Ferris Beach

( 30 )

Overview

Ferris Beach is a place where excitement and magic coexist. Or so Mary Katherine "Katie" Burns, the only child of middle-aged Fred and Cleva Burns, believes. Shy and self-conscious, she daydreams about Ferris Beach, where her beautiful cousin, Angela, leads a romantic, mysterious life.

It is the early 1970s, and when the land across the road from the Burns's historic house is sold to developers, Misty Rhodes—also from Ferris Beach—and her flamboyant parents move into the nearest...

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Ferris Beach

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More About This Book

Overview

Ferris Beach is a place where excitement and magic coexist. Or so Mary Katherine "Katie" Burns, the only child of middle-aged Fred and Cleva Burns, believes. Shy and self-conscious, she daydreams about Ferris Beach, where her beautiful cousin, Angela, leads a romantic, mysterious life.

It is the early 1970s, and when the land across the road from the Burns's historic house is sold to developers, Misty Rhodes—also from Ferris Beach—and her flamboyant parents move into the nearest newly built split-level. In contrast to Katie’s composed, reserved, practical mother, Misty and her mother are everything Katie wants to be: daring, outrageous, fun. The two girls become inseparable, sharing every secret, every dream—until one fateful Fourth of July, when their lives change in a way they could never have imagined.

In this classic McCorkle novel, the author's shrewd grasp of human nature creates characters that resonate with truth and emotion, and a story perfect for mothers and daughters to share and cherish.

From the author of Tending to Virginia, an acclaimed coming of age novel set in a small southern town. Kate and Misty grow up together, sharing secrets about everything until a fateful Fourth of July when all their lives change forever. "As compelling as a soft southern night."--Kirkus. New York Times Notable Book of the Year.

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Editorial Reviews

The Philadelphia Inquirer
"Beautiful and inspired . . . Rich with interesting characters." —The Philadelphia Inquirer
Vogue
"Delightful . . . A novel about family secrets, identity crises, and mother-daughter standoffs." —Vogue
The Cincinnati Enquirer
"Ferris Beach is believable. And funny. And heartbreaking. But most of all, it's a joy to read." —The Cincinnati Enquirer
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Set, like her previous novels, in a small Southern town, this coming-of-age story demonstrates McCorkle's Tending to Virginia deepening maturity as a writer and a new subtlety of prose and theme. Nine-year-old Kate Burns is acutely aware of the port-wine mark on her face. Chafing under her mother's straitlaced supervision, she yearns to resemble her mysterious, racy older cousin Angela. She envies her best friend, Misty, whose mother, flamboyant, reckless Mo Rhodes, brings an exotic dimension to the neighborhood. During the course of the narrative, which carries Kate through her high school years, McCorkle conveys a child's perceptions of family friction and community tensions, her growing awareness of vulnerability and sadness in adult lives, and her introduction to sexual cruelty and death. Yet McCorkle controls her story with dextrous skill; these events unfold gradually and inevitably from the stream of daily life. Whether portraying the love/hate relationship of best friends, the pangs of an ungainly girl during adolescence or the insult-laden repartee of teenagers attracted to one another, McCorkle illuminates character with ironic humor and empathic insight. Oct.
Library Journal
Here is a marvelous follow-up to McCorkle's acclaimed Tending to Virginia LJ 9/1/87. From age five, Katie Burns has thought of Ferris Beach, South Carolina, home of her ``foundling'' cousin Angela, as both forbidden and alluring. During the decade covered by this entrancing coming-of-age novel mid-Sixties to mid-Seventies, many people besides Angela compete for Katie's allegiance. Symbolizing freedom are orange-haired Misty Rhodes, whose mother Mo puts rock gardens on the lawn; Katie's first love Merle Hucks; and--to a certain extent--her father Alfred Tennyson ``Fred'' Burns. In contrast, there are prim Cleva Burns and her tea-giving friend Mrs. Poole, steeped in Southern propriety. Despite tantalizing hints of buried secrets and a few occasions of real tragedy, what predominates is McCorkle's deft comic sense, her keen ear for dialog and eye for detail, and a grab bag of cultural allusions Barry Sadler; Peter, Paul & Mary bespeaking a specific time and place. Finally--most movingly--there is the revelation that love often goes deeper in the staid conventional forms than one might sometimes suspect.-- Elise Chase, Forbes Lib., Northampton, Mass.
School Library Journal
YA-- Ferris Beach is where excitement and glamour start--at least that's what Kate thinks as she hears about her cousin Angela who lives there. Kate has had a humdrum, ``normal'' childhood; her conservative mother and humorous father have brought her up ``properly,'' while Angela has had freedom and romance. But even freedom has its dark side, as Kate finds out. This coming-of-age novel is special. The humor, tenderness, sharply defined characters, and a feeling of ``being there'' make the 1970s come alive in the small Southern community depicted.-- Diana C. Hirsch, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, MD
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781565129313
  • Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
  • Publication date: 9/22/2009
  • Edition description: Reprint
  • Pages: 352
  • Sales rank: 215,407
  • Product dimensions: 5.50 (w) x 8.10 (h) x 1.40 (d)

Meet the Author

Jill McCorkle
Jill McCorkle is the author of eight previous books, five of which were New York Times Notable Books. Two stories in Going Away Shoes were published in The Best American Short Stories. Winner of the New England Book Award, the Dos Passos Prize for Excellence in Literature, and the North Carolina Award for Literature, she teaches writing at North Carolina State University and lives with her husband in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 30 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(18)

4 Star

(4)

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2 Star

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 30 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 10, 2013

    V

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 1, 2013

    Kiev

    Kisses u and rubs his kokvon ur pizz lips

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 23, 2013

    Sandpelpt

    Can i leave . I HATE powers.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 22, 2013

    Nytehawk

    Powers: extent unknown, can change appearance

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 28, 2013

    Galaxyclan

    Is at galaxy result 1

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 10, 2012

    Hannah

    Whhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 8, 2012

    To ocean

    Wow is all i have to say. U sl.ut

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 8, 2012

    Danny

    Thats me go to 6 result

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 8, 2012

    DANNY?

    Hey

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 8, 2012

    To the one who keeps advertising at SL

    Shut the **** up and kick your own little ******* *** out of Scarlet Letter!!! Only stupid pieces of ******* **** care about relationships over wi-fi!!!

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 27, 2012

    Hazel(:

    Go to the 7th result of beach. Its called angel beach.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 7, 2012

    Ginger

    I ile slightly. "Thanks. So are yours!"

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 25, 2012

    Accurate details of the time period.

    I liked this book because the time period is when I grew up. The narrator had the same insecurities that I remember. It hit close to home. Her summer was much more adventuresome than any of mine.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 2, 2012

    Good

    Like it has my name good story

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 22, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    Firefly Lane
    The Last Song

    I guess it would be a good book for young women maybe.I think some women could relate to some of the things that happened.

    I just did not care for the book, I kept waiting for SOMETHING and nothing ever "grabbed" me about it. It started out ok.....with these two school age girls telling of their lives but I just got really bored with it. I thought there would be something more about who "Angela" was but I was let down by that . I would not recommend this book.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 20, 2007

    My favorite book ever

    This is the best book I've ever had the pleasure of reading. It's a book simply about life, good and bad. Interesting twists and turns that make it hard to put the book down, and a relationship you actually form with the characters. It's not one of those books you have to relate to in order to enjoy it...I think any female (and maybe some males as well) would adore it. Some parts actually made me laugh out loud, and one part even made me gasp out loud. You don't even have to like reading to fall in love with it. It's just that amazing. =D

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 17, 2005

    It Gets Better Every Time I Read It

    It's such a shame that this book is out of print. The premise is deceptively simple, at least at first glance. It is narrated by Kate, who is growing up in 1970's North Carolina. She and the other characters are so well-rendered, so realistic in speech and action, that nothing about this book seems contrived or forced. It gives the reader a look at change and at second chances that come in unexpected and sometimes unwanted ways. It's also about realizing that people and things are not always what they appear. It's about growing up. This is a slower, character-driven novel, both humorous and sad. I think teenagers and adults would enjoy it.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 12, 2005

    A great book for all book luvers!

    This book was very good! I think that the author did a very good job of describing it! The book goes through the life of a girl named Mary Katherine from 2nd grade till the end of high school (I think). On the description on this page, you may think that on the 4th of July one thing happens that changes her life, but that is only the beginning! There are other characters like Merle, Misty, and Angela! Angela is also a interesting character! I think that you will like this book very much!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 2, 2005

    A Reader

    I had to read this book for Reading Counts! and I thought it was going to be super boring, but when i read it, it turned out to be extremely wonderful! This is a super good book.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 14, 2004

    The best book

    This book will bring out the smile and the tears. A very sweet, yet moving novel. I read it twice, with a year in between. I hope to read the book in another year. The second time I read it, I could relate to it so much more than the first. I wonder how much more I can relate to it next year. I definelty recommend it to anyone, young or old.

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