Ferris by Kate DiCamillo

It's time to read something, which I know will be enjoyable. After all, this author tends to write with a bit of poetic feel and playful tone, which is simply fun to read. And I've really enjoyed several of her works already.

So, let's see how this latest tale goes!

FERRIS

by Kate DiCamillo

Candlewick Press

Middle Grade Fiction

256 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING...

APRIL 1st!!!

It’s the summer before fifth grade, and for Ferris Wilkey, it is a summer of sheer pandemonium: Her little sister, Pinky, has vowed to become an outlaw. Uncle Ted has left Aunt Shirley and, to Ferris’s mother’s chagrin, is holed up in the Wilkey basement to paint a history of the world. And Charisse, Ferris’s grandmother, has started seeing a ghost at the threshold of her room, which seems like an alarming omen given that she is also feeling unwell. But the ghost is not there to usher Charisse to the Great Beyond. Rather, she has other plans—wild, impractical, illuminating plans. 

How can Ferris satisfy a specter with Pinky terrorizing the town, Uncle Ted sending Ferris to spy on her aunt, and her father battling an invasion of raccoons? As Charisse likes to say, “Every good story is a love story,” and Kate DiCamillo has written one for the ages: emotionally resonant and healing, showing the two-time Newbery Medalist at her most playful, universal, and profound.

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With tons of quirky family drama and a ghost in the mix, this read holds more than a couple surprises.

Ferris wants to enjoy her summer before fifth grade begins, but quite a few monumental things are happening... and many things aren't quite as normal as people might think. Her little sister is determined to become an outlaw and, unfortunately, is spunky enough to really give it a go if she has the chance. Ferris' grandmother now sees ghosts, which even becomes more unsettling when the older woman is discovered to have a heart problem. Ferris' uncle has decided to use her to spy on her aunt as their marriage has gotten more than a little rocky. And her father...well, he has his own issues. Add a horrendous haircut, and the summer is quite the ride.

This is set a bit back in history (the 1980s?), although this is never directly stated. This gives Ferris tons of romping room, and she needs it for everything going on. As always, this author writes with a playful tone, carefully picking words, which add liveliness to the descriptions and a slightly quirky atmosphere. Yet, the problems Ferris faces are real...although a bit over-the-top thanks to the dramatic family members. Her energy mixes with her good intentions as she steers the, at times, ridiculous situations, while keeping her love for her family golden. It's this constant flow of odd occurrences, which push the story forward and create much of the plot.

The characters pack personality. The grandmother is a treat with her wise sayings and unusual attitude toward life and the world. The aunt puts a smile on the face, while the uncle comes across a bit as a lost professor to make a lovely mix. The younger sister definitely packs her own direction, but this one takes a slightly darkish turn, and I wondered that there weren't more consequences. Her character contrasts with the wholesome goodness of the rest of the family, which will hit some readers better than others.

It is fun to read through each moment and enjoy the chaotic atmosphere, and the paranormal twist gives extra spice. I'm not sure this one will resonate as well with reluctant readers, since the clever wording and older phrases doesn't always create the easiest read. Still, it is one to put a smile on the face and enjoy family silliness the entire way through.

And here she is...

Kate DiCamillo is the author of Because of Winn-Dixie (a Newbery Honor book), The Tiger Rising (a National Book Award finalist), and The Tale of Despereaux (a Newbery Medal Winner). She recently completed a series of early chapter books about a pig named Mercy Watson. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was the winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Kate lives and writes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but she spent much of her childhood in Florida.