Dear Hank Williams by Kimberly Willis Holt

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)