I read “Hold Still” by Nina La Cour. They main character is Caitlin. If I had to describe Caitlin in one word it would be strong. Caitlin’s life turned completely upside down on her and she stuck through it all. Her best friend, the one who she shared everything with, Ingrid her best friend, killed herself by cutting herself till she bled to death. Caitlin is so strong and confident. She never cares what people think of her. Even when people at school stared and asked her questions about what happened to her best friend. Caitlin always kept her head up. It was hard going to school when all she really wanted to do was just lay in bed and cry. Caitlin is very talented too. She is the best photographer in her school. Also she is an amazing builder. Caitlin built a huge tree house in her backyard, the biggest oak tree. That helped her get away from everything and release some anger and stress. Caitlin isn’t the type to give up she does what she puts her mind to, always. She has her mind set to go to Oregon for college. She wants to major in art. Ingrid has always told her how creative she was.
Caitlin was a very beautiful girl too, or at least that is what everyone else said. She was a 17 year old girl with straight auburn hair, a dozen small freckles on the bridge of her nose. She has a small mouth, and big brown eyes. Caitlin is also really skinny. Once Ingrid pasted Caitlin lost a lot of weight though, more than she probably should have.
Once Ingrid died Caitlin was still the same person but her attitude changed toward taking care of herself and toward other people. Caitlin started skipping classes and walking to the park near her school that was the place Ingrid would spend time together and just talk, that was there place. Caitlin stopped caring so much about her school work too, she didn’t really care if she turned in an assignment or not, when normally she really would, she was a great student.
Even though she didn’t always make the best choices after Ingrid had passed she learned after a while and meeting a new friend that also lost someone very close to her that it is okay. You can move on even though you will never forget that person for the rest of your life it doesn’t mean you can’t move on and make a new best friend.
I personally would think of Caitlin as someone to admire, she is a great role model. Caitlin is a great listener and won’t tell everyone what you just told her. She will keep your secret no matter what. She is a great advice giver too if you want some. She just always knows what to say. Caitlin made it through a hard time in her life, but she learned that its okay and you don’t have to hold on forever.
Part 2:
A symbol that really had meaning to “Hold Still” would by Ingrid’s journal. Ingrid hid her journal under Caitlin’s bed the night before she killed herself easily stuck out to me as a symbol. Ingrid wrote everything in that journal. It was everything about her, everyone or everything that made her happy, sad, or even like she didn’t want to live anymore. When Caitlin found her journal about a year several months later after she passed she made a promise to herself that she would only read one entry a day. Throughout the book Caitlin learned so much more about Ingrid than she ever knew before. She realized how much Ingrid kept from her. Days that Caitlin thought they had the best time and Ingrid was so happy Ingrid was really sad and depressed. Caitlin felt guilty that she didn’t notice that how her friend was really feeling inside and that she was hiding everything. Ingrid hides everything from everyone, not just Caitlin.
Caitlin found out from Ingrid’s journal that she made some really stupid mistakes in life just before she died. Such as Ingrid called up two older boys that she barely knew and told them to meet to her at the near by park. She was going to give them her virginity because she didn’t want to die a virgin. Later that day Caitlin and Ingrid hung out and she never even had any idea at all.
Throughout out the book Caitlin learned so much more about Ingrid. Ingrid’s journal even helped Caitlin realize that she probably shouldn’t do something just because Ingrid made that mistake Caitlin never knew happened to her.
Ingrid’s journal made Caitlin’s day better everyday. Caitlin looked forward to reading her journal everyday just because she felt as if Ingrid was really telling her this. Even though it might hurt a bit depending on what it was she still loved hearing from her in her own little way. Caitlin knew it wasn’t really her of course, but it still helped. It helped her get through her day. That journal helped Caitlin heal.
