Ferris by Kate DiCamillo is a tender coming-of-age story from DiCamillo, author of Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux. Ferris--also known as Emma--got her unusual nickname from her unusual birthplace, under the ferris wheel at a fairground, and the book takes place in her summer vacation between fourth and fifth grade. The story centers around Ferris’s lovably eccentric family, from her grandmother who claims to have discovered an unfriendly ghost in their house to her little sister, who has developed the habit of yelling, “Out of my way, fools!” and is plotting a life of crime. DiCamillo’s writing draws readers into each of these endearing and real-seeming characters’ lives to depict a memorable summer for Ferris.