Certainly, this book is not perfect, and I had a bit of a hard time getting through the first 20 pages or so. Once I did, however, well.... Hold Fast is a story that is sticking with me. When I find myself thinking about a character or puzzling over part of a book when I am *not* reading it, I know it's a book worth raving about. Here goes.The Pearl family lives in a small apartment in Chicago, but they have a love that extends beyond the boundaries of any walls. Dash (the dad), Sum (the mom), Early (the daughter and "main" character), and Jubie (the 4 year old son) read, play and imagine together. Dash works for the Chicago Public Library, which is a steady job but does not pay well (as you might imagine), though the family places a higher value on the time they get to spend together. One day, book-loving Dash is offered a side job to receive and catalog small shipments of old books, which will then be hand-delivered to a processing warehouse by one of his coworkers at the library. Not long after, Dash mysteriously disappears, and the family's apartment is destroyed by a strange group of violent criminals. Without an income, Sum and her children find themselves in a homeless shelter and struggling through each day. What will become of them? What can Early do to help her family?There are problems, of course. The whole story is a bit more neat and tidy than real life tends to be. Early is almost too precocious and intuitive to be believable (almost). There are a few stereotypes that are perpetuated, although not blatantly (for example, there is some discussion of child abuse in the shelter, but there is no naming of the perpetrators' race). Fortunately, Balliett's clear and well-paced writing, developed characters and subject matter override those other issues. The value of reading and using your imagination and problem-solving skills is a major theme throughout the book. Early, a fifth-grade student, is empowered and supported, allowing her to support her family when a crisis arises. Within this nicely crafted story is a more important narrative, and that is, how do children and families end up in shelters? What is life there like? Why can't people just get a job and move into a tiny apartment rather than stay homeless? This book offers some honest answers that are age-appropriate, and sure to be great fodder for important discussions. For boys or girls, as well as their parents and teachers -- enjoyable and thought-provoking. Hold Fast to Dreams I read the book Hold Fast by Blue Balliett. It was published in 2013, and is a great heart-felt mystery. This book is especially good for anyone looking for a little excitement, drama, and suspense in their life. It not only tells a great story, but really expresses what families have to go through when living in a shelter. It teaches you to be thankful for every little thing you have, because you never know what you will lose, nor when you will you lose it. Dash, Summer, Early, and Jubilation (Jubie) are a happy family centered around words and their meanings. All is well, until one day Dash mysteriously disappears, leaving his family lost and alone. Eventually, Summer, Early, and Jubie lose their home and end up living in a city shelter. Held together by a thread of hope, life in the shelter nearly tears their family apart. Curious for answers regarding her father's disappearance, Early investigates, but finds out there is a lot more loose ends than she thought. I enjoyed the realistic twist on this fiction mystery. It really explained what life was like in a shelter, and how hard it can be. In the beginning, however, I felt it started out sort-of slow, but it did pick up once the mystery began. My favorite part of the whole thing was probably when Summer, Early, and Jubie we're living in the shelter. Early got introduced to some peers that she could really relate to, having all of them have lived in a shelter before. This book, if I were to rate it, would probably receive a score of 8 out of 10. Overall, this was a fantastic book! It's not only a great story, but it also moves you in a way that only people who read this book can encounter. I would totally recommend it to someone who enjoys mystery books. Also, if you enjoyed this book and wanted something more, Blue Balliett has written other phenomenal books such as Chasing Vermeer and The Calder Game. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!!
What do You think about Hold Fast (2013)?
A clever mystery that highlights the importance of family and literature.I love Early's character.
—maxim
This book is an amazing and heartfelt glimpse into the world of homeless children.
—bnick1026
