Newbery Award Winning Book #1

Pictures of Hollis Woods

by Patricia Reilly Giff

This story was a Newbery Honor book in 2003. It took me a while to get into this book, but after I got further into the story, I was captivated. It tells the story of a little girl who was abandoned as a baby at a place called Hollis Woods. A note her mother left with her said simply to call her Hollis Woods. Hollis is now twelve years old and has been in so many foster homes that she can't remember them all. Her only wish is to be a part of a loving family. She finds a home with the Regan family, but gets scared and runs away from them as well. Hollis ends up with an elderly artist named Josie whose creativity inspires Hollis to hone her own artistry. When Social Services finds out about Josie's failing memory, they come to take Hollis away from her. Before Hollis will allow this to happen, Hollis escapes with Josie and takes her to hide out in the Regan's summer home near the lake. I loved the happy ending when Josie gets adopted by the Regan's and Josie's cousin, Beatrice, moves in with Josie to take care of her.

This is the kind of story that makes me emotional. I cried several times while reading it. I felt like I knew Hollis, and I longed for her to have a family and a happy home. My husband and I are preparing to adopt a baby, so this causes me to react strongly to stories about children that need a family.

Patricia Reilly Giff is an excellent author who has won the Newbery Honor Award two times as well as many other reading awards. Some of her other books include Lily's Crossing, Nory Ryan's Song, All The Way Home, and The Gift of the Pirate Queen.