Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

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Bibliography

DiCamillo, Kate.  Illus. by K.G. Campbell.  Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures.  Somerville: Candlewick, 2013.  978-0-7636-6040-6

Summary

Comic-loving Flora is a self-declared cynic, but that doesn’t keep her from caring.  When her neighbor’s new vacuum accidentally sucks up a squirrel, Flora is there in flash to assist the poor creature.  This begins an unbelievable and amazing chain of events that will strengthen Flora’s family ties and intertwine her life with Ulysses, a poetry-writing Super Squirrel.

Analysis

Flora is a girl that the nerd in everyone will love.  The voice DiCamillo has created for her is strong and confident while she questions and works out the world around her.  The influence of her favorite comic book character gives her a unique way of seeing the world and quirky catch phrases, such as “Holy bagumba,” make Flora truly come to life.

All the characters in the book are overly dramatic and slightly odd, but these factors serve to make them more enjoyable and somehow more relatable.  In a story that teaches about love and believing in something, the character flaws of parents and neighbors serve as a lesson in understanding and compassion.  I also suspect that to young children of divorced parents, the absurdities I see as an adult may not seem quite as ridiculous. 

Every time Ulysses, the superhero squirrel, does something super, it is presented as a comic.  This adds to the story by further bringing Flora’s love of comics into the book.  It also brings Ulysses more to life.  The best part though, as a teacher, is that it bridges the gap between chapter books, picture books and comics.  With every passing year, more and more students are reluctant to read books that are predominantly made of words.  Flora and Ulysses helps these students to make the jump.

Awards and Reviews

*2014 Newbery Medal

*National Book Award Longlist

“When a neighbor accidentally vacuums a squirrel into a Ulysses 2000X vacuum cleaner, Flora resuscitates him into a “changed squirrel,” able to lift the 2000X with a single paw. Immediately assuming he’s a superhero, Flora names the squirrel “Ulysses” and believes together they will “[shed] light into the darkest corners of the universe.” Able to understand Flora, type, compose poetry and fly, the transformed Ulysses indeed exhibits superpowers, but he confronts his “arch-nemesis" when Flora’s mother tries to terminate him, triggering a chain of events where Ulysses becomes a real superhero. The very witty text and droll, comic-book–style black-and-white illustrations perfectly relay the all-too-hilarious adventures of Flora, Ulysses and a cast of eccentric characters who learn to believe in the impossible and have “capacious” hearts.

Original, touching and oh-so-funny tale starring an endearingly implausible superhero and a not-so-cynical girl.” –Kirkus

“Since Flora’s father and mother have split up, Flora has become a confirmed and defiant cynic. Yet it is hard to remain a cynic while one’s heart is opening to a squirrel who can type (“Squirtl. I am . . . born anew”), who can fly, and who adores Flora. Newbery winner DiCamillo is a master storyteller, and not just because she creates characters who dance off the pages and plots, whether epic or small, that never fail to engage and delight readers. Her biggest strength is exposing the truths that open and heal the human heart. She believes in possibilities and forgiveness and teaches her audience that the salt of life can be cut with the right measure of love. “ -Booklist

Connections

An interview with DiCamillo

Flora uses amazing vocabulary throughout the book.  Provide each student in class with an impressive word.  Students then will look up their word.  When they have an understanding of its meaning, they will create a one page comic to illustrate it.  Combine these comics into a Class Comic Dictionary.

The official book trailer

While they came to a reconciliation at the end of the book, throughout the book Flora and her mother were at odds over just about everything.  Choose one thing they disagreed about.  Write a letter from Flora to her mother (or vice versa) explaining the problem and providing a number of possible solutions.  Be sure to justify and explain Flora’s viewpoint and show kindness and respect.

Resources from the author

Flora shows great compassion for others throughout the book.  Research different local causes, such as animal shelters, soup kitchens or food banks.  Arrange to volunteer for the organization.  Can you turn your experience into a superhero comic?