“This Deckawoo Drive adventure is sure to inspire anyone taking his or her own tentative steps toward independence.” — Booklist (starred review)
Baby Lincoln’s older sister, Eugenia, is very fond of telling Baby what to do, and Baby usually responds by saying “Yes, Sister.” But one day Baby has had enough. She decides to depart on a Necessary Journey, even though she has never gone anywhere without Eugenia telling her what to take and where to go. Who might Baby meet as she strikes out on her own, and what could she discover about herself? Will her impulsive adventure take her away from Eugenia for good?This story is certain to resonate with anyone who has ever felt overpowered by authority. To her credit, DiCamillo explores the Lincolns’ complicated relationship without completely dumping on Eugenia. Yes, Eugenia is overbearing, but the sisters do love each other. Stella’s parallel struggles (as Frank’s younger sister) help to move the plot forward and demonstrate other acceptable ways of gaining agency. As always, Van Dusen’s signature artwork is pleasing to the eye and will help emerging readers make sense of the story’s nuances and quirkiness. This Deckawoo Drive adventure is sure to inspire anyone taking his or her own tentative steps toward independence. —Booklist (starred review)
One of the wonderful things about two-time Newbery winner Kate DiCamillo (Flora & Ulysses; The Tale of Despereaux) is that she sometimes makes grown-ups the heroes of her children's books...Chris Van Dusen's (Mercy Watson series) expressive illustrations add humor to this heartwarming story of both necessary journeys and the joys of coming back home. —Shelf Awareness for Readers (starred review)
DiCamillo's gentle picaresque is told with tender humor in brief descriptive sentences that totally avoid high drama and histrionics. The third-person narrationl3\