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Early Pearl comes from a word-loving family. She and her brother, Jubie, love to read and play with words, thanks to their father, Dash, a library page wanting nothing more than to keep his family safe and work his way to library school. Though the family must all squeeze into a one-room apartment, they're comfortable and love spending their time together, so really, it's not too bad being poor.
When Dash decides to take on a side job to earn extra money (and the money really starts rolling in), Early's mom, Summer, is skeptical. Early knows that Dash just wants to get them out of the apartment as fast as he can, but when his side job causes him to disappear without a trace, their home to be ransacked by scary men, and the police to start investigating Dash for a crime, Early has to use her power with words to help get her family out of a city shelter and back home, altogether.
Hold Fast was so much more than a mystery tracked by a smart, young girl. Blue Balliett takes on the issue of homelessness and the concept of what "home" really means -- or should mean. The language used to described the process of becoming homeless and trying to get out of a shelter was incredibly moving at times, and I think expands upon a subject too often overlooked in children's literature. According to Balliett, thousands of children spend time in Chicago's homeless shelters each year and these children obviously need books to read that makes them feel as if they aren't alone.
The use of Langston Hughes poems throughout the text was beautifully done and I found myself frantically looking up our closest homeless shelter to see what type of volunteer work I could possibly do with a toddler. This is a book of action and it made ME want to do something about this epidemic of homelessness. Well done, Balliett.
Teachers, read this to your classes! Sometimes, I feel Balliett's books are well-loved by adults, but kids overlook them on the shelves. At least, in my experience. Make sure that doesn't happen with this one!
Thank you to Scholastic for the review copy.
By:
Inderjit Deogun,
on 3/24/2011
Blog:
The Pen Stroke | A Publishing Blog
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What am I reading now? The Danger Box by Blue Balliett
Non-fiction has a bad wrap. The genre has been categorized as, quite simply, boring, and rightly so. For years, the approach has left much to be desired. Alas, that has all changed.
The credit for this shift goes to a handful of innovative minds. A select few that dare to think outside the box and, by doing so, they have done what their predecessors didn’t. They made children’s non-fiction fun.
An ingenious formula that includes creativity and imagination has led throngs of young readers, and me, to their books. Of course, these innovators took advantage of colour and graphics, who wouldn’t. But, most importantly, they offer the reader the opportunity to participate. To be part of the learning process as a driver and not a passenger. That, my dear readers, deserves our recognition!
Don’t miss these exceptional titles:
How to Build Your Own Country by Valerie Wyatt | Kids Can Press
Learn to Speak Music by John Crossingham | Owlkids Books
Spilling Ink: A Young Writer’s Handbook by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter | Flash Point
0 Comments on The (Re)Invention of Non-Fiction as of 1/1/1900
Awesome! Inspiring! So many books, so many authors, so little time!
Neil Gaiman (!) and me. The highlight of the weekend was meeting him, getting my copy of The Graveyard Book signed and hearing his Newbery speech in person. Wow.
Me and Tammi Sauer with her new picture book, Chicken Dance. Check out this youtube
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link www.youtube.com/watch of her publisher (Sterling) having fun with her book. I wish all publishers were like this! Tammi's coming to Wisconsin's SCBWI Fall Retreat in October. We'll be bawkin' n rollin'!
Me, Kashmira Sheth,
gbeaverson , and Ann Bausum. Kashmira, and Ann are in critique groups of mine and Georgia's, though not the same one, if that makes any sense. If not, oh well, it's not important. :) Kashmira received the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for her beautiful picture book, Monsoon Afternoon.
This is Ann Bausum and Kashmira Sheth, who both had signings of their awsome books!
The illustrious Richard Peck so graciously signed two books for me, Newbery Honor A Long Way From Chicago and and an arc (advanced reading copy) of his newest, A Season of Gifts!
Mo Willems. Love him!
I couldn't decide which copies of Sarah Dessen's books to get for my daughters (I read them, too!) so I bought six, and she signed every one!
Lisa Albert, a fellow Wisconsin SCBWI-er, whose Enslow biography of Stephenie Meyer just came out!
Me and Georgia with Janet Halfmann, another fellow Wisconsin SCBWI-er, signing her wonderful book, Seven Miles To Freedom.
The SCBWI booth fantastically decked out by the Illinois chapter. That's Esther Hershenhorn on the right, the fabulous Illinois Regional Advisor.
Talk about BONUS! I had my copy of The Calder Game signed by author Blue Balliett and her editor, David Levithan, was there! Squeeee! I loved Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist! (He wrote the boy parts) :)
Georgia, Holly Black and me. I got my copy of Geektastic signed AND got the coveted Geektastic pocket protector. Does that make me a geek? Hell, yeah, and proud of it!
Gennifer Choldenko signed both my copies of Al Capone Does My Shirts and Al Capone Shines My Shoes. Saweet!
You may know her as
thatgirlygirl , Tanya Seale was in my very first critique group when we were greenhorns, waaay before we even knew what SCBWI was!
Jon Scieskza and Lane Smith
Laurie Halse Anderson
Judy Blume. Love her! I grew up with her books.
Georgia, Ingrid Law, me
Libba Bray
Libba Bray sat in the loooooooong line for her signing (before it started) and chatted with fans. How cool is that? Had my copy of A Great And Terrible Beauty signed AND got an arc signed of Going Bovine!
That's the great thing about ALA, you're surrounded by people who love books as much as you do. Publishers give away tons of arcs, I scored bags full! Bags people! Can you say a little piece of heaven? I just wish I could hole up for weeks and read, read, read.
Isn't that a beautiful sight! :)
For now, don't be surprised if you happen to run in to me at one of my son's baseball games and I seem to be engrossed in the player's list. It's hiding a book. :)
According to Blue Balliett, the author of Chasing Vermeer, writing for children is a messy business.Read the article online here.
Thanks for the great review, Amanda! I hadn't heard of this book before, and it sounds wonderful! I absolutely adore the books of hers that I've read, and I have no doubt this also join those ranks. :)
Hi Amanda! I am following your blog, would you mind following me back at the links below?
I am also contacting you to see if you'd like to review my first novel when it's released in spring/summer 2013! It will be published through the Whitson Group and is a YA paranormal romance. Please let me know if you are interested based on the description below. Thank you!
http://geminirising1.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/GeminiRising1
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-OGorek/306913389429972
Mother Earth, wounded by the human race and its disregard for her resources, will recruit human souls to serve Her and turn against humanity. A rising force festers; Gemini, a clan of paranormal beings will systematically possess and destroy towns, cities, and states. Amidst the chaos, a forbidden relationship between Onyx, a lead Gemini, and Violette, a human, begins. They will both find themselves in the middle of a revolutionary war that will either save, or destroy our world.
I just got this one and am excited to read it. It sounds fabulous. Thanks for the review!
Anything with reading and especially words just sends tingles down my spine because , words R me! I will certainly get a copy of this book and cherish it's content. Please check out my blog at:
https://babybookworms.blogspot.com
Thanks for your great review and I will continue to be a fan.