Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo*

I do not know why it took me so long to read this book!  It was delightful.  Although the characters are experiencing heart-wrenching situations, hope keeps pushing through as the story unfolds. 

Raymie Clarke's father leaves her and her mother with the dental hygienist.  Raymie knows if she wins the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition he will see her photo in the paper and want to return to them.  She signs up for baton twirling lessons to learn a talent for the competition.  At these lessons, she meets Louisiana Elefante whose parents have drowned and Beverly Tapinski whose father is a police officer, but lives in NYC.   As these girls deal with their sadness, their friendship deepens.
This review does not capture how beautiful the story is and how Ms. DiCamillo chooses just the right words to make the story come alive.  I just love her descriptions and word choices.  The reader will even love and come to know minor characters well.  Ms. DiCamillo is amazing. 

*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Points to discuss: fathers who left their families, smoking, shoplifting, lying, a minor character dies, the concept of a "soul"