TeachingBooks
Hold Still

Book Resume

for Hold Still by Nina LaCour and Mia Nolting

Professional book information and credentials for Hold Still.

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  • School Library Journal:
  • Grades 10 and up
  • Publisher's Weekly:
  • Ages 14 and up
  • TeachingBooks:*
  • Grades 7-12
  • Word Count:
  • 64,231
  • Lexile Level:
  • 770L
  • ATOS Reading Level:
  • 4.8
  • Cultural Experience:
  • Disability
  • Genre:
  • Realistic Fiction
  • Year Published:
  • 2009

The following 10 subject headings were determined by the U.S. Library of Congress and the Book Industry Study Group (BISAC) to reveal themes from the content of this book (Hold Still).

The following unabridged reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers. Reviews may be used for educational purposes consistent with the fair use doctrine in your jurisdiction, and may not be reproduced or repurposed without permission from the rights holders.

Note: This section may include reviews for related titles (e.g., same author, series, or related edition).

From School Library Journal

December 1, 2009
Gr 10 Up-After losing her best friend, Ingrid, to suicide, Caitlin is completely immobilized. Unable to function, and refusing to visit a therapist, she begins the long journey to wellness alone. During this year of heart-wrenching, raw emotion, Caitlin finds Ingrid's journal, which not only reveals her descent into irreversible depression, but also serves as Caitlin's vehicle for renewed hope in the future. The book is written with honesty, revealing one's pain after the loss of a loved one. Caitlin learns, with the help of new friends and her parents, that there is life after Ingrid."Sharon Morrison, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, OK"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Publisher's Weekly

Starred review from August 31, 2009
LaCour makes an impressive debut with an emotionally charged young adult novel about friendship and loss. Caitlin begins her junior year in high school bitter and stunned over the recent suicide of her best friend Ingrid, a talented photographer and artist. Afraid to risk new friendships and unable to continue her own artistic endeavors, Caitlin finds herself in a state of paralysis, wrestling with questions that may remain unanswered. Then she discovers Ingrid’s journal, a record of her thoughts during her final days, and reasons for her tragic, perhaps inevitable fate begin to come to light. What is most remarkable about LaCour’s tale is her ability to make the presence of an absent character so deeply felt. The entries and pictures in Ingrid’s journal vibrate with feeling and provide insight into the pain of chronic depression (“the sun stopped shining for me is all. the whole story is: i am sad. i am sad all the time and the sadness is so heavy that I can’t get away from it”). Ingrid’s secrets are excruciating to discover, but the ample evidence of her creative force makes it clear that her life had meaning. Ages 14–up.

Hold Still was recognized by committees of professional librarians and educators for the following book awards and distinctions.

Hold Still was selected by educational and library professionals to be included on the following state/provincial reading lists.

United States Lists (9)

Arkansas

  • 2010-11 Arkansas Teen Book Award

District of Columbia

  • Capitol Choices 2010

Georgia

  • 2010-11 Georgia Peach Book Awards for Teen Readers

Missouri

  • 2011-12 Gateway Readers Award

Rhode Island

  • 2011 Rhode Island Teen Book Award

South Carolina

  • 2011-2012 SCASL Young Adult Book Awards

Texas

  • 2011 Tayshas Reading List

Vermont

  • 2011-2012 Green Mountain Book Award

Virginia

  • 2011-2012 Virginia Readers' Choice, High School

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This Book Resume for Hold Still is compiled from TeachingBooks, a library of professional resources about children's and young adult books. This page may be shared for educational purposes and must include copyright information. Reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers.

*Grade levels are determined by certified librarians utilizing editorial reviews and additional materials. Relevant age ranges vary depending on the learner, the setting, and the intended purpose of a book.

Retrieved from TeachingBooks on January 30, 2025. © 2001-2025 TeachingBooks.net, LLC. All rights reserved by rights holders.