"Pictures of Hollis Woods" by Patricia Reilly Giff

Pictures of Hollis Woods, written by Patricia Reilly Giff, was published by Yearling Press in 2004. Giff's portrayal of a young artist received the Newbury Honor. Set in both upstate New York (Branches), and Long Island, Giff writes of a young girl who struggles with identifying where she belongs. Hollis Woods, orphaned at a young age, approached early life with resentment. Giff writes that Hollis displayed serious behavioral problems that paralleled her immediate disapproval of new foster parents. The reader finds Hollis at the start of the book describing images that she has created of a boy named Steven, a woman named Izzy, and a male figure simply called Old Man. The reader discovers through the descriptions of these images that these characters are members of Hollis' last foster home. Steven, the son of Izzy and Old Man, is described in Hollis' pictures as a lost partner in her scattered life. The book begins with internal, hypothetical conversations between Hollis and this past family. As a reader, one is unaware of why this relationship came to an end.

Hollis Woods finds herself placed in the home of an elderly woman, named Josie Cahill. Hollis is immediately drawn to Josie because she is also an artists. Josie creates wood carvings on the surfaces of tree branches from her backyard garden. Josie is very poor, and is best friends with a woman called Beatrice that operates a movie theater in town. Beatrice and Josie immediately recognize the talent of the young girl, and the three enjoy many meals and adventures. Amidst this picture perfect scenario, Hollis recalls, in fragments, the pictures of the family that she left behind when she last ran. While Josie begins her depiction of Hollis on a tree branch, Hollis records her surroundings as they are influenced by her experiences. The character of Josie's cat, Henry, and the interactions with Beatrice inform the compositions that Hollis creates. Hollis' temperament is influenced, however, by the sadness of her lost family.

The fragments of her past family are revealed as the book continues. The reader learns that the Old man and Steven argued over minute details of family life. The mother, Izzy, the reader learns is completely taken by Hollis' character exclaiming, "I have always wanted a daughter." The relationship of Steven and Hollis was a true partnership. Giff decides to reveal this relationship as an emotional friendship, rather than a romance. The last segment of the novel reveals the past and informs the future relationship of Hollis and Josie. The two travel to Branches to the old house of Steven, Izzy, and Old Man. With the family gone, the two break in to the house and live during the christmas holiday. The end of the book reveals the tragic accident that led Hollis to run away from the previous family. Giff also beautifully describes the continued relationship between Josie and Hollis during the holiday. The fate of Hollis' family membership is decided as Josie ages.

Pictures of Hollis Woods is a magnificent story for dissecting family dynamics and addressing the hardships of an orphan. The relationship of Josie and Hollis is beautifully crafted because both characters are on the same plane. Giff describes Josie as being a mentor and an influence in Hollis' life, just as Hollis gives guidance to Josie. The inventory of history that Hollis collects and recalls from her previous journeys is a wonderful way to document Hollis' development throughout the text. I do, however, find it surprising that there are no images in the text. Perhaps wishing to not explicitly address these images, Giff leaves out the opportunity for the reader to view Hollis' craft.

I am fortunate to have both a mother and a father. My experiences as a developing child were almost entirely privileged. As a young reader, I would have struggled in identifying with a twelve year old character that takes a bus across the state alone and is unsure of whether or not she will have a meal at the end of the day. A child with a potentially disadvantaged upbringing may access this text is a completely different manner. I feel that the challenges Hollis encounters are life-like in many ways. The severity of one's obstacles is undoubtedly varied in comparison to the challenges that Hollis faced, yet the themes of care and friendship that Giff explores are more than accommodating to all audiences.

To remain updated on news from Patricia Reilly Giff, her webpage can be found on the Random House Books website: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/patriciareillygiff/