Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff Date of Publication: 2002 ISBN: 0439577845 Number of Pages: 166

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Average
GENRES: Mystery
THEMES: Family, Appearance versus Reality, Coming of Age, Loyalty, Sacrifice and Redemption

SUMMARY:
Hollis Woods is a feisty, rebellious foster child with an amazing talent for drawing exactly what she sees. She has learned early on that running away from pain is sometimes the only way to cope, so whenever things get too miserable for her, she takes her pictures and goes on the run.

As the story begins, Hollis is once again being placed, but is full of memories of her last home with The Old Guy, Izzy, and most importantly, Steven. The reader understands that something has occurred at this last home that has affected Hollis deeply. Hollis’ new home is with Josie, an elderly artist, and Josie’s cat Henry.

As Josie slowly gives Hollis time to heal, we see her past through her pictures, and learn the mystery that has brought Hollis to her present place. Unfortunately, Josie is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, and when Hollis realizes the foster care system will soon remove her from Josie’s care, she decides to take Josie and go on the run again. She returns to the summer home where the mystery is finally explained in full, and Hollis realizes that she can love people and do the right thing after all.

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...

• enjoys mysteries and being kept in suspense
• is interested in underdogs and unusual family units
• has a strong sense of justice
• is very empathetic
• loves drawing and the idea of telling stories with pictures
• likes things that deal in realism and present-day
• likes feisty heroines who don’t let adults push them around
• who enjoy reading stories with simple vocabulary
• likes the interweaving of flashbacks with present plot threads
  

WHAT ELSE?
This book is an easy read for intermediates in terms of vocabulary and size, but its use of flashbacks and the weaving of story threads make it more challenging in structure. It is beautifully written, and was chosen as a Newbery Honor Book. The mystery of what happened with the Regan family will keep reluctant readers reading, and there are ample opportunities for discussion. The portrayal of Alzheimer’s is new to most students, and Hollis’ decision to run with Josie, breaking into the summerhouse and hiding out there, provokes heated discussions about Hollis’ decision-making skills and judgement. Be aware that Hollis’ experiences as a foster child include a couple of subtle references to neglect and/or abuse, but they are done sensitively and appropriately, and are really quite minor.

RELATED LINK:
Teacher's Guide @ Random House