Poetry-writing, cat-fighting, vacuum cleaner-lifting squirrels are not for real. Or at least we don't think they're real. DiCamillo invented a new type of superhero in Flora and Ulysses that has nothing to do with the vampires or dragons we're so used to. While we're all about originality, perhaps the coolest thing about this is that it forces us to really use our imaginations as we read. We know vampires suck blood and are immortal, and that dragons breathe fire, but a superhero squirrel? We're on our own when it comes to visualizing this little guy in action.
Questions About The Supernatural
- How does Ulysses compare to other superheroes you've read about or watched on television? Are his powers believable?
- Why do you think DiCamillo chose a squirrel as the animal? Why not a larger animal, like a dog or a cat? Is there anything significant about the fact that it's a small squirrel?
- Is there anything supernatural about Dr. Meescham and her tales of Blundermeecen? What does it mean that she talks about trolls when Flora's never seen one before? Is there anything magical about her apartment or horsehair couch?
Chew on This
Even though Dr. Meescham talks about some wacky stuff, her stories are not supernatural in any way. She is simply an old woman with a knack for telling tall tales.
Ulysses is a squirrel so no one expects much of him, especially when it comes to being a superhero. The fact that he's a little guy makes his transformation seem more magical.