Kate DiCamillos new childrens novel is a balm for the soul. The New York Times

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

Its 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 Ferriss mothers chagrin, is holed up in the Wilkey basement to paint a history of the world. And Charisse, Ferriss 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 planswild, 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.

Kate DiCamillois the author ofBecause of Winn-Dixie(a Newbery Honor book),The Tiger Rising(a National Book Award finalist), andThe 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 Tulanewas the winner of theBoston GlobeHorn Book Award. Kate lives and writes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but she spent much of her childhood in Florida.
Author: Kate DiCamilloFormat: HardcoverProduct dimensions: 240pages, 8″ H x 6″ W x 1″ LPublished: Mar 05, 2024Publisher: Candlewick Press

Recommended for ages 8-12.