Part of Me

by Kimberly Willis Holt Narrated by Kate Reading

Overview

The journey begins in 1939 with Rose, who moves with her mother and siblings from rural Texas to live with their estranged grandfather on the Louisiana bayou. Rose connects with this flavorful community by driving a bookmobile. Two decades later, Merle Henry, Rose's son, is more passionate about trapping a mink than about reading, although there is a place in his heart for Old Yeller. In 1973, Merle Henry's daughter, Annabeth, feels torn between reading childish fairy tales and a crush on her own real-life knight in shining armor. And in the present day, Annabeth's son, Kyle, finds himself in a bind: He hates reading, but the only summer job he can get is at the library.
In her people-smart way, Kimberly Willis Holt introduces us to a Louisiana family. Touching, lyrical, and always intriguing, their stories reveal the power-ful connections among four generations.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

A love of words—books, reading and writing—is the theme that runs through Holt's series of vignettes, which illuminates four generations of a Louisiana family. Teenage Rose, an aspiring writer, kicks things off: forced to flee the Dust Bowl–ravaged Texas panhandle in 1939 with her mother and siblings, she lies about her age in order to get a job driving the library's bookmobile to help her struggling family and never looks back. Subsequently, Rose's outdoorsy, dog-loving son, Merle Henry, holds great fondness for Old Yeller. In the early 1970s, Merle Henry's daughter, Annabeth, tries to ease her adolescent growing pains with Hans Christian Andersen. And Annabeth's son, Kyle, who is tortured by the thought of reading, eventually finds a spark of inspiration in a library job and Harry Potter. Actress Reading uses a mellifluous Southern lilt, often suffused with notes of sadness, to capture the broad spectrum of emotion here. Though a recitation of the family tree at the beginning of the program feels more overwhelming than helpful, listeners will likely find satisfaction as Reading confidently brings the characters and inspiring imagery full circle. Ages 12-up. (Dec. 2006)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

School Library Journal

Gr 7-9-This lyrical novel is actually a collection of vignettes that spans five generations of a family living in the Louisiana bayous. Beginning with Rose as a young girl who, in 1939, must drop out of school in order to help her mother put food on the table, the stories follow pivotal moments-an injured dog, learning to dance, a summer job-in the lives of her descendants. What connects the chapters is the presence of books, whether on a bookmobile or on a library shelf, or even the writing of one's own story. Holt once again excels at creating character and an evocative sense of place.-Melissa Moore, Union University Library, Jackson, TN Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

In 1939, Rose McGee's Papa leaves, and Momma moves the family from Amarillo, Texas to the Louisiana bayou where she grew up. When they arrive, Momma forces Rose to lie about her age to get a job driving the bookmobile. Rose would rather go to school, but the family needs the money. Seventeen years later, Rose's son Merle Henry prefers trapping, but sees the use in some books. In the '70s, his daughter Annabeth grows from reading fairytales to classics, and in 2004 her son Kyle takes a job at the library and discovers that he doesn't hate reading. As lovely as it may be, Holt's collection of stories connected by ties familial and literary doesn't have the time to flesh out most of its characters. Rose, who begins by telling her story, never comes back to life even as her dream of writing a book of her own comes to fruition in the final pages. None of the other characters are allowed to tell their own stories, and they come away feeling like place-holders on the family tree. Still, for its sense of family history, this is worth a spot in large collections, especially, of course, in Louisiana. (Fiction. 10-14)

From the Publisher

* [An] atmospheric novel. . . . Economical, evocative prose reflects the leisurely pace of Southern living and movingly conveys family tensions, family love, and the power of stories to bring generations together.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“[An] affectionate multigenerational portrait. . . . Homespun dialogue and descriptive language . . . add to the narrative's comfortable charm. A thoughtful study of how everyday life may have twists and turns but can still take us where we want to go.” —The Horn Book

“Holt sketches a broad range of characters with verve and sensitivity.” —Booklist

“Lyrical . . . Holt once again excels at creating character and an evocative sense of place.” —School Library Journal

“[A] lyrical, touching saga.” —Voice of Youth Advocates

“There is drama, humor, rebellion, despair—but understated for the most part, quietly moving the reader.” —KLIATT

JUN/JUL 07 - AudioFile

National Book Award winner Holt offers a multigenerational saga in the Southern tradition. The listener hears narrator Kate Reading’s affinity for Holt’s characters as she gives life to matriarch Rose, equal parts dreamer and realist, and her family. The story opens in 1939 as 14-year-old Rose is forced to move to the Louisiana bayou, drop out of school, and take a job. For the girl who dreamed of becoming a writer, driving the county’s bookmobile turns out to be near-perfect employment. The story continues through four generations. Reading’s voice is clear and soothing. Her character portrayals are distinct and effective, and her handling of Rose carries the day. D.J.P. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169379587
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	11/14/2006
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

Read an Excerpt

Part of Me

Stories of a Louisiana Family

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By Holt, Kimberly Willis

Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Copyright © 2006 Holt, Kimberly Willis
All right reserved.
ISBN: 0805063609

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Time drags when you're waiting for an alligator to wake up and move. I thought of a song I taught Pie to sing when she jumped rope. And out there in the middle of nowhere, I started to sing, "Mumps, said the doctor. Measles, said the nurse. Vote, said the lady with the alligator purse!"

Marlene stared at me all bug-eyed. I guess I couldn't blame her. She'd never seen me act silly. By the second time around, though, she was singing with me. We sang louder and louder and darn if that old alligator finally opened his eyes. When he did, we screamed and clung to each other, then burst out laughing. The alligator started slowly moving across the road, dragging his long tail behind him. When he finally had cleared enough road that I could get around him, I held my breath and took off with a chug-chug and pressed down on the accelerator. My heart beat so hard I heard it pounding in my ears. When we'd gone a safe distance, we exhaled together and laughed again.

Continues...

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Excerpted from Part of Me by Holt, Kimberly Willis Copyright © 2006 by Holt, Kimberly Willis. Excerpted by permission.
Allrights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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