December Stillness [Hardcover]

Mary Downing Hahn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1988

Fourteen-year-old Kelly tries to befriend Mr. Weems, a disturbed, homeless Vietnam War veteran who spends his days in her suburban library, though the man makes it clear he wants to be left alone.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A serious, troubling study of teenage rebellion and idealism is combined with a story about the harsh realities of the lives of the homeless and the legacy of the Vietnam War. Kelly finds herself at odds with everyone: her best friend has turned into a giggling shopper; Keith "can't" be her friend anymore because he's male; she is ashamed of her mother's career as a greeting card artist; and she's estranged from her combative lawyer father. Kelly wants to be a real artist and go to art school, but she won't even graduate from high school unless she completes a social studies paper. After seeing Mr. Weems, a strange bagman in the library, Kelly decides to tackle the issue of the homeless by interviewing him. Her growing obsession with him leads her straight into her father's own unacknowledged despair over his experience in Vietnam; Mr. Weems is also a veteran. And while Kelly learns that good intentions don't always change things for the better, she also contributes to the healing of both her father and herself in a sensitively rendered final scene at the Vietnam War Memorial. From the author of Daphne's Song and Tallahassee Higgins , among other titles, comes another fine novela realistic look at the ongoing pain in the aftermath of war. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9 There are two climactic scenes in Hahn's new novel: one in which a homeless man is killed in a traffic accident after being barred from the library; and a powerful, moving, and convincing chapter set at the Vietnam War Memorial, in which the protagonist's father finally comes to grips with his war experiences. Yet there is no clear focus to the novel, and no direction to any of the myriad other issues that Hahn tackles: adolescent angst, individuality and conformity, the homeless, Vietnam veterans, library policies on vagrants, and more. None get the treatment that they deserve, and the story suffers as it meanders. An underachieving, show-off type high-school freshman who is trying to carve a niche for herself among her friends and her family, Kelly is concerned for a homeless, possibly deranged man whose troubles are a result of his experiences in Vietnam. This teen, who does well in an honors English class but almost fails other academic subjects and finds refuge in the children's section of the library, who abhors the shallowness of her friends' interests but acts smart alecky to gain their approval, comes across as being more inconsistent than three dimensional. The moments of great writing here serve only to underscore those too-abundant plot elements that do not work. David Gale, ``School Library Journal''
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 181 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (October 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899197582
• ISBN-13: 978-0899197586
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,525,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Downing Hahn, a former children's librarian, is the award-winning author of many popular ghost stories, including Deep and Dark and Dangerous and The Old Willis Place. An avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Ms. Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her two cats, Oscar and Rufus.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars December Stillness, January 20, 2000

By 

Gina (Streetsboro, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: December Stillness (Paperback)

I really enjoy reading Mary Downing Hahn's books. This book gives a good introduction for teen readers to understand just a little bit from different points of view from war veterans. But I'll admit the book did move a little slower than her other books. But other than that, it was another good read with a surprising ending and touching chapters that made you keep reading.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars December Stillness, December 11, 2005

By 

Mizzy Hoopie "Missy" (Southern Cali) - See all my reviews

This review is from: December Stillness (Paperback)

I thought this book was a wonderful story of a girl-Kelly-who, through some investigating of a vietnam vetran, found that there are reasons that people are having trouble groing on with their lives after the war. It had a good plot to it, and, though predictable in a way, kept you interested in what would happend. Also, it was a very emotional book, because when Kelley finally begins to understand why Mr. Weems-the vietnam vetran of their town- is the way he is, she begins to understand her dad and find why he is the way he is. She did not know how effecting the war was on men who went. I thought it was a wonderful book, and though i've read it i would read it again any time.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST BOOK!!!!!!!!, November 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: December Stillness (Paperback)

The book, December Stillness is one of the best out of my two favorite books that I have ever read. I mmust tell you that reading is definetly not my favorite thing to do at all, but when I read a book and like it, That means that it is really really good! I think this book is best for teens, and young adult readers but should be read by all. It is a sad, touching book that can capture many peoples hearts and should not be ignored! You should read it. TRUST ME!! ITS THE BEST!!!!!!!!