Kate DiCamillo always writes the most charming books imaginable, and this one is no different. I will admit that even though the cover is so cute, and the synopsis sounds interesting, I hesitated to read this book once I realized it involved a talking squirrel. I kind of thought I had left talking animals behind back when I was 13, but perhaps not, as I found this story to be all the more enjoyable because of it.

Flora is a cute little girl who spends lots of time reading comic books and being cynical. Ulysses is your usual annoying squirrel that inhabits your yard, and eats the acorns that fall from your tree. But one small mistake made by a neighbor changes all of that in an instant. And thus: the squirrel acquires a name and a friend, and Flora is taken on a grand adventure she never would have imagined in her wildest dreams.

This book is a wonderful story for young readers who are looking for a little more substance than the easier “readers” they may be used to. It might also interest parents who are looking for a little bit of magic in the everyday, or a break from their typical fiction tome.

Content Analysis:

Language/Profanity:  None

Violence/Gore: A squirrel is run over and partially sucked up by a vacuum; a man threatens to kill an animal by putting it in a garbage bag and hitting it over the head with a shovel.

Sex/Nudity:  None

Mature Subject Matter:

None

Alcohol / Drug Use:

A mother smokes frequently, though she is trying to give it up.