Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

The Three Rancheros Series by Kate DiCamillo continues with Beverly, Right Here. Could Kate DiCamillo add another award to her shelf?

What did you think of it?

I absolutely detested Louisiana's Way Home so I would need to be paid a large sum of money to read this book!

Here is my review for Beverly, Right Here. It was an absolute joy to read.

Beverly, Right Here is a work of art. I am in awe of its beauty, perfection and nuances. This is how a middle grade masterpiece is written. I loved Raymie Nightingale. The book was magical. I may love Beverly, Right Here just as much if not more. How I adore reading middle grade books written with actual middle grade children in mind. Too often children's literature is written to please adults. In content and maturity level. Today's kid's are bombarded with depressing news and images in various media formats. Author's should allow them to have some escapism through their stories.

Every character in Beverly, Right Here is well developed and interesting. I think children will really "get" Beverly and come to care for her deeply as well as Iola, Elmer and Nod (the cat). I also love that the color Lapis Lazuli is mentioned frequently in the book. A favorite color of mine! It is easy to tell when a book is so good. The writing feels easy and personal. Almost like it was written just for you. A characteristic only the best children's classic titles possess. Books written by E.B. White, Beverly Clearly and Paula Danziger come to mind. I highly recommend this very special book.

I liked Beverly’s story, I just felt the ending was rushed. I enjoyed Louisiana’s story the most out of the trio of books.

Does anyone know the author’s background? All her stories seem to have a protagonist let down by her parent/caretaker in some serious emotional way.

Shella wrote: "Does anyone know the author’s background? All her stories seem to have a protagonist let down by her parent/caretaker in some serious emotional way."

Great observation! Kate's dad abandoned his family when Kate was five. This parental loss permeates many of DiCamillo's works.

Thanks for asking that question. I had wondered about dicamillo’s background. What I have loved about this series of books is that though there are those who let you down, there are others out there that you can learn to rely on and build a network/family of sorts. Beverly finds her own people she can rely on - just as Ramie and Louisiana did - I like that glimmer of hope in the stories.

Becky wrote: "Thanks for asking that question. I had wondered about dicamillo’s background. What I have loved about this series of books is that though there are those who let you down, there are others out ther..."

The theme or lesson in many of Kate's novels is that love and caring make someone family. It is a great message for children who don't have the greatest family life. That hopefully they will find their "true" family one day.

http://richiespicks.pbworks.com/BEVER...

BEVERLY, RIGHT HERE by Kate DiCamillo is the third in a trilogy, but it still stands on its own.
14 year old Beverly leaves home after her dog dies. She finds a job, stays in a trailer park with an older woman and has a flirtation with a local boy.
The quality writing keeps readers moving through the story. The characters are strongly portrayed. The setting resonates with the sound of the ocean. But the storyline is thin and the ending anticlimactic. A good read but I am not convinced of its Newbery worthiness.

This is the third book I have read this year with a child driving a motor vehicle. (A bus in Coyote Sunrise and a purple Bentley in Carter Jones). Since I am familiar with children who attempted to drive before the were ready, I hope these fictional accounts don’t encourage that dangerous behavior.

Keep your eye out for this Sunday's NY Times review of it. I thought this was really well done and so thoughtful and really profound.

Reneereads wrote: "Keep your eye out for this Sunday's NY Times review of it. I thought this was really well done and so thoughtful and really profound."

It is a magnificent work. Do you know if this is the Times issue with the best illustrated books of 2019?

Kate wrote: "BEVERLY, RIGHT HERE by Kate DiCamillo is the third in a trilogy, but it still stands on its own.
14 year old Beverly leaves home after her dog dies. She finds a job, stays in a trailer park with a..."

Beverly was taught to drive by her uncle in the fourth grade. That was better than having her intoxicated mother behind the wheel.

I liked this book the best of the three- much more than the first. This one was more hopeful than Louisiana. I absolutely adored Elmer and Iola. Great chance to discuss inferences with this book. I would read another book featuring Beverly- I would not say that about Louisiana or Raymie.

I liked the first half of this book a lot, but the ending was a let-down. It felt like it was recycled from Winn-Dixie.

My favorite of the trilogy is Louisiana's Way Home, but all three have their flaws.

Phil - I think you make a good observation about the ending being a recycled

- it posted before I could finish- Winn Dixie ending.

I've read all three of the books in the trilogy. Love, love, loved all three! DiCamillo can do no wrong. Always poignant. Always profound. I'm not a speedy reader, but I devour her books. I would love to see Beverly, Right Here win her another a Newbery. Yes, the characters are flawed. Yes, there are conflicts in books. Yes, the characters grow and change. That's the beauty of fiction!

I finally finished Beverly, Right Here a few days ago, and I feel like that it is one of my favorites of Kate's books. Throughout reading it Beverly constantly reminded me of Gilly from The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson, because different elements in Beverly were a little similar, even though they are two completely different books overall.

I too finally finished "Beverly, Right Here". I felt compelled to see it through, because of its appearance on many Mock Newbery lists.

I read all 3 books in this series. I liked Raymie Nightingale the best: it moved slowly; I nearly did not finish it; but the interesting characters and their interactions kept me intrigued, and I loved the ending.

DiCamillo consistently gives voices to young characters exposing their often-overlooked, emotional complexity. She writes stories about the power of love and friendship that encourage an important and positive hopefulness about life in the face of adversity. Her characters mature in front of the readers’ eyes. Thus, I continually want to root for her work.

However, the characters in this story (and "Louisiana’s Way Home") start by making desperate decisions that feel rash and border melodramatic. Also, the stories move slowly and feel hopeless to start. Thus, it is challenging to convince the average middle grade reader, who is not the sentimental type, to stick with the story to the end where the meaning/lesson is revealed.. I understand though how adult reviewers and educators hail these books.

Although a good story, I think others stand out this year (“Other Words for Home”, “The Line Tender”)