About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is feeling guarded, slightly cynical, or struggling with the fallout of a family change like divorce. It speaks directly to the kid who uses sarcasm or intellect as a shield against big emotions. The story follows ten-year-old Flora, a self-proclaimed cynic, and Ulysses, a squirrel who gains superpowers after a vacuum cleaner accident. While the premise is hilarious and absurdist, the heart of the book explores Flora's loneliness and her evolving relationship with her parents. It is a masterful choice for normalizing the feeling of being an outsider while gently showing how opening one's heart is a brave, necessary act of heroism. The mix of traditional text and comic book panels makes it approachable for various reading levels within the 8 to 12 age range.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
CONVERSATION: Flora's mother is often depicted as distracted by her own career and a Shepherdess lamp, which Flora interprets as her mother loving an object more than her daughter. This may prompt questions about how parents show love and the pain of feeling second-best in a parent's life. Also, be prepared for a scene where the mother asks the father to kill the squirrel with a shovel, which is played for dark humor but could be upsetting to sensitive animal lovers.
Ideal Reader
A thoughtful 9-year-old who loves superheroes and appreciates stories about finding connection in unexpected places.
Parent Prep
The book is safe to read cold, but parents should be aware of the 'Illuminated' format: some chapters are told entirely through comic strips, which may require help with tracking dialogue for younger readers. Parents may find it difficult to read about Flora’s perception that her mother prefers an inanimate object over her.
Age Experience
Younger readers (8-9) will focus on the slapstick humor and the cool factor of a flying squirrel. Older readers (11-12) will better grasp the poignant metaphors and the sophisticated vocabulary.
What Makes It Special
The hybrid format of prose and graphic novel elements, combined with DiCamillo's signature ability to treat a child's inner life with immense dignity and vocabulary-rich prose.
Read plot summary
Flora Belle Buckman rescues a squirrel, Ulysses, from a runaway vacuum cleaner. Ulysses emerges with the ability to fly, incredible strength, and a penchant for typing deep poetry. Flora, obsessed with a comic book guide to 'terrible things,' believes she must protect him from her mother, who views the squirrel as a nuisance. Their journey involves a cast of quirky neighbors and a quest for belonging.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Flora calls herself a 'cynic' to protect her feelings. Why do you think she does this, and does Ulysses change her mind?
2
Flora's mother seems very attached to her Shepherdess lamp. Why does this upset Flora so much?
3
Ulysses writes poetry to express himself. If you suddenly gained a superpower that helped you say what you're thinking, what would it be?
4
Why does Flora's father seem to understand her better than her mother does during their adventures?
5
What makes someone a 'superhero' in this book? Is it just the flying, or is it something else?
