Pictures Of Hollis Woods

Pictures of Hollis Woods 

• Genre: Fiction; realistic fiction; middle grade 
• Originally Published: 2002 
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 650L; grades 4-7 
• Structure/Length: Approximately 176 pages; audiobook length about 3 hours and 18 minutes
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Hollis “Holly” Woods, a young girl who has been shuffled between numerous foster homes, is the protagonist. The central conflict revolves around Hollis’s struggle to find a place where she belongs and her relationship with the Regan family, who wants to adopt her, as well as her fear of attachment due to past rejections. Through her drawings, Hollis tells the story of her life and her deep longing for a family. 
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of abandonment and foster care; family separation; emotional trauma and healing; depiction of the challenges faced by children in the foster system

Patricia Reilly Giff, Author 

• Bio: Born 1935, died 2021; American author and educator; known for her deep and empathetic exploration of children’s experiences, particularly those dealing with complex emotions and situations; her work often emphasizes themes of family, friendship, and the power of personal resilience 
• Other Works: The Gift of the Pirate Queen (1991); Lily’s Crossing (1997); Nory Ryan’s Song (2000); Eleven (2008) 
• Awards: Newbery Honor (2003)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Lasting Effects Of Trauma and Memories
• Running, Hiding, and Being Found
• Using Art To See Life Clearly

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the psychological and sociological contexts regarding the use of art as an escape from traumatic childhood events, which connects with Hollis’s love of drawing as a coping mechanism from her experience in the foster care system.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Lasting Effects Of Trauma and Memories; Running, Hiding, and Being Found; and Using Art To See Life Clearly.
• Create and share your interpretation of Hollis’s drawings, demonstrating an understanding of the reading, based on text details.