Flora & Ulysses

Flora & Ulysses

First edition
Author	Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator	K.G. Campbell
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Children's
Publisher	Candlewick Press
Publication date	2013
Pages	231 pp

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures is a children's novel by American author Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by K.G. Campbell, published in 2013 by Candlewick Press. It tells the story of Flora Belle Buckman and a squirrel named Ulysses.

The illustrations include full-page and small pencil drawings, together with comic-book panels describing the gang's adventures.

Plot[]

Flora Belle Buckman, a self-proclaimed cynic, spends her time reading comic books and struggling to understand her parents’ recent divorce. She is jolted into action when the neighbor runs over a squirrel with a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner is her mother's present for her father. The squirrel’s brush with death causes him to develop superpowers, allowing him to understand humans and become smarter. Flora then names the squirrel Ulysses after the vacuum cleaner accident. Flora explains to Ulysses that he must use his newfound powers to right wrongs, fight injustice, "or something." Ulysses decides to write on Flora's mother's typewriter, revealing he can write poetry.

When Flora confronts her mother about her desire to kill Ulysses, a shouting match erupts in which Flora comes to believe her mother does not love her. Flora, feeling hurt, declares that she will go home with her father. Ulysses writes a poem to explain Flora and her mother’s real emotions, but Flora’s mother kidnaps him before the poem can be read. Flora puts together a crack team to rescue Ulysses, who has already escaped, leaving Flora’s mother to read his poem. The cast reunites in the father’s apartment building where Flora’s cynical exterior is cracked for good as she realizes her mother truly loves her.

Awards[]

Flora & Ulysses won the Newbery Medal for 2014.^[1]

Reception[]

The Horn Book review described the book as "heartwarming" with plenty of humor and a "quirky supporting cast", and notes that the illustrations "accentuate the mood".^[2]

Film adaptation[]

On May 31, 2018, it was announced that Disney was developing a film adaptation of the novel for their streaming service, Disney+, with Brad Copeland writing the script.^[3] On June 13, 2019, it was reported that Alyson Hannigan and Ben Schwartz were cast as Flora's parents. The Blind Side and Life of Pi Oscar-nominated film producer Gil Netter is producing the project.^[4] On June 27, 2019, it was reported that Lena Khan will direct the film, and Matilda Lawler was cast in the titular role of Flora Buckman with Benjamin Evans Ainsworth and Danny Pudi also added to the cast as filming began in Vancouver.^[5] Filming wrapped on August 23, 2019. As of February 20, 2021, film is available for streaming through Disney+.^[6]

References[]