Pictures of Hollis Woods / Giff, Patricia Reilly

This Newbery Honor book about a girl who has never known family fighting for her first true home will leave readers . . . satisfied (Kirkus Reviews).

Hollis Woods
is the place where a baby was abandoned
is the baby s name
is an artist
is now a twelve-year-old girl
who s been in so many foster homes she can hardly remember them all.

When Hollis is sent to Josie, an elderly artist who is quirky and affectionate, she wants to stay. But Josie is growing more forgetful every day. If Social Services finds out, they ll take Hollis away and move Josie into a home. Well, Hollis Woods won t let anyone separate them. She s escaped the system before; this time, she s taking Josie with her. Still, even as she plans her future with Josie, Hollis dreams of the past summer with the Regans, fixing each special moment of her days with them in pictures she ll never forget.

Patricia Reilly Giff captures the yearning for a place to belong in this warmhearted story, which stresses the importance of artistic vision, creativity, and above all, family.