I had to take a short hiatus from my attempt at posting
blogs about what I have been reading. I
have finished several books since my last post, but I spent the rest of my time
preparing for the TCTELA 2016 conference (#TCTELA2016), which was a blast,
instead of attending to my blog. I hope
that you were at the TCTELA conference in Austin, Texas. If not, definitely plan to join us January
20, 2017 for the next conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
I have so much to chat about in terms of those book, but I
want to start with Dear Hank Williams.
Imagine me, sitting in my comfy leather recliner (yes, I
have one of those and it is allowed in my living room). I have just finished the book Dear Hank Williams by Kimberly Willis
Holt. The book is clutched to my
chest. I am smiling and crying, all at
the same time. My eyes are closed. Ahh…the sweet feeling of finishing a book
that makes me feel, really feel, what
it means to be a mother, a child, a teacher…a human.
What you see when you imagine me is the look of contentment
mixed with the authenticity of feelings of loss. I didn’t want to feel that loss, but I also
needed to at the same time. I know that
won’t make much sense to you now, but after you read it, you may understand a
little better, especially if you know anything about my life growing up. So, prepare yourself, your heart will be
broken, tickled, and broken again. Dear Hank Williams reminded me so much
of Because of Winn Dixie, one of my
all-time favorites and a book that I will have to devote another blog to one
day. At any rate, I digress.
Dear Hank Williams,
like Because of Winn Dixie, is just
beautiful! It holds within its pages a
sweet story told with words that carry the voice of the gentlest parent, softly
holding the reader’s hand as they traverse together through a world that is
filled with undue heartbreak and the brightest moments of happiness. When Tate describes her simple life in
Louisiana, I am quickly transported to my childhood, growing up in
Arkansas. And, when Tate talks about
Hank Williams and begins writing letters to him, I can hear Hank’s young, sad voice
traveling through my mind as if I have my ear pressed tightly to one of those
old radios. The book has such a soothing
presence and sense of nostalgia for me.
I sure would love for young readers to feel this as they travel the
pages; what a great platform for teachers and grandparents to share stories,
pictures and memories of their pasts, especially those pasts similar to Tate’s.
But…when Hank Williams does not write back and the truths of
Tate’s life are revealed, my heart hurt for her. I wanted to help her. I wanted to believe that the truth was not
true. Masterfully, Kimberly Willis Holt
weaves the reader in and out of this feeling of despair by sprinkling the story
with humor, like Uncle Jolly’s love life and Verbia Calhoon and the talent
show.
This book is definitely right up there on my list of greats
to read aloud. I can see myself reading
this aloud to third graders, and I can see elementary students choosing this to
read on their own. It definitely needs
to be talked about. Kids will need to
navigate the pain and make sense of it.
They will need a guide on their journey.
As a side note, it has a bit of a historical fiction flare with the setting
(time period and location) of the book being such that it is. This sweet little book provides a good place
for kids to do some digging into history.
And, don’t even get me started on all of the prediction and inference
that you can teach with this book.
I “swear to sweet Sally” you will love it.
Dear Hank Williams, 225 pages from Macmillan (April 14,
2015); ISBN: 0805080228
Ideal for children in elementary and early middle school
(or those of us who just love a good cry every now and then)
