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Hold Fast - Audio (2013)

by Blue Balliett(Favorite Author)

3.8 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0545497663 (ISBN13: 9780545497664)

languge

English

genre

Middle Grade & Children's

publisher

Scholastic Inc.

review 1: From NYT bestselling author Blue Balliett, the story of a girl who falls into Chicago's shelter system, and from there must solve the mystery of her father's strange disappearance.Where is Early's father? He's not the kind of father who would disappear. But he's gone . . . and he's left a whole lot of trouble behind.As danger closes in, Early, her mom, and her brother have to flee their apartment. With nowhere else to go, they are forced to move into a city shelter. Once there, Early starts asking questions and looking for answers. Because her father hasn't disappeared without a trace. There are patterns and rhythms to what's happened, and Early might be the only one who can use them to track him down and make her way out of a very tough place.With her signature, singular ... morelove of language and sense of mystery, Blue Balliett weaves a story that takes readers from the cold, snowy Chicago streets to the darkest corner of the public library, on an unforgettable hunt for deep truths and a reunited family.
review 2: I wasn't sure, based on many reviews I read, if I would like this one but as it turns out I did. I listened to the audiobook and loved the word play and "rhythms" throughout the story. The story was different and while the plot was far-fetched, it was still interesting and enjoyable. I loved the setting of inner city Chicago and the depiction of shelter life. As to some of the negative reviews I've read here's what I think...some people complained that this book panders to librarians. I think that an author is more than welcome to write any character and shouldn't be concerned that a librarian might read it and feel pandered to, that is absurd. Secondly, Balliett has always been clever and interested in intellectual mystery and word play so this is nothing new for her (but her characters are now different...is that the problem some had?) Also, one character is an adult man trying to support a family on a basically minimum-wage job and so what if he wants a Library degree? How is this infuriating? If you work in a library, love your job, but don't yet have the degree of course you would want one, especially if it might mean financial security. Lastly, my kids also listened to this audiobook (I had it on in the kitchen) and they loved it. In fact both have asked to listen to it again all the way through in their rooms, and neither of them are "kids who love words".I love a happy ending and a hopeful story and I love the idea that where you come from and where you are do not define you. There are amazing minds in every corner of this earth and we shouldn't feel that it is unbelievable when it comes from the unexpected. less

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