Hold Fast
Scholastic Inc | ISBN 9780545299893 Paperback
288 Pages | 5.27" x 7.6" | Ages 8 to 12
Scholastic Inc | ISBN 9780545299886 Hardcover
288 Pages | 5.75" x 8.56" | Ages 9 to 13
Scholastic Inc | ISBN 9780545510196 Ebook
288 Pages | Ages 9 to 13
From bestselling author Blue Balliett, the story of a girl who falls into Chicago's shelter system.
Where is Early's father? He's not the kind of father who you think would disappear. But he's gone. And he's left a whole lot of trouble behind.
It's not enough that Early can't find out what's happened to him. His vanishing leads to Early and her mom and her brother being kicked out of their apartment. Having nowhere else to go, they move into Chicago's shelter system. And from there, Early must start getting answers to her questions.
Because Early's father hasn't disappeared without a trace. There ARE traces. And Early's going to use them to track her father down... and make her way out of a very tough place.
Raves & reviews:
Praise for Hold Fast
"[Balliett's] most heart-rending novel . . . the multi-faceted Early Pearl, ever observant and always pondering, shines as bright as any diamond." —The New York Times Book Review
*"Early is a clever heroine, and her smarts are enhanced by the poetry of Langston Hughes, which ripples beautifully through the story and infuses it with hope. One to ponder, this has a beat all its own." —Booklist, starred review
*"A moving story of homelessness, family, and the love of words and books. Enthralling and satisfying." —Kirkus, starred review
*"An engaging mystery in which books are both the problem and the solution, and the author shows that the fight to hold fast to your dreams rewards those who persevere. Excellent." —Booklist
*"A captivating mystery. Woven into the story are bits of history and philosophy, mathematical puzzles and most importantly, compassion for others." —BookPage, starred review
Extras:
Discussion Guide: Novels of Blue Balliet