pictures of hollis woods essay

Chapters 1-5: Hollis's Placement with the Regans

Hollis is placed with the Regans, an elderly couple living in a rural farmhouse. She struggles to adapt to her new surroundings and is wary of forming attachments.

Chapters 6-10: Hollis's Artistic Talent and the Struggle with Attachment

Hollis's artistic talent begins to emerge, and she finds solace in drawing. However, her fear of attachment and her longing for her birth mother continue to haunt her.

Chapters 11-15: Flashbacks to Hollis's Past

The narrative delves into Hollis's past, revealing her troubled relationship with her birth mother and her experiences in various foster homes. These flashbacks shed light on her emotional struggles.

Chapters 16-20: The Connection with the Regans

Hollis develops a close bond with the Regans, particularly with Steven, the husband. She begins to feel a sense of belonging and stability, but her yearning to find her birth mother remains strong.

Chapters 21-25: The Search for Hollis's Mother

Driven by her longing to reunite with her birth mother, Hollis embarks on a journey to New York City, where she believes her mother resides. Her determination leads to a series of emotional revelations and challenges.

Chapters 26-30: Hollis's Realization and Acceptance

Hollis comes to a profound realization about her past and her future. She learns to accept the love and support offered by the Regans, ultimately finding a sense of belonging and family in their home.

• Hollis is placed with the Regans, a kind and nurturing elderly couple.
• Hollis struggles with her fear of attachment and her longing to find her birth mother.
• Flashbacks provide insights into Hollis's troubled past and her experiences in foster care.
• Hollis develops a deep bond with the Regans, particularly with Steven.
• Hollis embarks on a journey to New York City in search of her birth mother.
• Hollis experiences emotional revelations and ultimately finds acceptance and belonging with the Regans.

Family and Belonging

The novel explores the profound impact of family and the innate human need for belonging. Hollis's search for her birth mother and her eventual bond with the Regans highlight the importance of finding a place to call home and the significance of nurturing relationships.

Identity and Acceptance

Hollis's journey towards self-discovery and acceptance is a central theme in the novel. Her struggle with her past and her search for her true identity underscore the universal desire to understand oneself and find acceptance.

The Impact of the Past

The narrative delves into the lasting effects of the past on an individual's present and future. Hollis's traumatic experiences in foster care and her yearning to reconcile with her birth mother illuminate the enduring influence of past events on one's life.

Readers of "Pictures of Hollis Woods" will be deeply moved by the emotional depth of the novel and the resilience of the protagonist, Hollis. The story's exploration of family, identity, and the impact of the past offers readers a poignant and thought-provoking narrative that resonates on a profound emotional level.

In "Pictures of Hollis Woods," Patricia Reilly Giff crafts a compelling and emotionally resonant tale that captures the complexities of human relationships and the enduring quest for belonging. Through Hollis's journey, the novel offers a powerful exploration of family, identity, and the redemptive power of love and acceptance. As readers accompany Hollis on her transformative odyssey, they are certain to find themselves deeply moved by the novel's profound insights and heartfelt storytelling.

Pictures of Hollis Woods FAQ

What is the genre of 'pictures of hollis woods'.

The genre of 'Pictures of Hollis Woods' is fiction, specifically a coming-of-age novel.

Who is the author of 'Pictures of Hollis Woods'?

The author of 'Pictures of Hollis Woods' is Patricia Reilly Giff.

What is the main theme of 'Pictures of Hollis Woods'?

The main themes of 'Pictures of Hollis Woods' include family, belonging, identity, and the importance of love and understanding.

What age group is the book suitable for?

The book is suitable for middle-grade readers and young adults, generally recommended for ages 10 and up.

What is the setting of 'Pictures of Hollis Woods'?

The story is set in a small town and a rural area, with some scenes taking place in a foster home and a remote cabin.

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Language arts activities for middle school and upper elementary..

Discussion Questions for Pictures of Hollis Woods

Today, I’m reposting this set of discussion/essay questions for Pictures of Hollis Woods.   For presenting a great assortment of themes for middle graders, this novel is the best!  The themes are at once easily accessible for middle graders and at the same time interesting and complex as you get into them.

Pictures of Hollis Woods , the middle grade novel by Patricia Reilly Giff, introduces a number of themes that kids in middle or upper elementary school will relate to – themes that can be used to spark a class discussion, for long-answer questions or writing prompts, and for hands-on projects.  Although most kids will never be in the exact same situation that Hollis is in, they can all relate to themes that this novel brings up – themes like family, friendship, running away, caring, truth, honesty, and trust.

Here are some open-ended questions that students could respond to in writing or that might work well for a class discussion.  If you would a copy of the questions for your classroom, you can download it below.

• At the beginning of the story, why did Hollis feel like she would never have a family?
• How were the Regans different from other foster families that Hollis had lived with?
• In what ways were Hollis and Josie a real family?  In what ways were they different from a real family?
• Why do you think Hollis went back to the Regans in the end?
• Why do you think Hollis never had any friends in the beginning of the story?
• Hollis left the Regans because she didn’t want to cause problems for Steven.  Do you think this was an act of real friendship?
• How was Steven a true friend to Hollis?

Running Away

• Why do you think so many foster kids run away?
• Do you think running away was the best choice that Hollis had in certain situations? Why or why not?
• What caused Hollis to finally stop running?
• Do you think that most foster parents truly care for their foster kids?  Explain.  What about Hollis – do you think that only one or more of her foster parents really cared for her, or do you think they all cared for her in different ways?  Explain your thoughts about each of her foster situations that were included in the story.
• How did taking care of Josie help Hollis?
• By the end of the story, Hollis had learned an important truth – that people in a caring family can argue and disagree but still love each other.  How did she learn this truth?  Can you think of examples of how this idea is true in your own family or in other families or groups that you know?

Honesty and Trust

• As a foster kid who moved from house to house, Hollis learned to keep things to herself.  She kept running-away money stashed in her backpack, and when she got ready to leave a house, she ran away without telling anyone.  She also ran away with Josie without telling anyone where they were going.  Do you think these actions were dishonest?  Why do you think Hollis felt the need to be secretive?  Do you think other foster kids feel that way?
• How did the Regans continue to show Hollis that she could trust them even after she ran away?

Download your copy of the questions here: Pictures of Hollis Woods Discussion Questions

With so many easily accessible themes,  Pictures of Hollis Woods  would be a great choice for group or individual projects – fun as the end of the year approaches, or at any time!  Maybe start with a few questions and a class discussion, and then once kids have started thinking, have them break out into groups for a fun hands-on project based on one theme that they have shown as interest in.

For more teaching resources for  Pictures of Hollis Woods,  see the resources from Classroom in the Middle’s store pictured above.  You can also read more about them in this blog post .

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Pictures of Hollis Woods Study Guide

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Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

Pictures of hollis woods book summary.

• Book Summary
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Pictures of Hollis Woods is the story of an 11-year-old orphan girl (Hollis Woods) who has been moved to countless foster families unfolds through the pictures she draws. The one picture to another family again. This time however, Hollis refuses to leave Josie since she feels Josie needs her. She and Josie run away because Hollis wants to stay with Josie. She ends up returning to Branches, which is the summer home of the last family she ran away from (the Regans). The Regans were in their winter home so would never know Josie and Hollis were there. Hollis throughout the story still however longs to be with them again and misses them very much.

The Regans were an amazing family for her and she loved them all very much. Hollis(Holly) left the family because of her fear of her attachment and out of guilt. The Regans have a son named Steven who developed a close bond with Holly. One night while the Old man (Steven's father) and Izzy (Steven's mother) were out and Steven was fishing, Holly decided to leave the house and go up the mountain by the house. She ended up hurting herself because she got too close to the edge and rolled down the mountain a few feet. She needed Steven to find her to drive her down because of her injuries from the fall. He had to drive all the way up the mountain to get her and while he was on his way back down the mountain as careful as he was the truck ended up sliding because of the mud, which caused the truck to tip over to the side. The truck was sliding all the way down the mountain and it crashed.

The Old man and Izzy got her and Steven to the hospital. Hollis had stitches on her head from the car crash. When she was brought back home by Old man and Izzy, the guilt started to sink in. She kept thinking if she had not gone up the mountain then Steven would not have crashed the car. The guilt made her pack up her bags and run away once again from another family even though she loved them and they loved her.

While she is in Branches with Josie trying to hide from the "mustard woman", Hollis goes fishing. In the woods, she runs into someone who she cannot see very well. She assumes it is a fisherman and runs away from him. Josie and Hollis celebrate Christmas together in the Regans' summer house. Hollis gives her a drawing of Josie, Henry, and Beatrice (Josie's cousin) by the popcorn machine in the theater. Josie gives her the wooden self sculpture she promised she would make for Hollis. She also gave Hollis a tin of candies that she found in the house which were Izzy's. Josie said the candies were from Santa Claus.

Hollis soon begins to think Steven is in the area because she keeps seeing Steven's sweater in the house move and Josie claims she heard a snowmobile. She calls Beatrice to come and live with Josie so she can take care of Josie. Beatrice agrees to live with Josie. She hears the snowmobile and then she sees Steven and when she sees him she says to him "Steven Regan. Happy Birthday." Then, she goes back to living once again with the Regans and this time she has a baby sister in the family named Christina. She's content with her new and forever family.

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Pictures Of Hollis Woods

68 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

First Picture-Second Picture

Chapter 2-Fourth Picture

Chapters 4-6

Sixth Picture-Seventh Picture

Chapters 8-10

Ninth Picture-Chapter 12

Eleventh Picture-Twelfth Picture

Chapters 14-15

Chapter 16-Fourteenth Picture

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Sixth Picture-Seventh Picture Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Sixth picture summary: “driving the truck”.

Hollis remembers “I never showed this picture to anyone” (59). It depicts her laughing in a field while she drives the truck with Steven one night when Izzy and the Old Man are out at the movies. Before the parents leave, the Old Man instructs Steven to clean up a mess he made in the shed, saying “Did you notice how neat Holly’s things are?” (60). Hollis is worried by this statement. When the parents are gone, Steven takes Hollis out to the field and demonstrates how to drive the truck, which turns out to be great fun. Hollis feels uncharacteristically free and joyful.

Chapter 7 Summary: “The Time with Josie”

Hollis wakes up early one morning and tries to do the homework she forgot about the previous night. She hears that there’s snow in upstate New York where the Regans live and wonders what life would be like if she lived with them. Realizing she will never finish all her homework before school, Hollis decides to skip again and walks out to the pier with Henry the cat following her. As the narrator, she says, “I knew it was a mistake. But still I kept going” (63). The captain of a local boat offers to pay her to help him clean the boat, and she is excited to have some money to buy food.

Hollis walks home happily, but when she arrives, the mustard woman is in the living room. Josie is making lengthy small talk with her, and Hollis realizes Josie can’t remember who the mustard woman is. Finally, the mustard woman says, “I think, Mrs. Cahill, that we need to talk about another place for Hollis” (66). She explains she’s found a family for Hollis to live with, and that, while Hollis doesn’t need to move there right away, she’ll start visiting them soon. When the woman leaves, Hollis can’t help nastily pointing out to her that she has an “extra large” sticker attached to the back of her sweatshirt.

Seventh Picture Summary: “Izzy”

Hollis is on her way to give Izzy a picture she’s drawn of her flipping the amazing pancakes she always makes. Hollis remembers a visit with Izzy to a nearby cemetery where Izzy’s parents and a six-day-old child she gave birth to are buried. Izzy explains that she was never able to have more babies after that child died, though she wanted a big family. In the cemetery, they can hear the Old Man and Steven yelling at each other far away. Hollis asks if this always happens, and Izzy says “It does seem worse this summer. […] But they have to find their own way” (69). This statement worries Hollis a lot.

Returning to the moment when she’s planning to give Izzy the drawing, Hollis overhears Izzy and the Old Man discussing whether Hollis will be able to keep living with them when they leave their summer house. Not knowing Hollis is listening, both parents agree she belongs with them, and they make hasty plans to add a room to their winter house so the agency will let her stay. They won’t be able to complete it fast enough for her to come with them right away, but they imagine they could do it by early fall. They refer to her as their daughter. Hollis briefly remembers the stucco woman calling her a “mountain of trouble,” but brushes it away, believing that she will finally have a family.

Sixth Picture-Seventh Picture Analysis

The scene where Hollis and Steven drive the truck features a mixture of freedom, joy, and lurking danger that exemplifies how Hollis is feeling at this stage of her time with the Regans. On the one hand, she is starting to let loose and truly have fun, feeling safe with Steven because he’s earned her trust. On the other, learning to drive illegally could have bad consequences (and ultimately does in the later car accident). The detail that the field they are driving in must be mowed regularly because it’s full of rattlesnakes supports the sense of danger just barely kept at bay. The lurking danger exemplifies how Hollis feels about the Regans—there are increasing signs that they are her true family, but because of her intrusive memories, she is always worrying whether anything good will stay that way.

The Seventh Picture is a good example of how Hollis’s memories are layered in the narrative . Though the section begins with Hollis on her way to give Izzy a drawing, it quickly expands into a variety of other memories—how she used to eavesdrop, Izzy making pancakes, the day Izzy took Hollis to the cemetery. Even when the narrative returns to the present, throughout the conversation between Izzy and the Old Man, Hollis is flashing back to the W picture and the stucco woman calling her “a mountain of trouble.” The experience of reading these interwoven memory scenes mimics Hollis’s stream of consciousness .

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Pictures of Hollis Woods Short Essay Assignments

1. What is the premise of PICTURES OF HOLLIS WOODS?

2. Why did Hollis' first grade teacher put a big "X" on her "W" picture?

(read all 60 Short Essay Questions and Answers)

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