Hold Fast

Hold Fast tells the story of the Pearl family who are suddenly thrust into homelessness when Dashel Pearl, the father and main breadwinner, mysteriously disappears. His family, including his eleven-year-old daughter Early Pearl, is moved into a shelter in Chicago and it is Early's love for language and her resilient spirit which shines through as they navigate this new life. From NYT bestselling author Blue Balliett, the story of a girl who falls into Chicago's shelter system, and from there must solve the mystery of her father's strange disappearance. As danger closes in, Early, her mom, and her brother have to flee their apartment. With nowhere else to go, they are forced to move into a city shelter. Once there, Early starts asking questions and looking for answers. Because her father hasn't disappeared without a trace. There are patterns and rhythms to what's happened, and Early might be the only one who can use them to track him down and make her way out of a very tough place. With her signature, singular love of language and sense of mystery, Blue Balliett weaves a story that takes readers from the cold, snowy Chicago streets to the darkest corner of the public library, on an unforgettable hunt for deep truths and a reunited family.