The Newbery Honor book Pictures of Hollis Woods, by Patricia Reilly Giff, is about twelve year old girl named Hollis Woods. She is a foster child who was abandoned at birth in the woods she is named for. Hollis is a talented artist who makes a habit of running away from her foster homes. She is considered “a mountain of trouble”.
At the start of the book we learn that Hollis came close to having a family, but that something happened. That event and the reasons behind it are gradually divulged as flashbacks throughout the book. Hollis hears the family’s son in her head a lot, giving advice and encouragement.
For now though, Hollis has a new foster home with Josie, a retired art teacher who likes to carve people out of wood branches. At first Hollis isn’t sure how long she will stay, but finds herself bonding with Josie, and not wanting to leave. She even goes to school so that the social worker won’t poke around too much. Josie is having trouble remembering things, and Hollis knows the social worker wouldn’t let her stay with Josie if she knew that.
Eventually the social worker does realize that Hollis has been caring for Josie instead of the other way around and plans to remove her from the situation. Hollis runs away again, but this time she takes Josie with her because she knows Josie can’t make it on her own. They run to a cabin in the woods where Hollis spent last summer with the Reagan family.
Hollis loved this family, and they loved her. We learn of an accident that she blames herself for, even though no one else does. More than even the accident she is afraid that her presence made the father fight with the son more and she doesn’t want to bring trouble to this beautiful family. Hollis has to make some grown up decisions about what is best for Josie, and has to get over her own independence and defensiveness and accept the love of a real family.
This is a great book on families for upper elementary and middle school children.
Also See:
The Breadwinner – Deborah Ellis
The City of Ember – Jeanne DuPrau
Great Books For Your 5th Or 6th Grader