Ferris

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo

Experience the heartfelt and whimsical middle grade novel Ferris by Kate DiCamillo, a beautifully layered story filled with humor, family chaos, and quiet magic. From the two-time Newbery Medal–winning author, this emotionally resonant novel explores love, change, and the extraordinary moments hidden within ordinary life.

It is the summer before fifth grade, and Ferris Wilkey’s world is anything but calm. Her younger sister Pinky has declared herself an outlaw, her Uncle Ted has taken up residence in the basement to paint the history of the world, and her father is dealing with a growing raccoon problem. Meanwhile, Ferris’s grandmother, Charisse, is unwell—and insists she is being visited by a ghost at her doorway.

But the ghost is not what anyone expects. Instead of a harbinger of endings, she brings unexpected guidance, strange wisdom, and a series of events that challenge everything Ferris thinks she understands about her family and herself. As life grows more unpredictable, Ferris must navigate change, responsibility, and the emotional weight of growing up.

Lyrical, funny, and deeply moving, Ferris is a story about family, memory, imagination, and the many forms that love can take. It captures the magic found in everyday life and the power of seeing the world with open eyes and an open heart.