Hold Fast

by Blue Balliett Narrated by Bahni Turpin

Overview

From NYT bestselling author Blue Balliett, the story of a girl who falls into Chicago's shelter system, and from there must solve the mystery of her father's strange disappearance.

Where is Early's father? He's not the kind of father who would disappear. But he's gone . . . and he's left a whole lot of trouble behind.

With her signature, singular love of language and sense of mystery, Blue Balliett weaves a story that takes readers from the cold, snowy Chicago streets to the darkest corner of the public library, on an unforgettable hunt for deep truths and a reunited family.

Editorial Reviews

The New York Times Book Review - Abby McGanney Nolan

…the multifaceted Early Pearl, ever observant and always pondering, shines as bright as any diamond.

Publishers Weekly - Audio

★ 08/19/2013
Eleven-year-old Early loves her family: her father, Dashiell (called Dash), who works at a library and enjoys wordplay of all kinds; her mother, Summer (called Sum); and her little brother, Jubilation (called Jubie). Together they call their family "DashSumEarlyJubie," delighting in how their names "click" together like magnets, the family members fitting together perfectly in a happy unit. But after doing some off-hours work cataloging books at home, Dash mysteriously disappears, criminals threaten the family and tear apart their apartment, and Early and her mother and brother end up out of money and trying to survive in the city's shelter system. It's up to Early to solve the mystery of what happened to her father and reunite the family. Balliett's novel is perfect for audio: Dash's talks with his family are full of alliteration and rhymes, and he often quotes the poems of Langston Hughes, which later give Early clues to solving the mystery. Narrator Bahni Turpin's superb reading brings out all the musicality and rhythm of the text, and she creates authentic, distinctive voices for a multitude of characters of varying ages and accents. Ages 8–12. A Scholastic hardcover. A Doubleday hardcover. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

The Pearl family doesn’t have much beside a shelf of books and a tight-knit bond between parents Dash and Summer and kids Early, 11, and her younger brother, Jubilation. When Dash disappears after taking a second job that involves transferring used books, the family’s apartment is violently ransacked, and the remaining Pearls must move to a homeless shelter. The third-person narrative mostly focuses on Early, but Balliett (The Danger Box) occasionally strays to an adult sensibility—to marvel at the architecture of a Chicago library branch (“an elegant conversation between stone and glass”) or to convey the hardships homeless kids face at school (“Most struggled at their grade level, having moved a bunch of times”). Early is sure that the key to unraveling her father’s disappearance lies in the one book he kept from his job, The First Book of Rhythms by Langston Hughes, and though she does some sleuthing, the mystery is largely explained in conventional exposition by adults. Still, this novel abounds in heart, shining a spotlight on the gritty truths about homelessness. Ages 8–12. Agent: Doe Coover, Doe Coover Agency. (Mar.)

From the Publisher

Praise for CHASING VERMEER:"Balliett is an original . . . Thick with devilish red herrings, this smart, playful story never stops challenging (and exhilarating) the audience." — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY"Puzzles, codes, letters, number and wordplay, a bit of danger, a vivid sense of place, and a wealth of quirky characters enrich the exciting, fast-paced story that's sure to be relished by mystery lovers." — SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNALPraise for THE WRIGHT 3:*"Another tour de force." — KIRKUS REVIEWS, starred reviewPraise for HOLD FAST: "[Blue Balliett's] latest and most heart-rending novel . . . [The] multi-faceted Early Pearl, ever observant and always pondering, shines as bright as any diamond." — NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW*"Wonderful . . . will pierce all readers" — BOOKLIST, starred review*"A moving story of homelessness, family, and the love of words and books . . . Enthralling and satisfying." — KIRKUS REVIEWS, starred review*"Balliett paints a vivid picture, a literary composition reminiscent of an Impressionist painting . . . Excellent." — SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, starred review"This novel abounds in heart, shining a spotlight on the gritty truths about homelessness." — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY"Vivid and compelling." — BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKSA 2013 Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner

School Library Journal - Audio

Gr 6–9—Eleven-year-old Early Pearl, her little brother, Jubilation, and her mom are stunned when father Dash disappears one day on his way home from work as a page at the Chicago Public Library. When their apartment is broken into, most of their belongings are stolen and the family is threatened. They find themselves in an unexpected situation—living in a shelter. The loving circle of four is reduced to a nervous, uncertain, unmoored, and frightened trio struggling to hold on in an alien environment. As Early plays detective to try to figure out what might have happened to her beloved dad; she discovers that he held an extra job that involved taking inventory of a mysterious collection of books and thinks this position could play a central role in his disappearance. Early's mom starts to unravel, Jubie acts his age, and Early is far wiser than most tweens. While there are some flaws here—Early is too mature for her age, her dad is very naive, etc.—the story and characters are compelling. Bahni Turnpin narrates Balliett's story (Scholastic, 2013) in a warm, expressive voice, and her pacing and intonation are perfection. Her recitation of the Langston Hughes poetry that is incorporated throughout the novel is excellent.—B. Allison Gray, Goleta Library, CA

APRIL 2013 - AudioFile

After her father disappears, Early, her brother Jubilation, and their mother find themselves in Chicago's shelter system. Early begins to ask questions in hopes of discovering what happened to her father. The pace of the story is leisurely, and Bahni Turpin's narration makes it a pleasure to listen to. Early and her father enjoy collecting words and learning their meanings, and Turpin excels at expressing the intricacies of language and relishing the discovery of something new. Turpin gives Early a thoughtful mix of navïeté and gumption, making of her and her dreams a story that young listeners won't soon forget. S.B.T. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

Eleven-year-old Early Pearl holds fast to her family's dream of a home of their own even after her father disappears, their apartment is ransacked, and she and her brother and mother are forced to move to a shelter. Taking her title from a Langston Hughes poem, the author of Chasing Vermeer (2004) weaves a moving story of homelessness, family, and the love of words and books. This mystery opens promisingly with a wintertime bike accident, a man's disappearance and a series of numerical coincidences. A warm family circle of four is broken; there's a violent burglary; the three remaining flee to Helping Hand. Early and her 4-year-old brother, Jubilation, play at being spies, but the fifth grader does real detective work, researching in the Chicago Public Library, where her father worked, and enlisting the help of some sympathetic adults. Gradually she, and readers, come to realize that her dad has been caught up in an international crime operation and that all of them are in danger. Early's family reads; her father is such an admirer of Langston Hughes that the poet's The First Book of Rhythms is a family treasure and plays a vital role in the solution of this intricate tale. Chapters are identified by word definitions (possible clues) and line patterns reminiscent of those in Hughes' book. Enthralling and satisfying. (Mystery. 9-13)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170857487
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	03/01/2013
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

Videos