Mod. 5 Contemporary Realistic Fiction Review: Louisiana's Way Home

For students:

If you have read Because of Winn Dixie, or Raymie Nightingale you may be familiar with realistic fiction author Kate DiCamillo.  Her new book, Louisiana's Way Home, is one you will start reading and not want to put down until the end!

Louisiana is the quirky main character from Florida who narrates the story.  Her grandmother, an even quirkier lady, first uproots Louisiana from the home she has known for two years, and then abandons her in Georgia because of a long-held family curse.  After being deserted, Louisiana learns an life altering secret about herself and that her family background was not as she previously thought.  Louisiana is upset, but makes the most of her situation, and relies on the kindness of those around her to persevere in her situation as she makes sense of the new information she has learned.  You will empathize with her as she struggles with needing to be wanted and cared for.  Read Louisiana's Way Home today!


For teachers:

A great read to cover themes of a young girl's survival, family, love, wanting to belong and have a home, and forgiving.  Narrated by Louisiana, a lovable, unique, character, the ending is a happy conclusion to her tumultuous life. Target age is 10+, but enjoyable for both students and adults.  This book would benefit from culturally diverse characters, but the characters themselves are so distinctive (Granny, who gets all her teeth pulled, Bernice who perpetually keeps her hair in rollers, and Burke, a boy with a pet crow named Clarence to name a few) that cultural background is not a necessary value added feature to be included.  Louisiana's Way Home is rich with vocabulary and symbolism.  Titlewave.com includes a discussion and teacher's guide for the novel.

ISBN: 9780763694630

Reference:

DiCamillo, K. (2018). Louisiana's way home. Candlewick Press.