It is 1979. Beverly Tapinski leaves her home and a
mother who cares only for herself. At fourteen, she is determined to venture
off into the unknown and see what is out there.
She is grief-stricken after burying her dog Buddy under the orange trees
in their yard; the dog she shared with her best friends Raymie and Louisianna.
She stops in a town and immediately finds a job in
a smelly fish take-away shop. The elderly Lola, who lives in a mobile home that
is no longer mobile, offers her a place to live until she wants to leave. These
are two people in need – old and young – that come together and benefit by each
others’ presence and existence.
For the first time in her life, Beverly is cared
for.
With thoughtfulness and love, Lola shows Beverly what she has been looking
for all her life.
Beverly makes friends with the strangest people and
finds her perception of life changing as she evolves as a person. Everything
that was ugly in her life becomes beautiful as she is shown how to see herself
through others’ eyes.
All Kate Di Camillo’s books carry strong messages
and are totally trimmed of fat. She is an observer of life, its surroundings and
realities. Every sentence provokes thought.
Using tools of brevity, style and precision and perfect
minimalistic prose, she leaves the reader changed.
This book is woven of many themes. Age and how it
marginalises is a main thread, along with what defines family. Emotions and
friendships and how constant change takes place in people’s lives, is beautifully
portrayed by images created with words and the supreme way Di Camillo uses
them.
Another scintillating offering to fans old and new,
and not to be missed!
Title: Beverly, Right Here
Author: Kate Di Camillo
Publisher: Walker Books , $ 19.99
Publication Date: September 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781406391633
For ages: 9+
Type: Junior Fiction
