This week, the Smart Cookie Book Club is reading Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, a Newbury Award-winning, children's graphic novel by Kate DiCamillo. It's a story about superheroes, parental love, friendship, loneliness, and feeling accepted just the way you are. Check out Unicorn Charity Club's simple discussion guide below to help explore the book's content and themes with your unicorn.
What Happened in the Story?
After reading the book, have a chat with your unicorn about the following questions to discuss the main ideas and events in the story.
- Superheroes are born of tragic accidents that have unexpected consequences. What happened to Ulysses that made him into a superhero?
- What are Ulysses' superpowers?
- What does Ulysses love about Flora? What does Flora love about Ulysses?
- What is a cynic? Why do you think Flora likes to think of herself as a cynic? Do you think she's really a cynic? Why or why not?
- Why does Flora hate Mary Ann, the little shepherdess lamp?
- How is Flora’s relationship with her mother? With her father?
- What does Flora's mom say to her when she announces that she wants to move in with her father? How does Flora feel when she hears her mom say those words? How would you feel?
- William Spiver always complains of his “temporary blindness,” but is he really blind? Why do you think he says that he's blind?
- What do Flora and William Spiver have in common? Are Flora and William Spiver right about their mothers?
- How does Ulysses save the day?
Quotes that Matter
There were so many amazing quotes in this book. Here are a few fan favorites. Ask your unicorn to read each quote and then discuss who said it and what the meaning is.
- "The universe was expanding." William Spiver
- “I promise to always turn back toward you.” Dr. Meescham
- "Cynics are people who are afraid to believe." Dr. Meescham
- “That was the thing about tragedy. It was just sitting there, keeping you company, waiting. And you had absolutely no idea.” Flora
- "What do I lose if I choose to believe? Nothing!...Take this squirrel, for instance. Ulysses. Do I believe he can type poetry? Sure, I do believe it. There is much more beauty in the world if I believe such a thing is possible." Dr. Meescham
- “A squirrel flies in," said Dr. Meescham. "This I did not expect at all. It is what I love about life, that things happen which I do not expect. When I was a girl in Blundermeecen, we left the window open for this very reason, even in the winter. We did it because we believed something wonderful might make its way to us through the open window. Did wonderful things find us? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But tonight it has happened! Something wonderful!" Dr. Meescham
- "It will make my life easier.” Phillis Buckman. vs "Nothing would be easier without you, because you are everything, all of it — sprinkles, quarks, giant donuts, eggs sunny - side up — you are the ever-expanding universe to me.” Ulysses
- “I want things to be normal. I want a daughter who is happy. I want her to have friends who aren’t squirrels. I don’t want her to end up unloved and all alone in the world. But it doesn’t matter, does it?” Phillis Buckman
What's the Word?
What makes Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures particularly colorful are the amazing words used to describe the events, the characters, and how they feel. Check out this great Vocabulary.com list compiled for the book. Here are some of our favorite words used in the story:
- Cynic - someone who is critical of the motives of others. Flora’s mother had often accused Flora of being a "natural-born cynic."
- Malfeasance - wrongful conduct by a public official. "This malfeasance must be stopped,” said Flora in a deep and superheroic voice.
- Indomitable - impossible to subdue. Seemingly, swallowing a squirrel was a bit much even for the powerful, indomitable, indoor/outdoor Ulysses 2000X.
- Illuminate - make lighter or brighter. The setting sun was illuminating each blade of grass.
- Vanquish - defeat in a competition, race, or conflict. We’re going to be vanquishing villains left and right.
- Villainy - the quality of evil due to wicked behavior. She had envisioned Ulysses fighting crime, criminals, villainy, darkness, treachery; she had imagined him flying (holy bagumba!) through the world with her (Flora Buckman!) at his side.
- Nemesis - something or someone causing misery or death. Every superhero had an arch-nemesis.
- Nefarious - extremely wicked. The Criminal Element spoke often, and passionately, about the nefarious activities that every human being is capable of.
- Surreptitious - marked by quiet and caution and secrecy. Flora surreptitiously (The Criminal Element recommended surreptitious action at all possible junctures) removed the lid from the shoe box.
- Inconsequential - lacking worth or importance. What I meant to say is that when I was a girl in Blundermeecen, I sat on this sofa and spoke with my grandmother about inconsequential things well into the gloom of the evening.
- Capacious - large in the amount that can be contained. “Your father is very capacious of heart,” said Dr. Meescham.
- Incandescent - characterized by ardent emotion, intensity, or brilliance. "My name is William. William. William Spiver. Not Billy. I was Billy one time too many. I cracked. I pushed Tyrone's truck into the sinkhole, and when my mother found out, she was incandescent with rage. I looked upon her rage, and you know what happened then. I was blinded by disbelief and sorrow."