Pictures of Hollis Woods

Patricia Reilly Giff's novel was a Newbury Honor book with chapters of the here and now with in between snip-bits or "pictures" of life before.

Hollis Woods was an orphaned baby she was found in Hollis Woods with a note that said, "name her Hollis." All her life she was trying to belong. All she wanted was a family, hope and someplace to call home. The agency that dealt with her care referred to Hollis as a "mountain of trouble" because she had a mind of her own and ran when she felt unwanted or got too close to a family. The two families that she loved the most are intertwined in the chapters as she tries to figure out what it is in life that she really wants. They are also the two families she stayed with the longest.

First, we have Izzie, Steven and the Old Man, as she called him, they lived in a summer home in Branches. They made Hollis a "Welcome Home" cake. She was satisfied because she found everything in her 'W' poster, a mother (M), a father (F), a brother (B), a sister (S) and a house (H). This picture was dear to Hollis and was the center of the story. Although her teacher saw no (W), what Hollis saw was 'want,' 'wish,'and 'wouldn't it be loverly.' But after the terrible truck accident, Hollis did what she did best and ran.

Now, she was placed in a home with Josie and her cat Henry. Josie was an elderly women, an artist whom often forgot things. Hollis learned to be her memory. They became great friends and stayed up til midnight watching movies, having a big shopping trip when Josie got her check each month and Josie even let Hollis skip school multiple days in a row to walk down by the river and hangout. Hollis liked this life very much but she yearned to have a family again, the type of family she had with Izzie, Steven and the Old man.

When the state found out about Josie's Alzheimer's they needed to remove Hollis from the house and find a replacement home. Hollis was determined to stay by Josie's side. Josie needed someone to remember things for her and finish her sentences. So, they escaped for the summer home in Branches right before the agency came to pick up Hollis.

I find this book interesting, intriguing and easy to teach. I was always hoping Steven would find her and maybe he did, I'm not giving the ending away ;) Hollis may have been a "mountain of trouble" but she had a wish and want and hope to belong because she had never belonged to anyone before.

Through her pictures we hear the real story and see the family that is really hers. I'm not going to write down what I would do if I taught this book because you will find out in my curriculum design project. I definitely hope that I will be able to teach this book in my classroom.

Most teenagers would have the same reactions as me and want to know the story of Hollis Woods because teenagers feel like they don't always belong either. Hearing someone else's story tends to help us relate to the reality of life, it could be so much worse than it is...What if you were Hollis? Wouldn't you be a "mountain of trouble"? I know I would!