Plot

When Flora rescues a squirrel she names Ulysses, she is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers, which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora's life and her outlook forever.

After rescuing a squirrel she names Ulysses, 10 year old Flora is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers, which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora's life and her outlook forever.—yusufpiskin

Flora Belle Buckman is a cynical 10-year-old girl who enjoys losing herself in the world of superheroes from the comic books she reads. The story takes place in a suburban Vancouver town in the twenty-first century. George, her father, was a failed comic book author who now works at Binders Keepers, an office supply store run by Chad, his boss. Phyllis, her mother, is a romance novelist who previously won an award but has since experienced writer's block. Their struggles have led to their separation.

The Ulysses brand vacuum that Tootie, Flora's next-door neighbor, has started acting strangely in her yard. It dies just as a normal squirrel gets sucked into it. The squirrel is revived by Flora, who then names him after the vacuum. Ulysses types "Squirtel. [sic] I am" on Phyllis' antique typewriter the following day. Ulysses. born again. In addition to being sentient, Flora soon learns that Ulysses appears to have superpowers. She shares her findings with William Spiver, Tootie's visiting nephew who has "hysterical blindness" as a result of stress.

George agrees to drop Ulysses off while he takes Flora out for the day after he and Phyllis find him when George arrives to see Flora. Their first stop is the diner Do-Nut World, where Rita, the waitress, finds Ulysses causing chaos. George witnesses firsthand Ulysses' superhuman strength and flight. He is grabbed by his father and daughter, who then run away to his apartment, which is watched over by Mr. Klaus, a feisty cat. Mr. Klaus is the apartment's owner as well. They meet his neighbor, Dr. Meescham, who observes Ulysses' intelligence and assures them that he is doing well.

Miller, an expert in animal control who has a grudge against squirrels after being demoted from his position as park warden due to a rabid squirrel attack, is brought in by the diner in the meantime. Rita becomes hysterical and thinks Ulysses has rabies, which makes Miller more determined to catch him.

When Flora and William go to Stanlee's comic book store, they discover through the news that Ulysses is on the run and rush to see George, who has resigned from his position, which also caused Chad to be fired by the regional manager. Miller discovers where they are hiding at George's apartment. Mr. Klaus attacks him, which lets the heroes get away, but Miller pursues. He is avoided, and they return home.

When Phyllis tells Flora that she is anxious about a newspaper interview she has scheduled for tomorrow, George offers to support her and gives Flora a hint that he does not wish to file for divorce. In exchange, Phyllis grudgingly lets Ulysses remain in their home. When the journalist reads Ulysses' writings and concludes that Phyllis is at a standstill, the interview takes a bad turn.

Miller finds George's family when he reads the printed article the following day. After Ulysses encourages her, Phyllis decides she cannot carry out her plan to get rid of him, so she takes him to the woods.

In order to protect Ulysses from a rainstorm, Flora and William go into the woods and hide at an abandoned water park. William discloses that he was expelled for causing his stepfather's vehicle to collide with a lake. He misses his biological father, whom he admired for his intelligence. George finds Flora and William after running into Phyllis and Ulysses, and Phyllis apologizes. But Miller shows up with a team, and they catch Ulysses, telling his family that they will put him down because they still think he has rabies.

William and the Buckmans join forces with Dr. Meescham to enter the animal sanctuary covertly. There, William recovers his vision and gets over his stress. They let go of all the animals, including a furious Mr. Klaus, in order to divert Miller and his group and free Ulysses, who uses his abilities to save George once more. Releasing Ulysses back into the wild is their decision. When Miller arrives, the large number of squirrels scares him away.

Based on their adventure, the Buckmans collaborate to produce a comic book titled Ulysses.