Hold Fast [Mass Market Paperback]

Kevin Major (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 1981

Sent to live with relatives after his parents are killed, 14-year-old Michael finds his uncle intolerable. When he runs away, his cousin accompanies him.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (August 15, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440937566
• ISBN-13: 978-0440937562
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I felt that my book was very interesting., May 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hold Fast (Paperback)

The book that I have read was called Hold Fast. My over all impression of this novel was very good. The reason that I liked the book so much was because it hit home. The reason that I say it like that is because I was also orphaned by my father and it made me realise a lot of things. When people lose someone it is hard to just go on with your life so quickly, this book proves this and shows that only time will heal your wounds, so to speak. When I first started reading Hold Fast I was immediately interested. This was because the author started the story at the funeral of the deceased parents. Their Michael expresses his feelings about his parents. Michael tries to blame his tears on the Minister but admits to himself that it is all right to cry. The main character in the book tells this story, his name is Michael. Michael is between the ages of 13 and 14. Michael's parent's die in a tragic accident leaving him and his brother orphaned. This forced Michael and his brother Brent to be split up and live in different homes. The book Hold Fast kept me on my toes at all times. This book was interesting, stunning and this would be an excellent choice for any teen to read. This book taught me that all children in the world have to learn to be independent, but . . . they have to learn to do it on their own. By Aimee Chouinard

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I like this book., May 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hold Fast (Paperback)

Book Review The book that I was reading was called Hold Fast, and going to tell you about my overall evaluation about how good or bad the story was. I believe that the book hold fast was a very good book because of the events that happen in the story. I like the main character Michael, Because of the kind of situation that he was in and what he did to control it. I also liked the story because I can relate to some of the events that happen in the story. There was nothing in the book I disagreed with. But overall it was a funny and excited book to read, and I enjoyed it very much. The next thing about the book I am going to talk to you about is how interesting was the book, why didn't or why did I keep reading it. Because the main character Michael was telling the story it made it more interesting because there was more felling to the story. Also because Michael knows about every event that happen because he was there, so the way the story was told by Michael's point of view is the real way the story should be told. I will recommend this book to every one who needs to know how hard and important life is. People how are going through pain and hare times should read this book so they know they are not the only one in the world that is having problems. Whatever the situation is they need to fight through there problems and try to mike thing happen for them. So I will recommend this book to people how don't know how important life really is to everyone. Andrew Bent.

4.0 out of 5 stars Realistic Portrayal of Teen Dealing with Grief, July 31, 2011

By 

NebraskaIcebergs - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hold Fast (Paperback)

When Hold Fast was first published in 1978 it was hailed as a landmark of young adult writing and established Kevin Major as one of the best Canadian writers of his generation. Only a month after Michael turns fourteen, his parents are killed in a car crash by a drunk driver. Michael grew up in an outport or a small coastal community, but moves to a city to live with his relatives. As one would expect, he is less than welcomed by his classmates. While it is also not a great surprise when he doesn't get along with his aunt or uncle, I enjoyed the budding friendship between Michael and his cousin. After enduring physical blows from his uncle, Michael decides it is time to hit the road and is joined by his cousin on a cross-island adventure. What I liked best about Hold Fast as a Newfoundlander is the colloquial writing style and the description of many familiar places. There is much to admire about Hold Fast. It shows the full impact that the death of parents would have on a teen (or anyone), with no punches held back. The portrayal of the contradictory emotions that teenagers feel while sorting through their moral values is also incredibly real. The character of Michael has been compared to Holden Caulfield and Huckleberry Finn, both of which seem valid to me. What I most liked is how Kevin Major achieved a delicate balance between in depicting the struggle of rebellious adolescents to make mature decisions.