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Hold Fast
Book by Major, Kevin
178 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
6 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Major
30 books39 followersKevin Major is the author of 20 books, for both young people and adults. The first, Hold Fast, won several awards in Canada and was placed on the Hans Christian Andersen Honour List. It was released in 2014 as a feature film. His second book, Far From Shore, was the winner of the first Canadian Young Adult Book Award. Others which followed include Blood Red Ochre and Eating Between the Lines, winner of the CACL Book-of-the-Year Award.
In 1992 Kevin was given the Vicky Metcalf Award, for an outstanding body of work of significance to young people. The languages into which his work has been translated include French, Danish, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew.
An adult novel, No Man’s Land, about the Newfoundland Regiment in World War I, was published in 1995 to much acclaim. Kevin’s adaption of the story was brought to the stage by Rising Tide Theatre and has played for more than a dozen years.
His more recent books include the Christmas classic The House of Wooden Santas, and a history of Newfoundland and Labrador: As Near To Heaven By Sea (a Canadian best-seller and finalist for the Pearson Non-Fiction Prize). Ann and Seamus, a verse novel released in 2003 was shortlisted for a total of ten awards. It has since been turned into an opera. The adult novel New Under the Sun was published in 2010, book one of a trilogy of historical fiction. The second, Found Far and Wide, was released in 2016, and the third, Land Beyond the Sea, in 2019.
In 2018 Kevin started a projected serious of crime novels with One for the Rock. He anticipates the second will arrive in bookstores in the fall of 2020.
Kevin has been named Memorial University’s Alumnus-of-the-Year, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council’s Artist-of-the-Year .
John Moss, writing in “A Reader’s Guide to the Canadian Novel,” has said, “Kevin Major is among the best Canadian writers of his generation. He has established himself as a figure of singular importance in our literature.”
He lives in St. John’s, NL with his wife Anne. They have two grown sons.
In 1992 Kevin was given the Vicky Metcalf Award, for an outstanding body of work of significance to young people. The languages into which his work has been translated include French, Danish, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew.
An adult novel, No Man’s Land, about the Newfoundland Regiment in World War I, was published in 1995 to much acclaim. Kevin’s adaption of the story was brought to the stage by Rising Tide Theatre and has played for more than a dozen years.
His more recent books include the Christmas classic The House of Wooden Santas, and a history of Newfoundland and Labrador: As Near To Heaven By Sea (a Canadian best-seller and finalist for the Pearson Non-Fiction Prize). Ann and Seamus, a verse novel released in 2003 was shortlisted for a total of ten awards. It has since been turned into an opera. The adult novel New Under the Sun was published in 2010, book one of a trilogy of historical fiction. The second, Found Far and Wide, was released in 2016, and the third, Land Beyond the Sea, in 2019.
In 2018 Kevin started a projected serious of crime novels with One for the Rock. He anticipates the second will arrive in bookstores in the fall of 2020.
Kevin has been named Memorial University’s Alumnus-of-the-Year, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council’s Artist-of-the-Year .
John Moss, writing in “A Reader’s Guide to the Canadian Novel,” has said, “Kevin Major is among the best Canadian writers of his generation. He has established himself as a figure of singular importance in our literature.”
He lives in St. John’s, NL with his wife Anne. They have two grown sons.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 12, 2025
Well I knows I don't have a category for Newfoundland books, but son, I should. This one takes the cake and then some, I'm a telling ya. Gives this one an extra star for the voice. You reads it in your head, son, not on the page, and it flows on and on like the wind over the rock.
Kept flipping back and forth whether this was a typical YA book. The protagonist is not always that likeable, but he is the unreliable narrator we are given, and I suppose through him we can see how we can learn to make better choices in life.
A classic in Canlit, this one is a jewel in the voice and in the cultural clashes experienced by a small town boy forced to move to a larger centre.
Kept flipping back and forth whether this was a typical YA book. The protagonist is not always that likeable, but he is the unreliable narrator we are given, and I suppose through him we can see how we can learn to make better choices in life.
A classic in Canlit, this one is a jewel in the voice and in the cultural clashes experienced by a small town boy forced to move to a larger centre.
September 1, 2016
Hold fast was very different for me from my usual ya fantasy/fiction read but it wasn't too bad nonetheless. The characters and plot weren't too bad. The language was very strange for me to read. I enjoyed how it took place in Canada vs the US or some future dystopian word, but at times I got bored and didn't really want to continue reading. All in all I would probably give it 6.4/10 stars because I didn't much enjoy it but it wasn't too bad, and I don't want to discourage other people that might want to read it.
January 27, 2014
This was a great novel. It talks about a 14 year boy named Mike lives in Marten Nova Scotia. mike has just found out that his parents tragically died in a car crash. Mikes world is obviously turned right upside down. he has a younger brother who is having a roughtime with the loss of his parents not surprisingly and mike is having a hard enough time dealing with it himself that he comes off harsh with his younger brother not intentionally.
mike and his brother end up being seperated and moving with different relatives. mike now realizes why his mom never spoke much about her brother when she was alive. moving to St albert bring micheal into a very harsh reality that nothing will ever be the same way again. his aunt is loving but his uncle is mean and controling with everyone who lives under "his roof". He's verbally abusive as well physically towards mike and his own son. mike has had enough one night talks with his cousin about running away. they end up running back home by stealing someones car and having stops along the way and camping in the middle of the winter in an abandoned camp ground site.
mike and his cousin finally make it back home with a few sangs along the way, where the uncle comeses to claim his own son. Tensions are high as micheal has a temper of his own but he makes it clear that he will no longer live with him and his uncle is never to treat him that way again.
Micheal ends up stsying with his aunt while his cousin goes back with his father.
mike and his brother end up being seperated and moving with different relatives. mike now realizes why his mom never spoke much about her brother when she was alive. moving to St albert bring micheal into a very harsh reality that nothing will ever be the same way again. his aunt is loving but his uncle is mean and controling with everyone who lives under "his roof". He's verbally abusive as well physically towards mike and his own son. mike has had enough one night talks with his cousin about running away. they end up running back home by stealing someones car and having stops along the way and camping in the middle of the winter in an abandoned camp ground site.
mike and his cousin finally make it back home with a few sangs along the way, where the uncle comeses to claim his own son. Tensions are high as micheal has a temper of his own but he makes it clear that he will no longer live with him and his uncle is never to treat him that way again.
Micheal ends up stsying with his aunt while his cousin goes back with his father.
January 14, 2010
One of the many inappropriately listed Young Adult books being used to tutor elite elementary students in the ways of the world. This one claims to be "a Newfoundland classic" with a protagonist heralded as the Rock's Holden Caulfield (according to the the Kirkus Reviews?). A ringing endorsement not to rush out and buy the Catcher in the Rye, if this statement is true. I suppose it is interesting to hear an authentic Newfoundlander's accent that doesn't slip into the obvious "aboot"s and "ayes-the-b'y"s but the "baywop" Michael ends up sounding a little too much like Gollum. There are some ethnographical highlights about the difference between coast and inland communities, but with no real sense of geography - I could only find a St. Albert, Alberta on my iPhone's GPS - Michael's journey does not make such a big impression.
December 10, 2018
Very interesting book. My students particularly enjoyed this one. For "new to Canada" students, it offers a glimpse into Canadian life before cell phones and MTV, etc.
The story is very believable, and the characters are consistent.
My students were rather fascinated when I explained why I thought that the author chose a VW Beetle as the car "borrowed" at the airport:
American cars at the time had 2 keys: one for the ignition, and one for the doors. Lifting 2 keys from the owners key-ring would be fairly noticeable, but only one would be less so. European cars usually have one key for ALL the locks: ignition, glove-box, console, doors, and trunk. Since most of my students are driven to school (by a parent) in a German SUV they had never seen a vehicle with 2 keys.
Back to the story ... in the end, neither Michael nor Uncle Ted are behaving very "politically correct" but their strong personalities are both interesting. As is the contrast between Michael and his cousin.
Everyone wanted to know if Michael gets back together with Brenda after the book ends :)
The story is very believable, and the characters are consistent.
My students were rather fascinated when I explained why I thought that the author chose a VW Beetle as the car "borrowed" at the airport:
American cars at the time had 2 keys: one for the ignition, and one for the doors. Lifting 2 keys from the owners key-ring would be fairly noticeable, but only one would be less so. European cars usually have one key for ALL the locks: ignition, glove-box, console, doors, and trunk. Since most of my students are driven to school (by a parent) in a German SUV they had never seen a vehicle with 2 keys.
Back to the story ... in the end, neither Michael nor Uncle Ted are behaving very "politically correct" but their strong personalities are both interesting. As is the contrast between Michael and his cousin.
Everyone wanted to know if Michael gets back together with Brenda after the book ends :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2022
Great read with a splendid inner narrative style. Nfld writer and onto another of his books. * Rubs hands in gleeful anticipation * ☺️
May 8, 2013
Michael had the perfect life. At 14 years old, he lived in the small fishing town of Marten in Newfoundland. He knew his friends his entire life and everyone enjoyed similar activities such as playing in the forests or fishing in the ocean. His grandfather, also his mentor, lived a few streets away. Michael also had a younger brother, Brent, who he loved dearly, but would never admit that. He did well in school and liked all of his teachers. But all of that changed suddenly when a drunk driver killed both of his parents. Kevin Major’s brilliant novel Hold Fast explores the coming of age story of a young boy that is forced to become a man overnight after the senseless death of his parents.
After the funeral Michael goes into self-preservation mode, making sure to protect not only himself but Brent as well. Michael hopes that he can stay with his brother and his friends in Marten. He quickly learns, however, that he will have to move to the neighbouring city of St. Albert’s to live with family members who never really got along with his parents. Even worse, he has to share a room with his strange cousin, Curtis, with whom he shares very little in common.
When Michael starts school in September he quickly finds himself ostracized because of his background and the way he speaks (slang from Marten). His new classmates tease him relentlessly about his poor upbringing in Marten, purposely pushing all of Michael’s buttons. In addition to problems with his classmates, Michael also struggles to live peacefully with his Uncle Ted who imposes extremely strict rules on Michael and Curtis. The tyranny of Uncle Ted brings Michael and Curtis closer together and they begin to form a close friendship. And there is a pretty girl at the new school that shows an interest in dating Michael…
However, the stress of his parents’ death, the boys’ teasing and Uncle Ted’s harsh regulations finally get to Michael and he begins to fight against those who stand as threats to his pride in himself and his way of life. What are the consequences of these fights? Can Curtis and Michael escape Uncle Ted’s oppressive methods? Will Michael ever return home to Marten to be with his brother and grandfather?
The author of Hold Fast, Kevin Major, was born and raised in Newfoundland. He was an elementary school teacher when he was disappointed in the lack of materials in the English curriculum that reflected the culture of his province. The result was the editing of Doryloads, an anthology of Newfoundland writing. He initially wrote poems and short stories before moving on to novels for young adults. All of his novels integrate the culture of Canada, particularly Newfoundland, in some aspect. Major has written many books including No Man’s Land, The House of Wooden Santas, Gaffer and Ann and Seamus. His novel, Hold Fast, was an instant Canadian classic and received many awards including the Governor General's Award. A panel of experts from across Canada named it the country's second-best children's book of all time (second only to Anne of Green Gables).
After the funeral Michael goes into self-preservation mode, making sure to protect not only himself but Brent as well. Michael hopes that he can stay with his brother and his friends in Marten. He quickly learns, however, that he will have to move to the neighbouring city of St. Albert’s to live with family members who never really got along with his parents. Even worse, he has to share a room with his strange cousin, Curtis, with whom he shares very little in common.
When Michael starts school in September he quickly finds himself ostracized because of his background and the way he speaks (slang from Marten). His new classmates tease him relentlessly about his poor upbringing in Marten, purposely pushing all of Michael’s buttons. In addition to problems with his classmates, Michael also struggles to live peacefully with his Uncle Ted who imposes extremely strict rules on Michael and Curtis. The tyranny of Uncle Ted brings Michael and Curtis closer together and they begin to form a close friendship. And there is a pretty girl at the new school that shows an interest in dating Michael…
However, the stress of his parents’ death, the boys’ teasing and Uncle Ted’s harsh regulations finally get to Michael and he begins to fight against those who stand as threats to his pride in himself and his way of life. What are the consequences of these fights? Can Curtis and Michael escape Uncle Ted’s oppressive methods? Will Michael ever return home to Marten to be with his brother and grandfather?
The author of Hold Fast, Kevin Major, was born and raised in Newfoundland. He was an elementary school teacher when he was disappointed in the lack of materials in the English curriculum that reflected the culture of his province. The result was the editing of Doryloads, an anthology of Newfoundland writing. He initially wrote poems and short stories before moving on to novels for young adults. All of his novels integrate the culture of Canada, particularly Newfoundland, in some aspect. Major has written many books including No Man’s Land, The House of Wooden Santas, Gaffer and Ann and Seamus. His novel, Hold Fast, was an instant Canadian classic and received many awards including the Governor General's Award. A panel of experts from across Canada named it the country's second-best children's book of all time (second only to Anne of Green Gables).
September 27, 2011
Fourteen-year-old Michael, from a small Newfoundland town called Marten, has just lost his parents in a car crash. He is left with his brother named Brent, his aunt Flo, and Grandfather. Aunt Flo takes responsibility of Brent but has no room for Michael since she already has his grandfather in the house. Michael is separated from Brent and sent to live with his cousin, aunt and uncle far away in a busy town named St-Albert. ““Nobody answered, Until Aunt Ellen spoke up, all full of life but not laying eyes on me atall.” “Michael is going to come to live with us in St-Albert””. (Major 24) Michael is now faced with a new town, new school, new house, new people and new friends. He attempts to start a new life, but has problems at school with some bullies and has no power at his new home. His cousin, Curtis has been living like this since he was born, powerless and having no freedom, having a crazy abusive father. Michael does not like anything in his new life and decides to run away to go back to Marten. Curtis decides on his own to go with him since he himself is fed up and they pack up and leave for the adventure of their life time. They now concentrate on survival and learn what it is like to become independent. Will they make it back? Will their plan workout?
Michael is a smart, proud fourteen-year-old boy, who loves the country life and loves spending time with his family, until his life turns upside down and he is forced to change his lifestyle. He is a very talkative person and has a big mouth, which doesn’t always lead him to good ways. His cousin Curtis is the opposite of Michael. He’s a shy, independent boy who spends his nights alone and is very protective of himself. When Michael is sharing a room with him for the first couple of weeks, they don’t speak to each other at all, only until they are both getting treated the same way by Curtis’ abusive father, the Old Man. The Old Man is an old schooled proud father, who loves taking charge with a big mouth. Curtis and Michael’s relationship strengthens, as they are in the same boat and bond even closer together like brothers despite only really being close to each other for a month.
I like many things in this book and dislike very few. I personally like adventure books so that’s a good start. I like that this book has to do with teenage life and what it is like to be independent and how important it is to have close friends and family. I also like that there are many changes in the setting. I dislike that certain parts of the book are too detailed and some of the text are like a five year old talking. I recommend this book to people who are like me and like to read adventure books and are adolescents.
Michael is a smart, proud fourteen-year-old boy, who loves the country life and loves spending time with his family, until his life turns upside down and he is forced to change his lifestyle. He is a very talkative person and has a big mouth, which doesn’t always lead him to good ways. His cousin Curtis is the opposite of Michael. He’s a shy, independent boy who spends his nights alone and is very protective of himself. When Michael is sharing a room with him for the first couple of weeks, they don’t speak to each other at all, only until they are both getting treated the same way by Curtis’ abusive father, the Old Man. The Old Man is an old schooled proud father, who loves taking charge with a big mouth. Curtis and Michael’s relationship strengthens, as they are in the same boat and bond even closer together like brothers despite only really being close to each other for a month.
I like many things in this book and dislike very few. I personally like adventure books so that’s a good start. I like that this book has to do with teenage life and what it is like to be independent and how important it is to have close friends and family. I also like that there are many changes in the setting. I dislike that certain parts of the book are too detailed and some of the text are like a five year old talking. I recommend this book to people who are like me and like to read adventure books and are adolescents.
July 24, 2015
Liked the voice Michael's character had - even the way he just talked differently - & his strong beliefs in fairness & not being wronged, & his opinions on everything
Had to read this for my children's lit class - Michael & Brent's parents die & they're separated to live in different places & Michael's sent to live with Uncle Ted & Aunt Ellen with their son Curtis & Uncle Ted is fucking asshole, that army sergeant abusive POS - And Michael refuses to take his shit & once they've had enough of his shit & when Michael hits an asshole at school & gives him a concussion, he & Curtis take off, headed back to Marten (in Newfoundland), his home & they eventually get there, to find out Michael's grandfather is dying. He dies too & Curtis has to go back home when his parents come to pick him up but he tells his father how much he hates him & doesn't back away from the truth this time :D
It's a nice story - I kept forgetting that Michael was 14, was it? And how he dealt with death & change & had to readjust to new life.
Had to read this for my children's lit class - Michael & Brent's parents die & they're separated to live in different places & Michael's sent to live with Uncle Ted & Aunt Ellen with their son Curtis & Uncle Ted is fucking asshole, that army sergeant abusive POS - And Michael refuses to take his shit & once they've had enough of his shit & when Michael hits an asshole at school & gives him a concussion, he & Curtis take off, headed back to Marten (in Newfoundland), his home & they eventually get there, to find out Michael's grandfather is dying. He dies too & Curtis has to go back home when his parents come to pick him up but he tells his father how much he hates him & doesn't back away from the truth this time :D
It's a nice story - I kept forgetting that Michael was 14, was it? And how he dealt with death & change & had to readjust to new life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2011
Hold Fast is an amazing book talking about a young man going through so much pain and in the end, he still be happy. Michael had lost his parents in the beginning and he lost his grandpa in the end. Michael was soon sent to live his his uncle Ted which is a very rude and cruel person, so prove that he isn't all powerful, Michael and his buddy:Curtis, who is Ted's son, also ran away because he wanted to feel what freedom really is. On the trip to Michael's runaway plan, they have encountered many different situation and made Michael say many lies. In the end, they returned and Curtis changed into a completely different person and had the courage to talk back to his father. Also Michael lost his grandpa so he went to live with his auntie somewhere else.
January 22, 2012
I should first say I was inspired to read this book because of some powerful arguments in its favour by Joel Thomas Hynes on http://www.bookfridge.com/ (Newfoundland and Labrador Reads Series). I think if I was thirteen, my rating for this book might have been higher. However, being thirty made it a little more difficult to get into it; it just felt a little juvenile. I have never able to understand the appeal of The Catcher in the Rye, so maybe it's just me. It is nice to see a book written from a teenage male perspective - as a teacher, I often see young males struggling to find something to read. I might just have to recommend this to a few of my high school students to see what they think.
July 19, 2010
Although this book was written over 30 years ago, it is still relevant and engaging. The novel is written in first person, in a colloquial way, that many teens/young adults can relate to. Only recommended for those interested in the inner thoughts and struggles of a teenager. The 14-year-old protagonist has been compared to Huckleberry Finn and Holden Caufield (Catcher in the Rye). It is set in small-town Newfoundland and includes mention of the traditions of the small fishing villages and unique dialect.
The novel’s themes are universal and include: escape, survival, personal growth, family dynamics, coping with loss, and the strength and fragility of youth
The novel’s themes are universal and include: escape, survival, personal growth, family dynamics, coping with loss, and the strength and fragility of youth
October 10, 2012
amazing i was actually asked to read this from my school bookclub and i am actually surprised by how great this book is. personaly i dont think i would have ever picked the book up from the shelf if i saw it just like that but i reccomend this book actually amazing message being said in the book.
February 14, 2014
Loved it - written in 1978, it still holds up - a powerful and empowering novel - a true Canadian classic
June 28, 2023
why just why?
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews