You will not be disappointed by Keeper of the Night. The style is a bit different from Louisiana Sky and Zachary Beaver, but it is still poetic. It reminded me of A Step from Heaven, short vignette's from a young girl's view. The Guam setting makes for a perfect summer novel. Teen girls will especially enjoy this gem.

Award-winning author Kimberly Willis Holt (When Zachary Beaver Came To Town) now brings the poignant story of a young girl's determination to help her family overcome or at least cope with the pain and loss they feel following their mother's suicide.

As read by actress Vivian B. McLaughlin the tale is profound, painful, yet beautiful.

Isabel is good at pretending. She would like to imagine that her mother's death was not unusual; she can think that as no one seems able to voice the reality of the tragedy. Tata responds to overwhelming grief by sleeping on the floor where her mother's body lay. Olivia wets her bed and is wracked by nightmares. Frank, on the other hand, expresses his abandonment by cutting into his bedroom wall.

Isabel knows that she must help them, but how?

There are times when truth is the only antidote for pain.

- Gail Cooke

Keeper of the Night by Kimberly Willis Holt is wonderful. Although this book is written differently than Holt's usual style, it works well. The book deals with a serious subject - suicide - but is neither too depressing or too happy. I also appreciate that at the end, the family is recovering, but not quite there yet. It shows how real life is - always a work in progress.

Jolene Jasmine Johnson's father died when she was just a baby leaving her to be raised by her mother, Ruby, and Grandpa Foster. Now, she felt she was losing another parent, her mom. She wasn't losing her to death, but in marriage to the loudiest, sweatiest logger in town, Leroy Redfield! To avoid getting to know him, Jolene decided not to call him Mr. Redfield or Leroy as he suggested. Instead, she chose to simply call him . . . Mister. Despite all the attention, candy, and gifts he bestowed upon her, Jolene refuses to accept him. In fact, she takes a special gift intended for her and Ruby (given to her by Mister for safe-keeping) and destroys it. She soon realizes that in her attempt to hurt and reject Mister, she hurts the one person she loves most, her mom. Just as Jolene discovers a wonderful way to gain her mother's forgiveness, she also discovers that maybe having Mister in her life is not so bad after all. Kimberly Holt does an excellent job writing a story that centers around the frustrations and insecurities children sometimes feel when their parents contemplate remarriage. This is a great read for all ages!

Kimberly Willis Holt has crafted a heartwarming story of Jolene Jasmine Johnson who has to face some big changes. Used to life with only her mother and grandfather, Jolene is disturbed when Leroy Redfield begins to find a place in the family. The story turns on the age old childhood dilemma, where do you turn when you think you have done the unforgivable? As Jolene faces the anger and confusion caused by her momma developing a relationship with Leroy, she strikes out without thinking. The resolution of this act is a tender story of finding that the heart can stretch to hold room for more than one person and the power of forgiveness. A wonderful story for any age.

My Louisiana Sky is a heartwarming story of acceptance and love. With each page I am intrigued by an influential message of family and strength. The author of this book made a superior choice of having a pair of mentally retarded parents intertwined with the rest of this powerful book. Without making the theme obvious, Kimberly Willis Holt, the author, created a book with a strong message for the reader to seek throughout the book.
In my opinion, the theme may be acceptance. Throughout the book, Holt reminds the reader, me, of Tiger, the main character, and her difficult life, living with mentally retarded parents. In Tiger's case, many of the dilemmas she faces involve embarrassment by her parents or the cruel work of supporting their household. Eventually Tiger learns the meaning of acceptance and learns to cope with her parents and their different learning ability.
Through the uneven and blissful times, Tiger is constantly looking for adventure. Through every problem and every consequence she seeks good, which makes the book exhilarating and gratifying. A pro of this book is that there are only three main turning points and a wonderful resolution. One of the three, and my favorite, is when Hurricane Audrey blows through Saitter, the small town in which Tiger Ann lives. At this point in the story, Tiger and her family sense that there will be a dramatic change in the weather. It so happens that they are absolutely right. A hurricane reaches their small town and destroys its surroundings but not its dignity. During the time of recovery, the town discovers a new hero and accepts this new hero and his differences.
Overall, this book is an inspiring tribute to accepting differences. Although this book was a bit under my reading level, it was intriguing and a wonderful read. Each exciting event made me anxious to read on and find the twists to the story. The author paints a wonderful picture of a small town girl living in an unaccepting world, trying to cope with her fears and the challenges that she faces.

Tiger Ann is a typical girl who is bright in school and good at baseball. The unfortunate part about her life is that the girls in her class often tease her about her family. Tiger knows that her family is rather different from many other families. They are mentally slow, and Tiger keeps her embarrassment hidden as long as her grandmother runs the household. Suddenly Granny dies, and Tiger is left to the care of her parents with her aunt. She offers Tiger Ann to come live with her, but Tiger has to make the right choice.

My favorite part in the story was when Jesse Wade, her friend, kisses her when she least expected it. She ran away from him telling him to stay away from her. She didn't think or what want her friendship with Jesse Wade to become like that. She just didn't think of him that way. After she started talking to him again and forgave him for the kiss, she thought that he wasn't that bad and was actually glad that HE was the one that gave her first kiss. So after that, they still stayed as best friends.

I enjoyed this book very much. At the beginning, it was boring and I wanted to put it down, but then , as I got further into the story, I found it much more interesting. My teacher, Mrs. Stepp recommended this book. I think it is a great book for students between the ages of 10-13, or even adults too! It tells how someone should not like them because of their family, but how they should like someone for the way they are. All in all, this is a fascinating book!

Paige Gallia
2nd
11-11-02

My Louisiana Sky

Tiger Ann is a typical girl who is bright in school and good at baseball. The unfortunate part about her life is that the girls in her class often tease her about her family. Tiger knows that her family is rather different from many other families. They are mentally slow, and Tiger keeps her embarrassment hidden as long as her grandmother runs the household. Suddenly Granny dies, and Tiger is left to the care of her parents with her aunt. She offers Tiger Ann to come live with her, but Tiger has to make the right choice.

My favorite part in the story was when Jesse Wade, her friend, kisses her when she least expected it. She ran away from him telling him to stay away from her. She didn't think or what want her friendship with Jesse Wade to become like that. She just didn't think of him that way. After she started talking to him again and forgave him for the kiss, she thought that he wasn't that bad and was actually glad that HE was the one that gave her first kiss. So after that, they still stayed as best friends.

I enjoyed this book very much. At the beginning, it was boring and I wanted to put it down, but then , as I got further into the story, I found it much more interesting. My teacher, Mrs. Stepp recommended this book. I think it is a great book for students between the ages of 10-13, or even adults too! It tells how someone should not like them because of their family, but how they should like someone for the way they are. All in all, this is a fascinating book!

Kimberly Holt and Sharon Creech both write of strong young female protagonists living in rural settings with eccentric and endearing family members. Following Zach Beaver and Walk 2 Moons, when I compare Holt's LA Sky and Cadillac with Creech's Ruby Holler and Chasing Redbird, Holt wins--hands down. She simply has a better mastery of this genre.

Cadillac is just a delightful story; chock full of eccentric characters and humor in a quaint, rural setting in the year that Neil Armstrong walked the moon. Time after time, Jaynell, the protagonist, makes you smile and chuckle with her one line "zingers" that speak her opinions on everything from "white trash" to her coquetish sister, Racine. The humor is perfect for the primary audience of children as well as adults.

The best zinger of all occurs in the second paragraph of page 137. Jaynell's parents have just returned from a getaway weekend of reconciliation and romance at the lakeside trailer of Uncle Floyd. Jaynell tells the reader, "Mama seemed different...even Daddy seemed to have a lift in his walk...Uncle Floyd had been right...there was nothing catching a fine bass wouldn't cure." Children will laugh but adults will find the word play in the last line and howl!

There is much for children to experience and learn in this story. Don't miss sharing it with your students.

Dancing In The Cadillac Lights was a very well written book. I like the way that Kimberly Willis Holt describes her characters. For example, she gives a very good description of Jaynell. She tells that Jaynell is a tom boy and she is "not a girlish girl." The story is about a family that lives in a small town, Antler, Texas, and everybody in the town always hears everybody's business. Everybody in this family of four are the same, except for there is one oddball and that is Jaynell. One day Jaynell's grandpap becomes sick and has to move in with Jaynell and her family, and over the time that grandpap has to stay with that family, grandpap and Jaynell get a better bond that takes them closer together. So overall Dancing In Cadillac Lights was a good, even though it was short, but you could read it anytime.

I can turn my head to the right as we pass a little grey shack on the new blacktop road and see a big green Cadillac sitting in the dirt driveway. Wonder how those folk can afford that, I might wonder as we whiz by. Kimberly Holt has the answers in her book "Dancing in Cadillac Light". The story, read in one sitting, swept me along because I know these people or maybe their "kin". Growing up in small town Louisiana and living in East Texas, I know first hand that Mrs. Holt has nailed this time and place down perfectly. That's what I like so much about all her books. They are about real places, and especially real people.

Life in small towns is not necessarily any easier than life elsewhere, and when Zachary Beaver came to Antler, Texas, Toby Wilson, like the rest of the town pays his two dollars to gawk at the fattest boy in the world. But when Zachary's manager, Paulie leaves Zachary in Antler with no proof that he will come back, Toby and his friend Cal learn that not only is Zachary a "side show freak", but that he is a person with feelings and dreams himself. In the course of the book Toby learns to deal with his family, his friend Cal, Zachary, and his heartthrob, Scarlett Starling.

The book is well written and deals with what could be challenging issues calmly and plausibly. This is a solid book, that while probably not deserving the National Book Award, definitely deserves to be read.

Crazy James

It is said that "nothing much happens in the town of Antler, Texas," but the summer of 1971 is the exception that proves the rule. This is the summer that Toby Wilson's mother leaves home to be a country singer in Nashville, his best friend's brother goes to war in Vietnam, his heart is broken by the town's teen bombshell, and Zachary Beaver, the fattest boy in the world, comes to town. A slowly told story, the plot and characters seem to meander aimlessly, until each comes together at the end to create an informal, if impermanent, family. In a book that describes abandonment, loss, friendship, and self discovery, the voice of Toby is clear and honest, revealing a true picture of small-town life, the doubts and fears of thirteen year-old boy, and coming of age in a changing world.

Book Review
"When Zachary Beaver Came to Town"
By Kimberly Wills Holt

Will you pay Two Dollars to see the fattest boy in the world? Yes?... I used to think that way. I used to say that I will pay any thing as long I see the fattest boy of the world but reading the book When Zachary Beaver came to Town mad me change my mind. If you are thinking on why should I change my mind you should read this passionate, humorous and extraordinary book. You won't waste your time.
Toby is thirteen-years-old. This summer was the longest and toughest in his life. ...
If you wonder why I change my mind about paying Two Dollars to see the fattest boy in the world you should read this parts from the book "How much do you eat?" he ask Zachary" after Cal ask this question Zachary said, "As much as I can" He sound like "yeah whatever" and that make me feel bad and make me stop reading and think, "How many people ask those kinds of questions." Other sentence that make me feel bad was another question of Cal's, "Where do you go to school?" Zachary answered back, "You're looking at it."What he was trying to say is that he never went out side of the trailer. If I were Zachary after only week I would drive me crazy. I would die of boredom.
I think that the author's message was that "one person can change a lot of staff" like feelings and the way of acting. That means to me that one person can come up to me and be my best friend and change my feelings. This means to the world that one president can change one city. My point of view is that i think that that's true. This writer is so good (Kimberly Wills Holt)...