Giff, Patricia Reilly. Pictures of Hollis Woods

Kliatt, Sept, 2004 by Myra Marler

GIFF, Patricia Reilly. Pictures of Hollis Woods. Random House, Dell Yearling. 166p. c2002.0-440-41578-0, $6.50. J*

Twelve-year-old Hollis Woods was found abandoned as an infant. Since then, she has shuttled from one foster home to another, never quite loved, and pronounced "a mountain of trouble" by her latest caretaker because she always runs away. The Regans wanted to adopt her, but inexplicably, she ran away again and now finds herself in the care of an elderly artist, Josie, whom she grows to love. The problem is that Josie is showing signs of Alzheimer's and the agency plans to remove Hollis from her home. Instead, Hollis takes Josie in hand and runs away again--back to the Regans. Through trial and error Josie learns the meaning of family and the strength of the bonds that hold people together.

The story is compelling, with an interesting narrative line that leads to the solution of a mystery. The plot unfolds in a series of word pictures that flash between the present and the past and effectively illustrate Hollis' own creative drive.

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.

Myra Marler, Assoc. Prof. of English, BYU, Provo, UT