Blue balliett on her book, hold fast, and the citywide issue with homelessness. It has a strong hold on my heart and feel like i must write about it before my head explodes. Published in 1978, hold fast is canadian author kevin majors debut novel. She writes in the laundry room of her home in chicago, illinois, and you can find her online at. Hold fast, in addition to entertaining the reader, will do two things. In the book, hold fast, by blue balliett a family of four is separated and becomes a family of three. On a cold winter day in chicago, earlys father disappeared, and now she, her mother and her brother have been forced to flee their apartment and join the. The pearl family doesnt have much beside a shelf of books and a tightknit bond between parents dash and summer and kids early, 11, and. Hold fast, blue ballietts new childrens book, explores shelter life. Hold fast, blue ballietts new childrens book, explores. This common corealigned discussion guide provides questions and activities for pieces and players, the danger box, hold fast, chasing vermeer, the wright 3, and the calder game, all by author blue balliett. Hold fast book pima county public library bibliocommons. Earlys father, dash, has disappeared on his way home from work at the chicago public library.
Author blue balliett near the harold washington library in chicago on. On a cold winter day in chicago, earlys father disappeared, and now she, her mother and her brother have been forced to flee their apartment and join the ranks of the homeless and it is up to early to hold her family together and solve the mystery surrounding. Get to know blue balliett, januarys author of the month. Out of the wild night, pieces and players, hold fast, the danger box, the calder game, the wright 3, chasing vermeer, and nantucket ghosts. On a cold winter day in chicago, earlys father disappeared, and now she, her mother and her brother have been forced to flee their apartment and join the ranks of the homelessand it is up to early to hold her family. Early pearl is very much her fathers daughter, an 11yearold fascinated with words and puzzles. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. Balliett paints a vivid picture, a literary composition reminiscent of an impressionist painting, and the landscape of life as a child within the socialservices system. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read hold fast. Balliett paints a vivid picture, a literary composition reminiscent of an impressionist painting, and the landscape of life as a child within the socialservices system comes into focus through the eyes of an 11yearold.
Like you could pick out what felt surprising in a book or poem and then save it, as long as you also wrote down the name of the person who wrote it first. Blue balliett is the author of several bestselling, acclaimed mystery novels, including chasing vermeer a book sense book of the year and an edgar award winner, the wright 3, the calder game, and the danger box. Blue balliett is the author of several bestselling, acclaimed mystery novels, including hold fast, chasing vermeer a book sense book of the year and an edgar award winner, the wright 3, the calder game, and the danger box. Hold fast by blue balliett hardcover book the parent store. Blue balliett born 1955 in new york is an american author, best known for her awardwinning novel for children, chasing vermeer. That interest might help her unravel the mystery of her fathers. I dont have much time, so i am only going to give myself 7 minutes to. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of hold fast by kevin major. Blue balliett s most recent story has a cryptic opening chapter that sets the stage for a mystery with serious undertones. She also returns with her signature take on the brilliance of young minds. She was born elizabeth balliett, but her family started calling her blue shortly after her birth. When i pick up a book for children i have to cut through a thick swath of issues infecting my brain that may have little to nothing to do with the book in hand.
Do not be afraid to go against what you were taught, or what you were told to see or believe. From nyt bestselling author blue balliett, the story of a girl who falls into chicagos shelter system, and from there must solve the mystery of her fathers strange. The book has spent the day in the front of my mind. Chicagobased author blue balliett s new book, hold fast is a literary mystery set amid the harsh realities of the homeless. There are so many lovely and terribly relevant explorations hold fast by blue balliett scholastic press, 20. From nyt bestselling author blue balliett, the story of a girl who falls into chicagos shelter system, and from there must solve the mystery of her fathers strange disappearance. Like she wouldnt be helpless, not ever, not if she could see a way out. Elevenyearold early pearl holds fast to her familys dream of a home of their own even after her father. Hold fast book johnson county library bibliocommons. A house of tailors by patricia reilly giff hold fast by blue balliett girls night in by. Discount prices on books by blue balliett, including titles like out of the wild night. From nyt bestselling author blue balliett, the story of a girl who falls into chicagos shelter system. From new york times bestselling author blue balliett, the story of a girl who falls into chicagos shelter system, and from there must solve the mystery. With hold fast, balliett has used her considerable gift to not only pen a compelling mystery, but to raise awareness for the plight of our homeless children.
Blue balliett s first novel, chasing vermeer, was a book sense book of the year and an edgar award winner. Balliett says that at the close of the school year in 2012 there were 30,000 homeless children in chicago. Balliett does a brilliant job of weaving the story with word play and figurative language. Joining the ranks of calder and petra, the resourceful preteen heroes. If you enjoyed these books by blue balliett, explore these other artful mysteries. Blue balliett is located with indelible ink on this list. Blue balliett s most recent story has a cryptic opening chapter that sets the stage. Blue balliett books list of books by blue balliett.
Blue balliett s seven young adult mysteries chasing vermeer, the wright 3, the calder game, the danger box, hold fast, pieces and players, and out of the wild night have been new york times, publishers weekly, usa today, book sense and indie bound bestsellers. Click here for hold fast book trailers made by sixth graders in chicago. The first book of rhythms by langston hughes, and though she does some sleuthing, the mystery is. Dashel takes most of the pictures, so hes rarely inside them. When i pick up a book for children i have to cut through a thick swath of. The pearl family doesnt have much, but they hold fast to their hopes, the biggest of which is a house to call their own. Hold fast book chicago public library bibliocommons. The books title, hold fast, comes from a hughes poem, dreams. I must be one of the only youth librarians who has not read any of blue balliett s novels.
I am sketching out a list of important juvenile fiction books and authors. Hes not the kind of father who you think would disappear. From nyt bestselling author blue balliett, the story of a. Its still a good read for that closeness of family and, also, the picture of the. This book will appeal to readers in 5th through 7th grades who like a good mystery, poetry, and stories about hardship and changes in fortune. Hold fast by blue balliett blue balliett, author of. Chasing vermeer, released by scholastic press in 2004, is her bestknown and most highly praised book. Upon its release, the book received critical acclaim, going on to be awarded the governor generals childrens literature award, as well as the canadian library association. Parents need to know that in hold fast, by blue balliett, author of. Blue balliett books list of books by author blue balliett. Hold fast by blue balliett paperback book the parent store. What is fact and what is fiction, especially in the world of art. Balliett paints a vivid picture, a literary composition reminiscent of an impressionist painting, and the landscape of life as a child within the social services system. Hughes poetry and writing also play a significant role in the mystery of dashs disappearance.
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