Hold Fast
by Blue Balliett (Author)
From NEW YORK TIMES 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. As danger closes in, Early, her mom, and her brother have to flee their apartment. With nowhere else to go, they are forced to move into a city shelter. Once there, Early starts asking questions and looking for answers, because her father hasn't disappeared without a trace. There are patterns and rhythms to what's happened, and Early might be the only one who can use them to track him down and make her way out of a very tough place.
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.
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Review quotes
"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 JOURNAL
Praise for THE WRIGHT 3:
*"Another tour de force." — KIRKUS REVIEWS, starred review
Praise 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 BOOKS
A 2013 Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner
Brett Helquist was born in Ganado, Arizona, and grew up in Orem, Utah. He entered Brigham Young University as an engineering major, but soon realized this was not the right choice for him. Having decided to take time off from college, he headed to Taiwan where he stumbled into a job illustrating English textbooks, which he enjoyed. There, a friend introduced him to an illustration student, also from Brigham Young University. This introduction inspired Brett to eventually switch majors. After spending a year in Taiwan, he went back to BYU and transferred to the illustration department. In 1993 he received a fine arts degree in illustration.
JUV028000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
