Holding Me Here - Softcover

Pam Conrad wrote many award-winning books for children, including the immensely popular The Tub People and The Tub Grandfather, both illustrated by Richard Egielski. She is also the author of a number of critically acclaimed novels, including Prairie Songs, a 1986 ALA Best Children's Book of the Year and a 1985 ALA Golden Kite Honor Book, and Stonewords, winner of the 1991 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Juvenile Mystery.

Grade 6-10 This isn't just a gripping page-turner, although it includes mystery (14-year-old Robin discovers that Mary, the boarder in her mother's house, has left behind two children), intrigue (Robin secretly arranges an ill-advised reunion between Mary and her young daughter) and suspense (Mary's drunk and abusive husband breaks into the house while Robin is there alone). Nor is this merely a sensitive and original young adult problem novel, although readers (and Robin) learn that her obsession with bringing Mary's family back together stems from the hurt and confusion she feels over her own parents' divorce. Conrad gives readers all this, with fine writing besides. Robin's first-person narration achieves a blend of naturalness, poetry and humor that many similar efforts lack. The characters, especially those of Robin and her family, are complex, convincing and lovable for their human flaws. Robin's self-discovery evolves gradually, as a believable consequence of her experiences. There are no wasted sentences here, and yet this book is not predictable. The reader's revelation is just slightly ahead of Robin's. Only once does the novel strain our credibility: it seems unlikely that Mary could gain custody of her children only by establishing herself financially. But this minor flaw pales beside the novel's enormous strengths. Ruth Horowitz, Notre Dame Academy Girls High School Library, Los Angeles
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