Review Detail

What worked:
The most interesting and entertaining character is Ferris’s six-year-old sister Pinky. Consider that her big goal in life is to find her name and face on Wanted posters all across the country. She’s sassy and rude and Sheriff Percal says, “… I have never in my life met anyone so unrepentant”. It’s wild that she’s only six years old but she comes from a kind and supportive home. Her grandmother claims to see a ghost in her bedroom and her uncle believes God has told him to paint the history of the world. They, along with Pinky’s parents and Ferris, are doing all they can to understand Pinky but there seems to be no reason for her behavior. Despite her inconsiderate, unlawful actions, readers will enjoy the anticipation of what Pinky might do next.
Ferris and her best friend Billy Jackson are thankful that last year’s teacher emphasized the importance of good vocabulary. Ferris frequently points out “Mielk vocabulary words” and follows them with explanations or definitions of their meanings. You might think these descriptions will be uninteresting but they emphasize the importance of the words. Mrs. Mielk says the difference between the right word and the almost right word is “… the difference between lightning and lightning bug”. Young readers may expand their vocabularies as a couple of Mielk words appear in most chapters. Ludicrous is a perfect word for Ferris’s aunt to describe Uncle Ted speaking to God and monomaniacal perfectly explains Pinky’s obsession with becoming an outlaw.
The theme of “Every story is a love story” underscores most of the events in the plot. Charisse believes Ferris must light the chandelier in the dining room to resolve her ghostly visions. Uncle Ted misses Aunt Shirley even though she thinks he’s crazy to devote his life to making a painting for God. Mrs. Mielk is bereft after losing her husband and it turns out Charisse has a lifelong admirer. Even Ferris realizes an undiscovered love for her little sister. The author skillfully wields her talent for storytelling and guides the plot to a magical climax under the christened chandelier.
What didn’t work as well:
The storyline skips around a bit and some young readers might not appreciate some challenging Mielk words. However, the free-flowing plot reflects reality in a peculiar household and balances drama with amusement.
The final verdict:
The author crafts another heart-warming tale that will appeal to middle-grade readers. The colorful characters are engaging and the message of love is featured. Overall, the book offers a positive message to the world and I recommend you give it a shot.