December Stillness

By Mary Downing Hahn

Book Overview

QUESTIONS Sensitive and idealistic fifteen-year-old Kelly McAllisterfeels at odds with everyone around her. Her best friendhas suddenly turned boy crazy. Her talented mothercreates greeting card designs instead of real art, andher father never talks to her about anything exceptworking hard and getting ahead. That's why Kelly becomes so involved in the plight of ahomeless Vietnam vet who takes refuge in the libraryeach day. Interviewing him began as a Social Studiesproject, but it takes on new meaning after her offers offood and friendship backfire into a real disaster.What had the war done to destroy this man? And whathad it done to her own father, who had been to thesame war ... and refuses to speak of it?

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380707640
• ISBN13: 9780380707645
• Release Date: September 1990
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.0" x 7.1"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

The most touching book i've ever read

December Stillness is one of the best books i've ever read. It is sad and could easily happen to anyone.This is Mary Dowing Hahn's best book. I'm not a major fan of realistic fiction but this book i could not put down. Mr.Weems who is a vietnam vet. had no friends and wanted no friends but was stumbled onto a girl named Kelly. She Eventually wanted to be her friend but he refused her. This book is an award winner and should be read by all who enjoys a great,unpredictable and sad novel. It touched my heart on how Kelly tried to help Mr. Weems and he refused her. All she wanted was a friend. I think this is a great teen novel. It has a great story to it and also a great lesson.

a terrific book

I loved the book December Stillness. It can show you what it is like to be hurt by the wars that go on. I think Kelly really tried to help Mr. Weems, a vietnam veteran.

The Best Book that I ever read. It teaches u the prospects

of how you should always be treated kindly when u want it back for you from other people! I will always remember how people want to be treated!!!

bringing the war home

Why do some veterans return home and rebuild their lives while others bring the horrors back and relive them in their waking and sleeping hours? 14 year old Kelly sees her Vietnam veteran father a worldy success and contrasts it with Mr. Weems, a homeless, emotionally disturbed Vietnam veteran. Kelly wants to help Mr. Weems but he resists all such assistance -- and her father thinks she is wasting her time. Kelly's father does not like to talk about his war experiences and is not sympathetic to the plight of Mr. Weems. The ending of the book is so poignant that I'll stop my review here!

THE BEST BOOK!!!!!!!!

The book, December Stillness is one of the best out of my two favorite books that I have ever read. I mmust tell you that reading is definetly not my favorite thing to do at all, but when I read a book and like it, That means that it is really really good! I think this book is best for teens, and young adult readers but should be read by all. It is a sad, touching book that can capture many peoples hearts and should not be ignored! You should read it. TRUST ME!! ITS THE BEST!!!!!!!!