows, trying to save Ulysses. As Mrs. Buckman gets ready to strike Ulysses, he transforms himself into an unconquerable superhero.
What happens? What can superheroes teach children about loving themselves? What does Flora’s mother finally figure out about loving her child? Why is courage able to conquer fear and doubt? To find out the answers to these questions, go to the library and check out this fine novel.
This book uses some surreal imagery that may put off some children. I can only tell them to keep reading, as the plot thickens and the climax is beautiful. The imagery begins to be covered by reality in the last quarter of the book and then everything makes sense.
Kate DiCamillo writes with great sensitivity and gently touches and helps heal the hurts in children’s hearts. So don’t give up on this book if the first 50 pages don’t make a great deal of sense. When you get to the conclusion, it will all make sense. This is a lovely book. Enjoy!
