‘Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package’ by Kate DiCamillo is a story that arouses curiosity about the differences that make us all unique. Eugenia Lincoln and her sister, Baby, are not quite the two halves of a whole you’d expect two sisters to be. They are entirely different, but this only adds to the sweetness of their story.

While Eugenia is brash and not desirous of any sort of fun, Baby is carefree and happy to live life to its fullest. When Eugenia gets a box delivered to her, she is anything but eager to open it, not wishing to know, in any way shape or form, what it contains. However, the interest of her sister, as well as neighbors and strangers, forces Eugenia to do what she desperately wants to avoid – open the box and see what’s in it. What she finds is an accordion, one which she doesn’t want and hastens to find a way to rid herself of so she doesn’t have to look at it any longer than absolutely necessary. Baby, however, encourages her to use it, and the rest of their neighbors – and even pets – want to learn more about it. Eugenia is having none of it, and when a man shows up to teach her how to play it, it only deepens her resolve to get rid of it.

Everyone has their quirks, and Eugenia’s is that she finds anything other than what she considers appropriate aggravating, and she is unwilling to be flexible to make things happen, though she feels that everything should bend to her will. Many people have issues much like this, in that they like things the way they are and are unhappy with the prospect of anything changing. Eugenia’s story with her accordion teaches that life sometimes throws unexpected curveballs, and if you stop and try to catch one once in a while, you may find yourself in the middle of something new, fun, and worthwhile. You just have to open yourself up to it. And so Eugenia does, but the process of her doing so is one that will keep readers wondering just what will be the thing that changes her mind, if anything, and how her sister and neighbors will help her reach that point.

You can find ‘Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package’ by Kate DiCamillo here.

*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*