pictures of hollis woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

Foster homes. Finding a place to belong. Working out who you are and accepting it. All of this is part of this story of Hollis Woods. Giff writes the story with a gentleness and strength. I was left wondering what had happened to the children who left my room for a foster home last year. They clung to each other pretty closely during that in between time. She not only has words that evoke pictures of the setting and people, but the feelings that are a part of those places and people without coming right out and saying it. It was timeless. The other books she wrote fit into a time in history so completely, but this one fits all times. The other thing I liked about it was the way the adults were treated. They were valued, and frankly that's refreshing. From chapter to chapter you followed two parts of her story...one that is in the present, the other that's in the past. The type of print defines that and that is a very good strategy for kids. It makes it clearer for them. Definitely a book I would suggest to others.