A review by adriagoetz
Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

4.0

This was a quick, beautiful read. Patricia Reilly Giff employs a strong sense of imagery and a stronger sense of tone all throughout, which is appropriate within the context of the story: a young girl, Hollis Woods, who is being weaved in and out of homes within the foster system. Foster kids are always seeing new things: new homes, new people, new things; it makes sense that the narrative is rich with imagery and carries a melancholy tone. The story is an interesting look into the foster care system, and I would love to ask someone who has been through the system, or perhaps a case manager, what they think of the story. I particularly appreciated that the reader hears all of the awful things said about Hollis Woods: that she's a mountain of trouble and as fresh as paint... but then when you observe Hollis' actions and words, you realize that she's really not. She's sweet. She's good. She skips school every once in a while and runs away, but she's not a punk. She just never feels like she belongs.