Kate DiCamillo is a household name in children’s literature; the author of such titles as Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Desperaux, Flora & Ulysses, and the Mercy Watson series, just to name a few. She’s also the winner of not one, but TWO Newbery Awards (2004 and 2014), a Newbery Honor (2001) award, a Theodor Geisel Award (2011), and a Theodor Geisel Honor (2007).
But beyond the shiny award stickers, what really draws readers to DiCamillo’s books are the truths contained within. No matter what the story, her words are genuine and honest, not pulling any emotional punches, and striking at the heart of her readers. Nowhere is this more apparent than in her newest novel, Raymie Nightingale. Raw, honest, nostalgic, inspiring, heartbreaking: DiCamillo’s newest novel is a triumph.
Recently, we had the chance to chat with Kate DiCamillo on her inspirations, her characters, and her own special talent.
Like Because of Winn-Dixie, this book takes place in your childhood home of Central Florida. And it feels perfect. What about this region continues to call you home?
I was in Central Florida (to visit my best friend) last year, and the grass, the sky, the lakes, the trees, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico—all of it is so evocative to me. It just makes me remember the magic and the beauty of being a kid. It’s a powerful place.
Why set the story in 1975 instead of a contemporary setting? As an adult reader, I loved the balance of nostalgia with the timelessness of the characters.
Well, I started telling Raymie’s story and I soon realized that so much of the story (the worry, the loss, the joys of friendship, the wonder, the hope) was about me as a kid. And I was a kid in 1975 . . . so I just found myself back there, in it with the whole of myself.
Let’s talk about Raymie, Louisiana, and Beverly for a moment—The Three Rancheros. Raymie has obviously been hurt, but her grit and her tenacity to tackle her problems head-on has us cheering for her, even while we want to hug her.
Oh, Raymie. Raymie is so much like me—she’s a worrier. But she’s also a doer. I want to hug that kid, too.
Then there’s Louisiana, who appears the most flighty of the girls, but has maybe a deeper understanding of life than she lets on.
Yes, yes! I think Louisiana is actually wise under those sparkly dresses and cryptic utterances.
And finally, Beverly. Tough exterior, but a big heart she tries really hard to hide. Do you see a little bit of yourself in each of these girls?
I love Beverly. I love that tender heart. I love that she’s not afraid. And yes, I see some of myself in each of the girls. Although, Beverly is tough in a way that I have always envied and never mastered.
I’m also hoping you had a Mrs. Borkowski in your life. Every child needs a Mrs. Borkowski.
I grew up on a dead-end street. On one side of the street, there were families with children and on the other side, there were three widows—Mrs. Lucas, Mrs. Lindemann and Mrs. Broadfield. Each of those ladies took the time to talk to me (to all of us kids). It was wonderful.
Switching gears a little bit… all three girls—Raymie, Louisiana, and Beverly—are dealing with some tough issues. Why is it so important for children to read about these kinds of life events in books?
I read this question and I immediately thought about my best friend who obsessively reread Charlotte’s Web when she was a kid. She always cried at the end. And then she started over again. I asked her a few years ago what she got from the book, why she kept rereading it, did she think things were going to turn out differently? And she said something like: I felt like someone was telling me the truth. And the story made me feel like I could bear the truth.
So hopefully, Raymie tells the truth. And makes the truth bearable. Does that make sense?
One of the themes running through your novels is how family is made up of people bound together by life, by experience, and by the need for each other. Not just by blood. I love this.
Yes, and it’s a hopeful thing. You can make a family.
Last but not least, the most important question: If you were to enter the Little Miss Central Florida Tire contest, what would your talent be?
Oh boy. I have no talents. But I do have hope. And wonder. And love.
Maybe those are talents?
Thank you so much! We’re delighted for the readers—both children and adult—who will soon get to meet The Three Rancheros.
Raymie Nightingale is on shelves April 12.