FLORA & ULYSSES:THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES

Bibliography

DiCamillo, Kate. 2013. Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. Ill. By K.G. Campbell. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763660406

 Plot Summary

Ten-year-old Flora Belle Buckman is a natural born cynic and feels alone after parents get divorced.  She saves a squirrel named Ulysses from a vacuum, by trying to give it CPR.  A miracle occurred, the Ulysses not only revives, it becomes a superhero.  After reading to Ulysses, Flora realizes he has a great love for words, and takes him under her wing to help reveal his super powers. Ulysses discovers it can save people from an aggressive cat and has a great desire to find food. 

Critical Analysis

This comic book features black and white illustrations that appeal to readers in grades 4 and up. Theme of this story is that of loneliness, love, forgiveness and friendship.  The author makes Flora, the main character, relatable.  She is not feeling hopeful, and is being neglected by her writer recently divorced mother named Phyllis.  The setting is apparent and makes the reader visualize it's in an everyday home life with the first of many incredible occurrences, “It sounded as if a jet plane had landed in the Tickhams’ backyard.  Flora’s neighbor is all over the yard with an out-of- control vacuum, “this malfeasance must be stopped,” said Flora in a deep and superheroic voice.  “Poof. Fwump.”  “Holy Bagumba”, this style of writing keeps the reader laughing out loud and interested.  

The story includes Ulysses, a squirrel, who becomes Flora’s right hand companion and who helps her find hope.  There’s her father, Mr. Buckman, who is shown to be a great father; funny, quiet, sad, and who loves his daughter.   The story shows how flora protects Ulysses, from villains and how she feels that her mother is the enemy.  The theme "Good vs Evil" is evident here when her mother tries to convince others to kill Ulysses, but ends up that she kidnaps him to do it herself.  It is filled with adorable and amusing poetry and entertaining adventures. In the end, readers from every culture identify with Flora's character when she realizes that her mother does love her and not the shepherdess lamp.  The real-life events in the story make you believe in something bigger than yourself.   

Review Excerpts

• 2014 John Newbery Medal Award Winner 

• “Kate DiCamillo is a master storyteller.” —Booklist (starred review) 

• “Original, touching, and oh-so-funny.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) 

• “Amusing glimpses at the world.” —School Library Journal (starred review) 

• “There’s real emotion at the heart of this story.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Connections

Librarian JoAnn Jonas has great discussion questions on this website: http://www.floraandulysses.com/media/fu_discussionguide.pdf

Book Rags.com offers a study guide, chapter summaries, quotes,  quiz and more to sharpen your knowledge of Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. 

Read other books by Kate DiCamillo:

 

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread ISBN 0763680893

The Magician's Elephant ASIN: B019L4NMAK