Pictures of Hollis Woods

       Holliswoods is an orphan and a very talented artist. She's lived with countless families but always ends up running away and taken back to that dreaded orphanage. That is until she lives with Izzy, Old Man, and Steven. They are the family she was always fantasizing about ever since she was little then why did she leave them too even though she didn't want to? After she left them she was sent to live with Josie who is an old lady who is very forgetful. While living with Josie and her pet cat, Henry, Hollis realizes why she left and longs to go back even though she likes Josie very much. But alas, Holliswoods can not go to her true home. Josie is old and forgets things even like making sure Hollis goes to school. Hollis promised Josie's sister, Beatrice, that she would look out for Josie when Beatrice was away in Albuquerque therefore she's tied down. Will Holliswoods go home to her beloved Izzy, Old Man, and Steven? Or will the awful mustard woman who is in charge of where Holliswoods go forbid her? You'll have to read Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff to see what happens.

Throwing Like A Girl

   15 year old Ella Kessler just moved from Chicago to Texas during the middle of the school year. Ella has never played a school sport so she is super surprised when Coach Dixon asks Ella to try out for Coach Lauer's softball team. Ella's new friend Rocky is teaching her a few things. Rocky used to play softball and was the best but had to quit due to family matters. Ella loves softball and her team. Well, almost everyone on her team except for Sally Fouintineau who of course has to be Nate's little sister. All I can say is just that Ella's life is very interesting. A lot of girls don't like her because she gets the dreamy quarterback/acting star as her "fiance" in the Marriage Project. Technically Sally is Ella's sister in law so that makes her life so much easier considering Sally wants to make her miserable. Not much can stop Ella from getting Rocky back on the team and starting in softball. Not even Sally can though she tries. From prom to championships this book is really great. Throwing Like A Girl by Weezie Kerr Mackey is very well written and really good. I hope you will give it a shot and love it as much as I do.