Pictures of Hollis Woods - Patricia Reilly Giff

~by Abrah 

• 7 stars
• ages 10+
• Pages: 176 

This is the story of a young girl who is trying to find her place in the world, more specifically, a family. Hollis Woods was once a street, and then it was the name of a child, who grew up to feel unwanted, and unloved.
Hollis Woods has spent most of her life going from one foster family to another. But, then one summer she goes to stay with the Regans. They are what Hollis always dreamed of having. They are a family. A father (Old Man), a mother (Izzy), and a brother (Steven). Just as Hollis begins to feel like she belongs, a tragic accident causes her to believe that she is an outsider yet again, and she runs away as she has every time before.
Once she is found, Hollis is placed with a kind, but forgetful old woman named Josie. As Hollis struggles with her pain and guilt over what happened the summer before, Josie's memory lose gradually gets worse until the foster system decides to place her in another family. Hollis cannot risk losing another person who loved her, and takes some desperate measures to ensure she won't lose Josie too!

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Negative Elements: 

Violence - 0.5 

Hollis has a fall which slightly injures her. There is also a car crash which injures Steven and Hollis. 

Profanity - none

Sexuality - none

Other - 1

Steven and his father fight almost constantly. Hollis wonders if it is her fault, but Steven later tells her that is just "their way". Hollis often runs away, and skips school.