Part of Me: Stories of a Louisiana Family [Hardcover]

Kimberly Willis Holt (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

The lives of four generations of one Louisiana family, woven together by a master storyteller

 

Tracing a family’s roots is like taking a journey through the years. In the case of one Louisiana family, that journey can be charted by the books they read and loved.

The journey begins in 1939 with Rose, who moves with her mother and siblings from rural Texas to live with their estranged grandfather in the Louisiana bayou. Rose connects with this flavorful community through her love of books and by driving a bookmobile. Two decades later, Merle Henry, Rose’s son, is more passionate about trapping a mink than about reading, although there is a place in his heart for Old Yeller. In 1973, Merle Henry’s daughter, Annabeth, feels torn between reading fairy tales and a crush on a real-life knight in shining armor. And in the present day, Annabeth’s son, Kyle, finds himself in a bind: he hates reading, but the only summer job he can get is at the library.

In her people-smart way, Kimberly Willis Holt introduces us to a Louisiana family: touching, lyrical, and always intriguing, their stories reveal the powerful connections between four generations.

 

Part of Me is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-9–This lyrical novel is actually a collection of vignettes that spans five generations of a family living in the Louisiana bayous. Beginning with Rose as a young girl who, in 1939, must drop out of school in order to help her mother put food on the table, the stories follow pivotal moments–an injured dog, learning to dance, a summer job–in the lives of her descendants. What connects the chapters is the presence of books, whether on a bookmobile or on a library shelf, or even the writing of ones own story. Holt once again excels at creating character and an evocative sense of place.–Melissa Moore, Union University Library, Jackson, TN
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Set in Louisiana bayou country, this unusual collection of stories spans four generations of one family and uses reading as the thread that strings them together. The first three tales, which begin in 1939, concern Rose, who must go to work at 14 and passes herself off as 17 to drive the library bookmobile. Two stories tell of Rose's 12-year-old son, Merle Henry, reading Old Yeller around 1957. In 1973, his daughter, Annabeth, an eighth-grader, clings to fairy tales in the face of first love. Then Annabeth's 13-year-old son, Kyle, in 2004 can only find a library job--though he doesn't like to read. The final story, also taking place in 2004, centers again on Rose, now 79. Though readers may sometimes wish for more about a particular character, this collection offers a different experience: marking the passage of time through a succession of related characters. Readers intrigued by Rose, whose early entries are the only stories told here in first person, will have the satisfaction of seeing her in later tales and watching her quiet triumph at the end. The author of My Louisiana Sky (1998), Holt sketches a broad range of characters with verve and sensitivity. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (August 22, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805063609
• ISBN-13: 978-0805063608
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,792,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a Navy brat that lived all over the world including Guam, Paris and the New Orleans Westbank. Even though we moved a lot, my emotional home was always Forest Hill, Louisiana, a little town in the piney-woods where my grandparents lived. I married a Texan and have lived in Texas most of my adult life. Both states feel like home now. I like to say that Louisiana gave me roots and Texas gave me branches.

I started writing on yellow legal pads and didn't own a computer until after I'd been writing a year. Maybe that's why I still write my first drafts by hand.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Your children and your children's children, August 26, 2006

By 

E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Part of Me: Stories of a Louisiana Family (Hardcover)

Librarians of the world, rejoice! Have I got a children's book for you. Because Kimberly Willis Holt is a sweetheart, I know that her book, "Part of Me", must have come out of a very special place in her heart. Inspired in part by, "Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky" alongside seven generations of Holt's own family that have lived in Louisiana, this book has its roots in a variety of different places. That said, I've never read a children's book that was so clearly bound to be adored by a single profession as this l'il puppy. If you know a librarian and you want to make them happy, good news. Your gift-giving qualms may be safely put to rest.

The story begins when Rose's father leaves. Her family had been eeking out a living as best they could until that time. But when Conrad McKee left his wife and three kids that day, it wasn't long before they packed up and moved to Houma, Louisiana. Deep in the Louisiana bayou, Rose gets a job as a bookmobile driver, putting aside her dreams of finishing high school and attending college. "Part of Me", follows four generations of Rose's family, starting with her, and going down through her descendants a generation at a time. Rose's son Merle has a story in this book involving trapping, a hurt dog, and how "Old Yeller" touched his life. His daughter Annabeth, in turn, suffers the humiliations of unpopularity while finding her own inner strength in stories where the princess does NOT end up with a prince at the end. Her son Kyle, in contrast, couldn't care less about books. Then a particularly good one get him hooked. Finally, by the story's end, we return to Rose and her greatest dream realized.

First of all, thank you, Kimberly Willis Holt, for the family tree at the beginning of the book. There's nothing worse than a story that jumps from generation to generation without a simple map for the reader to follow. I'm fairly bad with names too, so it was nice to have a part of the book to continually check as a reference. Of course, reading through the family tree was bound to give away some secrets as to who marries who, but if you're willing to put up with that then you'll have no problems at all. The book might jump from one character to another, but as long as you have the family tree available, you'll have no troubles.

The writing itself is great, of course. Holt has the ability to make each character's voice distinct and separate from the rest. Bear in mind that these are quiet stories. With the exception of a little bloodshed in Merle's tale, you will find no chase sequences, dark-hearted villains, or action sequences here. You will find a little cussing and a little alcohol use (though the term "hair of the dog" is never actually used . . . ), but nothing mind-blowing. One librarian I heard discussing this book called it a summer story. Most of the tales here do take place in the summer months, but I'm not sure if that's how I would best characterize it. It's just a measured, balanced series of family tales. It's the equivalent of sitting on your porch listening to your relatives recount their past adventures.

All right. The one hundred million dollar question here: Will kids like this book? I say yes, but with some caveats. First of all, this is not a reluctant reader title. You want to give a book to a child who only reads Manga and maybe some "Harry Potter"? This may not be the best choice to give. The cover alone makes it infinitely clear that this is a book for those children who love reading. Better still, those who love reading about realistic people and situations. I have little doubt that a lot of kids will find themselves sympathizing with Annabeth's desire to be popular or Merle's affection for his dog and his trapping. I, personally, saw a lot of my own siblings in book-avoiding Kyle. Holt cleverly balances the text between boys and girls too so, in spite of its pastel cover, boys will find characters here to take some interest in.

All in all, it's a nice book. Not a stunning book but a nice one. With Louisiana so often in the news these days, it's nice to read something that reminds us of that region's charms and beauties. Librarians are gonna buy it in droves.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Part of Me, February 16, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Part of Me: Stories of a Louisiana Family (Hardcover)

This is a story about a girl named Rose and her siblings. Their father leaves without
telling his family. So Rose and her siblings are stuck with their evil mother. They don't have any food or water, so they move. This story tells Rose's life story from when her family had to move to Michigan to when Rose's great grandchildren had kids.

I think every one should read this book especially teens because it's filled
with fun, excitement, love and every day teen stuff.

5.0 out of 5 stars Part of Me: Stories of a Louisiana Family, November 10, 2006

By 

Ray Willis (Tyler, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Part of Me: Stories of a Louisiana Family (Hardcover)

Excellent story and excellent presentation, clearly demonstrating Ms. Holt's abundant creative talents as well as her deep understanding of a simplistic way of life in the south that preceded her generation. I have followed Ms. Holts writing career closely and my 1st choice among her 7 published books is "When Zachary Beaver Came To Town". First, because it sent a strong message to its readership that obese people often deserve our empathy and friendship, and secondly, because I was amazed at her ability to think like pre-teen age boys, as the book centered around 3 lads. It deservedly was awarded the 1999 National Book Award for Young Peoples Literature and I think "A Part of Me" has promise of capturing an even larger readership and achieving the highest literature awards. It offers a wide variation of deep south characters and does an excellent job of bearing out their wants, needs and contributions across several family generations. Definitely should be a candidate for the Newberry award!