Jean Ferris is an American writer of young adult books. She now lives in San Diego, California with her husband who is a lawyer.

Biography

Jean Ferris started to write when she was seven years old, keeping a diary. Jean moved around frequently, attending three high schools and Stanford University, for a B.A. and an M.A. in speech pathology and audiology. Ferris wrote her first novel for young adults (Amen, Moses Gardenia, published in 1983) when one of her children's 14 year old friends tried to commit suicide. Since then she tried writing screenplays, adult mystery, adult historical novels, and middle-grade novels, but nothing suited her as well as writing for teens. Her two daughters are full grown, and they are both teachers. Jean Ferris' hobbies and interests are: traveling, reading, long walks with friends, movies, theater, and reading books onto tape for the Braille Institute.

Awards

Awards include: American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults, American Library Association Popular Paperbacks for Young Readers, American Library Association Quick Picks for Young Adults, IRA Young Adult Choices, NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, and California Young Reader Medal.

Works

• Amen, Moses Gardenia(1983)
• The Stainless Steel Rule(1986)
• Invincible Summer(1987)
• Across the Grain(1990)
• Looking for Home(1991)
• Relative Strangers(1993)
• Signs of Life(1995)
• "American Dream" Series(1996)
• All that Glitters(1996)
• Love Among the Walnuts
  Love Among the Walnuts
  Love Among The Walnuts is a children's book written by Jean Ferris. It was published in 1998 by Harcourt, and received positive reviews from Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal....
  
  (1998)
• Bad(1998)
• Eight Seconds(2000)
• Of Sound Mind(2001)
• Once Upon a Marigold(2002)
• Much Ado About Grubstake(2006)
• Underground(2008)
• Twice Upon a Marigold(2008).

She is currently working on "Thrice Upon a Marigold".