{"id":30859,"date":"2018-04-27T20:33:49","date_gmt":"2018-04-28T00:33:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=30859"},"modified":"2018-04-27T20:33:49","modified_gmt":"2018-04-28T00:33:49","slug":"review-of-raymie-nightingale-by-kate-dicamillo-read-by-jenna-lamia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=30859","title":{"rendered":"Review of Raymie Nightingale, by Kate DiCamillo, read by Jenna Lamia"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Raymie Nightingale<\/em><\/p>\n

by Kate DiCamillo
\nread by Jenna Lamia<\/p>\n

Listening Library, 2016. 4 \u00bd hours on 4 compact discs.
\nStarred Review
\n(Review written in 2016.)<\/p>\n

I already loved Kate DiCamillo\u2019s Raymie Nightingale<\/a><\/em>. Now, having heard Raymie\u2019s voice, and the voices of the others of the Three Rancheros, I love Raymie and her friends even more.<\/p>\n

I already talked about the plot in my review of the print version. Now let me talk about the new things that struck me when I got to listen to the story.<\/p>\n

The narrator of this book is wonderful, giving each of the girls a distinctive voice, and giving all voices a slight southern accent. Being a northerner myself, even though the book is set in Florida, I didn\u2019t hear southern accents when I read it in my head. The accents definitely added to the charm.<\/p>\n

Also, after listening, the characters and events are much more memorable. Maybe I read more quickly when it was in my mind. Now I feel more as if I\u2019ve experienced the events of the book. And I now feel like I\u2019ve met the characters, spent some time with them.<\/p>\n

Again, the narrator\u2019s characterizations of the girls are spot on. Raymie\u2019s voice is tentative, figuring out the world. I just wanted to hug her and help her through. Louisiana is na\u00efve and hopeful. Beverly Tapinski gives her tough-girl front. She\u2019s not afraid of anything.<\/p>\n

The story is a crazy yarn of good intentions that spin out of control. These girls can\u2019t even attend a simple baton-twirling lesson without something going wrong. But we hear the girls tackle setbacks together. Even tough-girl Beverly can\u2019t resist the sweet, innocent, and hungry Louisiana. And we understand how Raymie is pulled along.<\/p>\n

This would make good family listening. I don\u2019t remember them saying how old the girls are, but I would say upper elementary school age. There aren\u2019t any boys in the story, but the antics are so amusing, I don\u2019t think anyone in the family will get bored.<\/p>\n

This beautiful story only gets better with re-listening. Kate DiCamillo just keeps winning Newbery Medals \u2013 and this new story is as great a book as any of them.<\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/raymie_nightingale_audio.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library audiobook from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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