Ferris

By: Kate DiCamillo

Narrated by: Cherry Jones

The beloved author of Because of Winn-Dixie has outdone herself with a hilarious and achingly real love story about a girl, a ghost, a grandmother, and growing up.

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 gh ost 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.

A Beautiful Story of Love & Family

Reminds me so much of my own childhood with rural families and lots of Aunts and Uncles around. This story is like comfort food, warm mashed potatoes, good for the soul.

A new family favorite

My kids and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment! A beautiful story with vivid and lovable characters. We had lots of laughs along with a few tears. It’s one of those stories you wish lasted longer. Cherry Jones is our favorite narrator of all time.

Another top notch Kate DiCamillo book

If you have read any of her books you know Kate DiCamillo has a special skill for writing stories thru the perspective of children. And this one is no different. A great family, an old house, a ghost, the aging matriarch who can see the ghost, and the granddaughter Ferris who adores her grandma above all else. Lovely, poignant, funny.

New favorite, reader exceptional

Although I enjoy all of Kate DiCamillo’s books, Because of Winn Dixie has been my favorite since 2009. This one, however, is my new number one. The reader is fantastic!!! No one can do DiCamillo’s mix of humor, sentiment, heartstrings, and love just like she can. This book ties all of those feelings and more, and the reader made the book even more exceptional. I plan on reading it to my classes in the library.

Perfection

The content and the narration were equally compelling. I love this author and the story was read beautifully.