Hold Still
{{short description|2009 young adult novel by Nina LaCour}}
{{for|the 2021 photographic book|Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Hold Still
| subject = Mental health, Photography, Suicide
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| author = Nina LaCour
| country =
| language = English
| image = Hold_Still_cover.jpg
| pub_date = October 20, 2009
| publisher = Dutton Children's Books
| published =
| media_type = Print
| pages = 230
| isbn = 9780525421559
| dewey =
| congress =
| notes =
}}
Hold Still is a young adult novel by Nina LaCour, published October 20, 2009, by Dutton Children's Books.
Backstory
Hold Still was written to complete LaCour's requirements of her master of fine arts degree from Mills College.{{Cite web |title=About Nina |url=https://www.ninalacour.com/aboutnina |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Nina LaCour |language=en-US}}
LaCour has stated that she pulled inspiration from the book from her personal life, noting that when she was in ninth grade, two people she knew killed themselves, a teacher and a classmate. LaCour's decision to add photography into the novel stemmed from a photograph she found, taken by one of her mother's high-school-aged students. The photo focused on "a girl's bare stomach with the words 'fat, ugly, stupid' carved into the skin." The girl in the photo served as the inspiration for Ingrid, whereas the person who took the photo became the inspiration for Caitlin.
Reception
Hold Still received a starred review from Publishers Weekly,{{Cite web |title=Pick of the Week Book Review: Hold Still by Nina LaCour, Author, Mia Nolting, Illustrator . Dutton $17.99 (229p) ISBN 978-0-525-42155-9 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-525-42155-9 |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}} as well as positive reviews from Kirkus{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2010 |title=Hold Stil |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/nina-lacour/hold-still/ |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Kirkus Reviews}} and The Horn Book.{{Cite web |title=Hold Still by Nina LaCour |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9780525421559J&name=Hold_Still |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Junior Library Guild}} The book is a Junior Library Guild selection.
Publishers Weekly called the novel "an impressive debut with an emotionally charged young adult novel about friendship and loss."
The Horn Book called it "a fresh take on a well-worn subject and a passionate argument for creativity as a vehicle for healing." The Junior Library Guild echoed the sentiment, stating, "The book is invested in the creative process and shows that there are multiple steps involved in moving from inspiration to finished art."
The Junior Library Guild further noted that LaCour's "[c]haracters are detailed and feel refreshingly contemporary," providing a "[c]ompelling depiction of friendship."
Booklist provided a mixed review, stating that "this first novel may try to cover too much," while noting that the "immediate, present-tense, first-person narrative stays true to a teen’s daily experience, and ... the metaphors of loss and recovery are rooted in the surprising dramas of daily life."{{Cite book |last=Rochman |first=Hazel |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Hold-Still-Nina-LaCour/pid=3590754 |title=Hold Still |date=October 15, 2009 |via=Booklist |access-date=January 2, 2022 }}
In 2023, the book was banned, in Clay County District Schools, Florida.{{Cite web |title=District Reconsideration List |url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iP1nVObzc_x1LgOUTEwf7w_t9Q7j4zRXan_mTL_6k0I/edit?gid=369888666#gid=369888666 |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=Google Docs |language=en-US}} and Penncrest School District, Pennsylvania.{{Cite web |title=PEN America Index of School Book Bans – 2022-2023 |url=https://pen.org/book-bans/2023-banned-book-list/ |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=PEN America |language=en-US}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Accolades for Hold Still !Year !Accolade !Result !Ref. |
| 2009
|Publishers Weekly Flying Start |Selection |
| rowspan="2" |2010
|American Library Association's Best Books for Young Adults |Selection |
| William C. Morris YA Debut Award
|Finalist |{{Cite web |date=January 18, 2010 |title=hold still {{!}} Awards & Grants |url=https://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/content/hold-still |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=American Library Association}}{{Cite web |last= |date=January 13, 2010 |title=YALSA's 2010 Literary Award Winners |url=https://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/bookawards/2010winners |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) |language=en}} |
| rowspan="2" |2011
|Rhode Island Teen Book Award |Nominee |
| TAYSHAS Reading List
|Selection |
References
{{reflist}}
Category:2009 children's books
Category:Dutton Children's Books books
Category:Novels set in San Francisco
Category:Children's books set in San Francisco
Category:Children's books with LGBTQ themes
{{2000s-LGBT-novel-stub}}
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