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Pictures of Hollis Woods

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 12,780 ratings · 993 reviews

Hollis Woods has been in so many foster homes she can hardly remember them all. When Hollis is sent to Josie, she'll do everything in her power to make sure they stay together.

Paperback, 166 pages

Published May 11th 2004 by Yearling (first published August 28th 2002)

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Lists with This Book

Best Young Adult Fiction

367th out of 1,439 books — 3,852 voters

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

Best Fiction about Adoption

5th out of 103 books — 96 voters

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May 26, 2009 Cara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction, favorites, books-made-into-movies, sibilings

When I finished reading this book I actually gave a little yell of happiness. I knew there was a good reason why I wanted to re-read this book. I had read it a couple years back and wanted to know for sure why I had liked it so much the first time around.

The book touches on what is most important in life and we are shown this by a girl named Hollis Woods. (btw I thought the name was pretty unique) Hollis has been toted around from foster home to foster home. She is good at running away and pushi...more

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Jun 11, 2009 Valerie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction, favorites

This book is geared towards pre-teens and its a good short read for them but you don't necessarily have to be an adolescent to enjoy it. The concept of a family is given a whole new light. Hollis is a very unique character, undeniably one of a kind.

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Apr 13, 2008 malc623 rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Oct 16, 2007 sweetsweetclem rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: explained in review

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff (Author of the Newbery Honor Book Lily's Crossing) is a book about a girl named Hollis Woods (abviously) who is an orphan. She has gone from house to house always getting kicked out for things she doesn't even always do, until finally she finds a family she really feels apart of.

She likes to draw pictures, and that's why I think it is called PICTURES of HOLLIS WOODS.

Almost every chapter of the book goes back and forth. One chapter will be about w...more

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May 08, 2012 Kailey rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Jun 15, 2008 Mylife54321 rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who love sad/happy stories

Recommended to Mylife54321 by: My Mother, a Librarian

I personally quite enjoyed this book, it was of a girl in hard times, after all she was an orphan, first she finds a good home, then she breaks the car with her new brother and runs away afraid of getting in big trouble for injuring him badly, this girl is a great artist; mainly a drawer, but when she finds another great home what does she do when something happens to her beloved Josie, what will Hollis do so her and Josie will stay together forever?

(this book is also a movie)

Warning: This book...more

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Mar 09, 2009 Josie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-lit

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff
Published by Wendy Lamb Books
2002
Fiction
Grades 5-7

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff is a real page turner and a well written one at that. The novel is divided into "pictures" or flashbacks/memories of Hollis and the present day story, identified as "The Time With Josie." These sections are clearly titled and distinguishable; the past is also written in italics, even when Hollis is remembering in the present day.
Hollis is a tough and...more Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff
Published by Wendy Lamb Books
2002
Fiction
Grades 5-7

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff is a real page turner and a well written one at that. The novel is divided into "pictures" or flashbacks/memories of Hollis and the present day story, identified as "The Time With Josie." These sections are clearly titled and distinguishable; the past is also written in italics, even when Hollis is remembering in the present day.
Hollis is a tough and independent girl of twelve, who wishes for a family, but makes trouble in every foster home she is placed in. She always ends up skipping school, getting yelled at and eventually running away, but is also a very talented artist. The novel begins with Hollis being placed in yet another foster home, with some mystery surrounding what went wrong with the last family, the Regans. Hollis quickly comes to like living with Josie and realizes that she is needed by Josie who is an older woman who often forgets things. When her place in Josie's home and Josie's safety are at risk, Hollis takes them both to the Regan's summer home. Hollis' time with the Regans is explored throughout the flashbacks and both story lines come together in an excellent ending.
This book should be praised for it's ability to engage the reader and hook a child from the very beginning. Giff manages to give just enough of each storyline and as the reader pieces Hollis' story one will want to read on to the next chapter. The book is also unpredictable; the plot and characters are unique and not from stock. There is also an emotional attachment to the character's that develops from Giff's portrayal of them. The reader wants Hollis to escape from her social worker and not be taken from Josie, even though she is doing something dangerous that might get her in more trouble. I genuinely wanted Hollis to find her place as a part of a family and also for her to realize she was worthy of that. Giff has created characters that are lovable and ones that readers will have a stake in as the story develops.
With readability, engaging characters and smart structure, Giff has written a book that many readers will enjoy. Boys and girls entering 6th grade can relate to the themes presented in Pictures of Hollis Woods. Reading about the ideas of acceptance into a group or family and realizing self worth and importance may help ease the transition into middle school. Students with an interest in art may especially enjoy reading about Hollis' and Josie's art projects. Art can be a good way to tie the novel into a classroom drawing project, or by having children draw personal memories to use in a personal narrative.
Finally, the ending of Pictures of Hollis Woods is very satisfying. It was a happy ending, but as a reader I found Hollis very deserving of having one. The ending was not too predictable; it wasn't until the second to last chapter that the reader is more fully illuminated as to how things may turn out. The book was warm and touching, but did not cross the line into saccharine sweet which middle schoolers will appreciate. (less)

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May 01, 2013 Kathy Sanchez rated it 2 of 5 stars

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Mar 16, 2013 Shaniyah Ray rated it 5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction
Tags: Family, Love, Caring
Lexile Score: 650L
Book Review: I actually loved this book. I could connect to Hollis on so many levels. I understood where her emotions and how she was feelings came from. I also connected because Hollis and Josie both loved art and I love it. I also made a connection because Hollis just wants a family and the children in foreign countries fill the same way.
Plot Summary: in the beginning Hollis is torn apart because she cant find a family and she leave...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Margarette rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, kindle-purchases-read, own, award-winner, on-pbt-shelf

Hollis Woods has been in foster care since she was one-hour old and found abandoned in the woods that gave her her name. When she was six she drew a wish picture, a picture of a home and family with two parents and two children, a boy and a girl. She carries that picture with her everywhere the agency places her, and takes it with her every time she runs away from one more house where she knows she isn't really wanted.

As the story begins, Hollis is being placed with Josie as a last resort. Josi...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Alyson rated it 3 of 5 stars

*Spoils the ending*Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff is a story of a young girl named Hollis Woods who is struggling to find a family, or even someone who will always care for her. The book is set up very uniquely, telling a back-story as well as a story that is currently happening, at the same time. The sections labeled as “chapters” are the present, and the sections labeled as “pictures” are from Hollis’s past when Hollis lived with the Regan family. The “picture” sections tell...more *Spoils the ending*Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff is a story of a young girl named Hollis Woods who is struggling to find a family, or even someone who will always care for her. The book is set up very uniquely, telling a back-story as well as a story that is currently happening, at the same time. The sections labeled as “chapters” are the present, and the sections labeled as “pictures” are from Hollis’s past when Hollis lived with the Regan family. The “picture” sections tell the story of one of Hollis’s many drawings in her drawing pad, which she uses as a journal to tell of her memories and experiences.

Hollis was found as a baby in a basket in Holliswood with only a card that read, “Call her Hollis Woods”. She is sent to different homes throughout her lifetime, where she normally does not find her place and runs away. She is a very independent young girl, who minds her own business, not needing the attention of others or opening up to others easily. She is a wonderful artist, and many of her caretakers are astonished by her drawings. The story begins with a “picture” section describing a time when Hollis was asked to turn in a picture of something that started with “W” at school. Hollis turned in a photo of a family, and her teacher did not accept the picture for credit. Hollis viewed this picture as a “W”—a wish or wanting. After setting the foundation that Hollis does not have a family, the book moves directly into her being dropped off to an older, single woman’s home to live with her and her cat, Henry. Hollis spends quality time with this woman, Josie, and has a desire to stay, but the agency doesn’t believe Josie is providing the proper care for Hollis, and is too old and forgetful to care for a younger child.

As the story continues, Hollis’s memories of the past with the Regan’s (Izzy, the Old Man, and Steven) become the foundation of the story. Josie and Hollis escape the people from the agency and go to the Regan’s summer home, which Hollis knows they will not be living in for several more months. Here, Hollis shares a few details with Josie about the Regan’s, but keeps the majority of her memories from this home to herself, feeling safe in these surroundings. Hollis starts to notice that Josie would much rather be living in her own home, and her own routine. She goes to find help and is reunited with Steven, and ends up going back to live with the Regan’s, who adopt her into their family.

This book would be very hard to read aloud based on the fact that the audience needs to be able to separate both stories that are happening within the book, which I personally find easier to do when reading the book myself. I think that this book would be great for students in upper elementary school, who are just starting to understand the concept of some families adopting children, or children being put in foster homes. This book identifies with these children as well, because Hollis is around age eleven or twelve in the book. (less)

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Jan 08, 2013 Grace rated it 2 of 5 stars

I am really surprised that this is a Newbery Honor book and that it has such high ratings and good reviews. To begin with the writing is sub-par with some very awkward moments that make me feel as if there was little editing. Most of all, though, was the fact that it seemed to be written by someone who had done absolutely no research into the foster care system. Now, I'm not going to claim that I'm an expert, but I'm at least aware enough to recognize all the inconsistencies throughout this book...more I am really surprised that this is a Newbery Honor book and that it has such high ratings and good reviews. To begin with the writing is sub-par with some very awkward moments that make me feel as if there was little editing. Most of all, though, was the fact that it seemed to be written by someone who had done absolutely no research into the foster care system. Now, I'm not going to claim that I'm an expert, but I'm at least aware enough to recognize all the inconsistencies throughout this book.

Now, I realize that this is a children's book, but there really could have been more back story to Hollis. The way it is, we don't get to see what drives her feelings and actions, they just are. Children's books can still be honest without being too much for a kid and this book just isn't honest. Hollis is a foster kid yet her past experiences in the system aren't even hinted at. We know she's run away from half a dozen homes but no reason is given besides "I got sick of them and they got sick of me." I just see the author as being cowardly for not taking the story further, for not putting more into the character. This book is supposed to be an award winner, yet it does nothing brave or new and does not push any boundaries. It's totally safe and predictable.

Speaking of predictable, this is another issue I had with the book. Within the first few pages (literally), I had already predicted the rest of the book. Again, just because it's a children's book doesn't mean it can get away with being unsophisticated. Had I read this when I was younger I'm sure I would have felt patronized. Absolutely nothing surprised me about the book. Even the parts that were supposed to be mysterious and drive the plot forward were painfully obvious.

Coming to the end, the entire last fourth or so of the book was far too contrived. It went from being unrealistic to completely unbelievable. None of the characters' actions made sense and I was left rolling my eyes at the events that lead up to the perfect ending wrapped in a little bow.

If your looking for a book about a girl in foster care I would go with The Great Gilly Hopkins.(less)

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Oct 29, 2012 Georgiana Cassell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Pictures of Hollis Woods Georgiana Cassell
Patricia Reilly Giff

Pictures of Hollis Woods is an engaging story. It talks about her life as an orphan in the past and in the future. I’m glad my mother made me read this book because it really made me connect with the main character, Hollis. Hollis goes through a roller coaster of emotions. One day something amazing happens that makes her feel likes she’s the most important person in the whole world to the next she feels like she’s just another troubl...more

Pictures of Hollis Woods Georgiana Cassell
Patricia Reilly Giff

Pictures of Hollis Woods is an engaging story. It talks about her life as an orphan in the past and in the future. I’m glad my mother made me read this book because it really made me connect with the main character, Hollis. Hollis goes through a roller coaster of emotions. One day something amazing happens that makes her feel likes she’s the most important person in the whole world to the next she feels like she’s just another trouble making kid that has nothing to offer. This book makes you want to jump right in and cheer her up or laugh along with her. After I finished this book, it made me think “What if Hollis was alive, I would really want to be her friend.” The way Hollis over thinks situations and enjoys the little things in life make me really connect with her, because I tend to do the same things. It makes me look at the little things that I should appreciate, the little things that I need to love.

This book is about Hollis Woods who has been in an orphanage since she was a baby. She has been to six house since she was a baby and has only enjoyed two. She is known as a troublemaker who is good at nothing. She desperately wants a family, somewhere where she can be herself and somewhere she can be loved for who she really is. This book is the most emotional book I have ever read. As emotional as “The Child Called it” but there is no violence. The way Hollis “speaks” to you makes you want to give her a big hug and tell her how proud you are of her for her accomplishments. There is much mystery in this story to. Something about Hollis makes you want to find out what she is really thinking. This story has love, mystery, depression and anger. Its an all in one book.

Hollis is an unmotivated person, but when it comes to people that care about her she is ready to run. Hollis is a strong girl. She will fight for an explanation. She has been through six strangers home and through those strangers she has learned to become smart, sneaky and calm. When she does get upset she takes out her writing utensils and starts to draw. Whatever emotion she has, she draws it. When it is time for her to leave one of the homes she actually enjoys, she and Josie (Her guardian), leave in the middle of the night the day before the new caretaker comes. Hollis and Josie stay in a different house that she stayed in. This house was the summer house of the family and it was winter, so Hollis knew they wouldn’t be there. But even if they were they all would start crying for joy because that was the house where Hollis was the sister, the daughter and the new family member. They loved her, cared for her and were so happy to have her in their lives. They never wanted her to leave.

Hollis finds herself worried and upset about leaving Josie. It was the night before her leaving and Hollis was depressed inside but didn’t want to show it or then she would make Josie sad. She finally tells Josie to that they need to leave so they could stay together. So off they went into the middle of the night. They drove for an hour or two and finally they reached the house where Steven lived. Steven is the son of the Old Man and Izzy. This family was the family that Hollis belonged to, so why did she leave? She and Josie broke in and stayed there the whole Christmas until one day Hollis was walking to the Grocery to call Josie’s friend to come pick her up, because Josie was depressed, but why? As Hollis was walking down the street she saw Steven riding a bike...

The theme of this book is to try, to push forward, to appreciate and to always fix what’s left behind. This book has taught me to try and even if you don’t get there, try again. I hope this book will teach you something new.
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Oct 23, 2012 Candice rated it 5 of 5 stars

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary: Hollis Woods is a foster child who has bounced from home to home because she has a hard time finding a place just for her. She finally finds solitude with an elderly woman named Josie and will do anything to keep them together.

A. The author's main character Hollis is a wonderful artist who tells the story of her life with the Regan's (a family who loved her and wanted to adopt her) through a series of pictures. While Hollis is telling her life through the use of...more

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Oct 14, 2012 cait rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

This book is different. It’s not just a novel with words and pages and chapter titles. It’s not just a story.

It’s a picture.

The author has painted us a picture, one long, deep, full picture of Hollis Woods, a tough orphan no one can handle. Nothing has been left out of this picture. We see Hollis, see right through her toughness, see her from different angles, see her until we know the real Hollis Woods. And that Hollis Woods just wants a family. Just wants to belong.

It’s a touching, poignant...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Marianthi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: print-format, realistic-fiction, newbery-honor, family, gr-5-8

Summary:
This book is about an orphan who jumps from house to house but can never seem to find a home for herself. She was left in Hollis Woods as a baby only a few days old with a note attached to her instructing to call her Hollis Woods. With no memory of her past, Hollis is expected to find herself a new family that she fits into and can start a life with. She finally finds one that accepts and loves her as much as she loves them, but throughout the book you do not know why she is not with thi...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Aimee rated it 5 of 5 stars

I can understand why this book has won numerous awards now that I've read it. It's simply a beautiful story.

Hollis Woods, abandoned at birth, has grown up in more foster homes than she can count. She's a troubled child who runs away at the first opportunity. The story really begins when she is sent to live with a retired art teacher, Josie Cahill. Hollis is something of an artist herself, and due to Josie's relaxed, easygoing nature, Hollis soon decides she'll stay with Josie. Before long, howev...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Judine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

I loved the way this book is set up, intersplicing Hollis' pictures of her time with the Regan family with her life with Josie. We know from the beginning that something happened that made Hollis believe she couldn't be with the Regans, as much as she loved them, but when everything is revealed, there is nice closure, similar to the Prodigal Son story. The images and relationships are beautifully drawn and well set up, which enables readers to root for the characters and hope for the happy endin...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Liz Batt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-lit-class-13-25

Hollis Woods is a "mountain of trouble" or so she's been told. Since her birth, she's been in and out of different foster care homes. She doesn't stay long at any and is always running away until she meets the Regans. She spends a wonderful summer with them at their lake house and begins to feel like part of their family until sn event occurs that changes everything and she runs again. She goes to live with Josie, an elderly retired art teacher who helps her realize that she is more than just tr...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Betti Napiwocki rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: newbery-medal-author

The 2003 Newbery Honor Book, Pictures of Hollis Woods, is a story about a 12 year old girl who is in desperate search for a place to call home - for a family. Hollis Woods was abandoned as a child and spent the rest of her life in the foster care system. Hollis moved from family to family, never staying at one spot for too long. The families found Hollis difficult, moody, troublesome, and in the end Hollis always ran away from the family. Hollis is placed with Josie, an older woman who is a reti...more The 2003 Newbery Honor Book, Pictures of Hollis Woods, is a story about a 12 year old girl who is in desperate search for a place to call home - for a family. Hollis Woods was abandoned as a child and spent the rest of her life in the foster care system. Hollis moved from family to family, never staying at one spot for too long. The families found Hollis difficult, moody, troublesome, and in the end Hollis always ran away from the family. Hollis is placed with Josie, an older woman who is a retired art teacher, which works out perfectly for Hollis, as she is a very gifted artist herself. After a brief adjustment period, Hollis begins to feel that she loves Josie and would like to stay with her. However, Josie forgets things sometimes and needs to depend on Hollis for daily activities. Hollis knows that Josie needs constant care and that if the social worker finds out about Josie’s needs, Hollis will be removed from the home. Throughout the book we are invited into Hollis’ pictures of a mother, father, brother and daughter. The reader learns about the relationship Hollis had with this family, about her stay with them, and about the tragedy which caused her to run away. In the end, Hollis does what she needs to do to preserve the family she has with Josie in the summer home of the family she dearly misses.
The format of Pictures of Hollis Woods takes a little getting used to, as it is almost as if it is two stories being told as one. The first story is a literal interpretation of a sketch book filled with pictures which Hollis Woods has drawn with colored pencils. These pictures reflect Hollis’ dream of having a family to call her own, as well as what a family looks like to Hollis. Throughout the pictures, we flashback to learn about the Regan family Hollis left behind: her mother Izzy, father “old man”, and her mischievous but perfect brother, Steven. Hollis had become an integral part of the Regan family and they loved her as much as she loved them. The Regans were about to adopt Hollis when she decided to leave following an accident for which she felt responsible. Hollis preserves her memories of the Regan family through her sketches, which reflect emotion, heart, and particulars of the time she was with them. Giff superbly demonstrates the emotions Hollis feels throughout her pictures, and readers will understand Hollis’ fears, regrets, and desires for a family. The reader is given each of these pictures, one at a time, coupled with the chapters of the book which tell the second story.
The second story is the story of Hollis and her time with Josie, how she came to be with her, their brief time together, and the bond which they developed. Hollis feels as though the placement with Josie is a “last ditch effort” for the social worker, and a final chance for her to make a family. The “tough” Hollis, who is shown to other characters in the book, is shown in a different light with Josie. Hollis is gentle, caring, and responsible for Josie when needed and, rather than being shown as a runaway who is difficult to manage, we learn that this is exactly what Hollis has been looking for. As the two stories of this book twine together, the reader roots for Hollis to finally get what she has always wanted, to get a reality which reflects the pictures in her sketchbook. The reader sees a child who is not jaded by the foster care system, but holds on to hope that what she seeks is out there, and she will find it.
This book won the Newbery Honor Award in 2003 and it fulfills the criteria which mark it as a “distinguished contribution to American literature”. This book is definitely a book for children, especially those in grades 4-7. The author, Giff, clearly addresses the focus of children through her theme, plot, and character development, as well as the style of the writing. Hollis Woods is a strong, creative girl who follows her dreams despite her circumstances. Giff creates a main character who uses defense mechanisms to protect herself from being hurt or disappointed. Hollis is shown to be difficult, tough, and one who speaks with a sharp tongue, but then, the reader sees into Hollis’ head and hears her fears, desires, and wants, and the reader sees Hollis’ pictures to round out the complexity of this character. Hollis Woods is a character who the reader cheers for, and who we want to see placed in a loving home and with the family she has always longed for.
The theme of Hollis Woods is family, forgiveness and belonging, themes to which every child can relate. Although Hollis is a foster child, she is not depicted as pathetic or worthless, rather being a foster child is what give Hollis her attitude, drive, and desires. Hollis longs for the one thing that readers may take for granted. I especially like that the family Hollis longs for – the Regans – are not a “perfect” family. Hollis remembers times when “old man” and Steven argue and disagree, times when Steven disobeys what his parents tell him to do, and times when Steven and “old man” seem to not like each other at all. At the time, Hollis believes these to be her fault, because she has been brought into the family dynamic. In time, however, Hollis learns that this is a family. Hollis looks back to her sketches of the perfect family – her dream – and sees a scowl on Stevens face, or a smile on “old man’s” face, just as she had drawn them. I think this provides an excellent example for children to see families are perfect – warts and all. Hollis also receives a huge lesson in forgiveness, both of herself and by the Regan family. Again, I think forgiveness is a hard lesson for children, but Giff demonstrates is beautifully in Hollis Woods.
The setting of Hollis Woods is not so vital to the story, except for the location of the remote Regan summer home where Hollis takes Josie to escape the social worker. This home needed to be remote and woodsy, as well as the site of the accident which caused Hollis to leave the Regan’s before. Hollis needs to come full circle with the events in order to forgive herself and find her happy ending. Giff beautifully places Hollis back where she had the both feelings of belonging to a family and of great despair as she caused an accident that hurt that family. By returning to that place with Josie, Hollis has to face what happened, what she needs to do next with Josie, and open her heart to forgiveness.
I didn’t read the Newbery winning title for 2003, Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi, but Hollis Woods was the first runner up, and I think it was an excellent book. I think that children will enjoy reading this fast paced, moving story. It is reminiscent of The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson, Newbery Honor winner in 1979 – another great story about finding love and family. Patricia Reilly Giff has written a story which takes the reader along for an emotional ride with fear, anger, belonging, family, suspense, and love. The characters are strong and relatable, but real and without any elements of fantasy. An excellent read!
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Jan 09, 2012 Alexa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Hollis Woods was left by her parents in the woods on a stormy night. She was sent to foster homes for the rest of her life but she could never find the family that she liked so she ran away. Every time she went to a new home, she would run away. People referred to her as "mountain of trouble." One day, Hollis found a home that she liked. Unfortunately, the woman she was staying with (Josie) was very old and was losing her memory. She was an artist and loved taking care of Hollis. Hollis was very...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Sandi rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fic, read-in-2012, young-adult

I think this book means to do well, and its by a "beloved author", but, oh my did it have flaws. First off, it's shallow and too simple. I know it is for children, but there is no reason to weaken a story, or to dumb it down. Yes, I appreciate that this is a clean book, without as much as even a kiss or hand holding. I like that because clean is hard to find, and as a 6 th grade teacher, a necessity. It wasn't necessary to describe any abusive situations in Hollis' life (she is a foster child),...more I think this book means to do well, and its by a "beloved author", but, oh my did it have flaws. First off, it's shallow and too simple. I know it is for children, but there is no reason to weaken a story, or to dumb it down. Yes, I appreciate that this is a clean book, without as much as even a kiss or hand holding. I like that because clean is hard to find, and as a 6 th grade teacher, a necessity. It wasn't necessary to describe any abusive situations in Hollis' life (she is a foster child), but there was nothing even hinted at. Hollis likes to run away. She has run away from many foster homes in her 12 years. Why? She is afraid of becoming emotionally attached. Makes sense, but no where in her back story do we see an instance of her living happily with a family and being torn from them (which is entirely plausible in the world of foster care). There's just no evidence to back up her feelings.

The entire story I felt much like Josie, the aging foster mother who has dementia. I felt I was floating along in the story, but didn't really know what was going on. The pacing felt off. The story is told as a flip flop from the present to the past. At first, the past seems like a distant memory, but then you realize that Hollis is simply remembering the previous summer (of only a few months ago) when she lived with a pre-adoptive foster family. Except Hollis ran away and now is with Josie. By the end of the story, the problem is simple. Josie can't care for Hollis, so Hollis has to go live with Eleanor, but Hollis gets Josie to drive them north and "escapes" before having to move.

And of course there is a happy ending.

Now let me tell you about the nit-picky things that pulled me from the story. First off, I took classes and was certified as a foster mother. So I've met caseworkers. They dress neatly, not in food stained sweats as Giff describes them. They are way over worked, but let me tell you they'd notice if the foster mother had dementia to the level Josie is described as having. Finally, just because Hollis "chose" to run away, does not mean she would get the final say in where she lived. The family court judge would decide, and in this story, the Regans dearly want her, so of course they'd have been in court or in meetings working to get Hollis back.

When Hollis and Josie run away, Hollis goes to the "summer house" which is four miles from the Regan's "winter house". The police are looking for her, but no one checks the summer house, not even the Regan's. That's just plain senseless and weak writing. Later in the story the author describes the summer house as having a broken window and snow causing water damage that wasn't noticed until May. Ummm, if I owned two houses four miles apart, I'd be checking in on my house to make sure it was wintering all right.

Don't even ask me how much gas Hollis paid for on Long Island, but strangely, after the trip of about 175 miles they were on empty. What a gas guzzler!

Hollis heats soup on a stove, she calls a purse a pocketbook, she desires just one egg then she could make something delicious to eat. Ummm, is she 12 or 70? Hollis and Stephen (who we assume is also a foster child) walk 4 miles to the town to a store. They're 12, there not your children legally, but you are responsible for them. Should they really walk that far alone? Then there is Josie. Josie is a lovable character, really, my heart goes to her and so did Hollis'. It was a turning point for Hollis to care for another. Being protective made her more able to accept being protected. I like that part of the tale.

But the nitpick: Maybe Josie worked 44 years as an art teacher at a private school and had no pension, but if she was a NYS teacher at a public school, she'd have no money troubles in retirement as described by Giff. Even if she wasn't a pensioner, she's have her Social Security and after working her whole life, it wouldn't be riches, but she wouldn't be worried about having the money to buy food. Of course, the county would be paying her the daily rate for boarding a child, and that's partly to buy the kid decent food.

Should you read this? Yes, it's easy and about 150 pages. It's good for a class with poor comprehension because it is simple. It could be used in grades 4-6. For an award winner, it just could have been better.(less)

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Jul 28, 2011 Laura Brennan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: elementary

Grade 4-7 -Abandoned at birth, Hollis Woods has lived in about a half dozen homes and has always wished for a family. A foster caretaker describes her as "a mountain of trouble." When Josie Cahill, a retired art teacher, takes the 12-year-old into her home on Long Island, NY, the two bond almost immediately. Hollis draws pictures with colored pencils and Josie carves branches into people. However, it soon becomes clear that Josie has trouble remembering things, and Hollis becomes the caregiver....more

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Jun 05, 2011 Diane rated it 5 of 5 stars

This novel tells the story of Hollis Woods, a young girl who was abandoned by her mother as a baby. Hollis enters the foster care system and is notorious for running away from each home that she is placed into. While staying with Josie Cahill, an elderly woman with Alzheimer's, Hollis finally learns what it is like to be needed and relives her life through drawings. As the story unfolds, Hollis finally discovers where she truly belongs.

The constant flip between present time and past time will l...more

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Dec 26, 2010 Linda Lipko rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: newbery-winner

What a wonderful, wonderful book! This 2003 Newbery Honor winner might be my #1 book of the year!

Hollis Woods received her name from the area in which she was abandoned as an infant.
Hollis Woods received her spunk after years of feeling neglected and unwanted.
Hollis Woods, like most people who learned hard knocks at an early age, built a hard impenetrable wall around her soul.

Shuffled by the system into one house after another, Hollis Woods, simply ran away when she felt it was time to get going...more

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Nov 12, 2010 Kyla Middleton rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book, I believe is one that is both emotional and entertaining. The main character Hollis Woods faces the hard life of being a foster kid. Her mother abandoned her when she was only a baby, so she lives her life everyday feeling alone and unaccepted. Hollis feels like she has no place in the world. She believes that since her mother gave her up, she was not good enough for her or anyone else on planet earth. Hollis goes from home to home, and every time, with every family, it just does not...more This book, I believe is one that is both emotional and entertaining. The main character Hollis Woods faces the hard life of being a foster kid. Her mother abandoned her when she was only a baby, so she lives her life everyday feeling alone and unaccepted. Hollis feels like she has no place in the world. She believes that since her mother gave her up, she was not good enough for her or anyone else on planet earth. Hollis goes from home to home, and every time, with every family, it just does not work out.

A little luck comes along for Hollis when she meets and gets adopted by the Regan family. The Regan family is genuinely kind to Hollis; they take her in and quickly make her a part of the family. They have a beautiful home and an amazing life for Hollis could of been experienced with the Reagans, but Hollis chooses to leave them , simply because she does not feel like she belong. Hollis left the Regans, but with her she took some great experiences. The Reagans have an irrevocable passion for art and they express their feelings and life experiences through drawing. Hollis has always loved art, but after living with the Reagans, she begins to appreciate it on a higher level.

Hollis draws almost everyday after leaving the Reagans. The world seems to be on Hollis' side for once when she meets her new foster mother, Josie. Hollis loves Josie and she feels like she has finally found her true home with Josie. Josie is an elderly woman though, and she is beginning to lose her memory. If social services finds this out, the will take Hollis away from Josie. This story is about Hollis' fight to keep the place where she finds true happiness, genuine love, and accept ion. This story is about Hollis' fight to stay home, where she belongs.

I enjoyed this novel. I love Hollis' headstrong mentality, and how no matter what negative problems may come her way, she is ready to solve them. I find this novel very entertaining because of the fact that Hollis is fighting for her new found life that she loves; but i also find it entertaining because of the strong bond that Hollis and Josie share. This novel is written in a simplistic form, I feel, but the message it sends out is so powerful. Throughout the book I feel Hollis' pain and desperation, and I can really relate to her. This is also what I like about the book, I feel like the author makes Hollis a relatable character simply because it seems like she can never win, and all of us have experienced failing or rejection before, so everytime she feels down in the book, I feel her pain with her. I really did enjoy this book, and I feel many other people will too. I feel that it is a novel of perserverance and hope, and I hope you plan to read it.(less)

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Oct 29, 2010 Sahara rated it 5 of 5 stars

yes i did this book was a amazing book, i would always recommend this book too someone
i already want to read it again...i finsh it all the way through it touck me exactly
3 weeks to finsh this book.. i felt like i wanted to cry in the last paragraph its a very
emotional book. that i kind of know were she was coming from. thats why i touck it so
emotional cause i felt like i knew what she was going threw.
i reccomend you read this book you will absolutly love it.

hollis grew up im a small town, she...more

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Oct 29, 2010 Logan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Yes i did, i liked this book because it was talking about drawing pictures, making sculptures, and other art stuff. I would recommend this book to others especially people who like to draw. I already finished it. These emotions caused me to feel really bad for the kids that have to be in foster homes

The character of Hollis Woods was a great character she was a person that you really couldn't understand. This story took place in a snowy town in which Hollis Woods called branches. Hollis always r...more

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Oct 27, 2010 Kelsey Carroll added it · review of another edition

Pictures of Hollis Woods is my kind of book. I looked at the cover of the book, and I most definitely did not expect it to be about a young 11-year-old girl. For some reason I thought it was going to be about the Holocaust (because of the cover). Hollis was a young girl who was passed from foster home to foster home. All of the homes seemed to run together. In her mind, each dwelling she was placed at, was just like the last. She was very good at pushing people away because she had to do it so f...more

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Oct 27, 2010 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really liked this book! I thought it was a fabulous story of a young girl’s on adventure and struggles that make her and a woman stay together and overcome obstacles. I found this book most in part enjoyable because it is different from the perfect family. Everyone believes that they have a perfect family, but, Hollis is still trying to find her perfect family. She thinks that she has found it but, then a few things within the family lead her to believe that it may after all not be the “perfec...more

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About Patricia Reilly Giff

PATRICIA REILLY GIFF is the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan...more

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“Drawing is what you see of the world, truly see...And sometimes what you see is so deep in your head you're not even sure of what you're seeing. But when it's down there on paper, and you look at it, really look, you'll see the way things are...that's the world, isn't it? You have to keep looking to find the truth.” — 16 people liked it

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