Dear Hank Williams
Author(s): Kimberly Willis Holt
It's 1948 in Rippling Creek, Louisiana, and Tate P. Ellerbee's new teacher has just given her class an assignment—learning the art of letter-writing. Luckily, Tate has the perfect pen pal in mind: Hank Williams, a country music singer whose star has just begun to rise. Tate and her great-aunt and -uncle listen to him on the radio every Saturday night, and Tate just knows that she and Hank are kindred spirits.
Told entirely through Tate's hopeful letters, this beautifully drawn novel from National Book Award–winning author Kimberly Willis Holt gradually unfolds a story of family love, overcoming tragedy, and an insightful girl learning to find her voice. This title has Common Core connections.
Review(s):
Praise for Dear Hank Williams:
An Amazon Best Book of the Year
A VOYA Perfect Ten
A Wisconsin Reading Association Just One More Page! Master List Selection
A Missouri Mark Twain Award Nominee
“*The strength of this novel lies in the insight Tate develops as she deals with tragedy and depends on the love of family. VERDICT Artfully told, this middle grade novel pleases on many levels.” —Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH, School Library Journal, starred review
“With tidbits of history woven throughout and the rich cast of characters, especially an endearing protagonist, Dear Hank Williams is a novel that sings from the heart.” —VOYA, starred review
“Soulful and satisfying.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A heartbreaking revelation at the book's end secures Tate's place as a lovable protagonist, while opening the door to a hopeful future.” —Booklist
“While readers will find plenty to love and to revisit if encountering this novel on their own, the snappy pace, engaging tone, and epistolary format make this an engaging classroom readaloud, with the skillful exposition and the incorporation of historical details providing discussion fodder and potential curricular connection.” —The Bulletin
Praise for:
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town:
Winner of the 1999 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
"This book packs more emotional power than 90% of the so-called grown-up novels taking up precious space on bookshelves around the country."—USA Today
"Holt may not take her readers on wild flights of fantasy, but her quiet novel offers a slice of life that's hard to resist."—The New York Times Book Review
"In her own down-to-earth, people, smart way, Holt offers a gift. . . . It is a lovely—at times even giddy—date with real life."—The Horn Book, starred review
Praise for My Louisiana Sky:
"An unusually auspicious debut."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"This lyrical first novel brings fresh perspective to the guilt and anger and caring that surround the mentally disabled. All the characters . . . are drawn with warmth but no patronizing reverence."—Booklist, starred review
Catholic Library Association Award, St. Katherine Drexel Award (2013)
ISBN: 9780805080223