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timna_wyckoff's review
5.0
Another winner for 4th grade book club! This book handles homelessness in a brutally realistic, but straightforward and accessible way for middle-grade readers. And, the writing is beautiful.
thestoryowl's review
5.0
I so enjoyed the tender and loving way Blue Balliett treated language in this book. The clever dictionary entries at the beginning of each chapter and the Pearl families' exuberance for words was a joy to read. I also give this book props for keeping me in suspense for a large portion of the plot, which is hard for a J book.
Makes some great real world points about homelessness, has violence and death, not for more sensitive souls.
Makes some great real world points about homelessness, has violence and death, not for more sensitive souls.
cathyatratedreads's review
4.0
I love reading Balliett's writing. She has so much fun with words and how they sound and feel and shares that with her readers. Reading her books feels like having a great teacher in a gifted classroom in school, someone who loves what she does and is herself gifted with inspiring students to "think outside the box" and have fun with thinking itself. This latest book shows that gift as well as any of her previous books but also includes a strong message about the plight of the homeless, particularly children and families. In a way it seems all too obvious, but it's still a fine message wrapped up in a delightful package.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/hold-fast-clean-young-adult-book-review/
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/hold-fast-clean-young-adult-book-review/
brandypainter's review
3.0
On the one hand I really like the portrayal of homelessness and the stark reality of the life too many children in the country are leading. On the other hand I feel the unrealistic aspects of the plot did this sort of a disservice. I found the scenario,the spying,the mystery too wholly unbelievable to take seriously. I doubt kids will have the same problem though and definitely plan to talk this book up. I do love the language and the connections to Langston Hughes.
maryanne6828's review
5.0
Beautiful story about a family that ends up living in a homeless shelter. Unusual to see homelessness from a child's perspective. The author uses the poetry of Langston Hughes to help tell the story. And the author gives us some vocabulary lessons along the way. Loved the way this was written. Loved the story. Highly recommend!
beatniksafari's review
2.0
I loved the unusual setting of this book (the homeless shelters of Chicago), but the rest didn't come together for me. The characters didn't come to life, and the storyline involving a diamond heist was far from plausible.
latelykelsey's review
3.0
I love pretty much anything Blue Balliett writes. But this one wasn't as great as her others. I love the premise and the characters had promise. But I found it hard to really get into, it was still enjoyable enough but not my favorite.
saidtheraina's review
4.0
This was my first Balliett read, and less of a traditional mystery than I expected.
Sum's story is heartbreaking, and very real.
Memorable for its setting (a tiny apartment in Chicago, and then an inner city shelter), the father's job working as a paraprofessional in a library, and the relationships between the members of Sum's family.
Sum's story is heartbreaking, and very real.
Memorable for its setting (a tiny apartment in Chicago, and then an inner city shelter), the father's job working as a paraprofessional in a library, and the relationships between the members of Sum's family.