Dancing in Cadillac Light

by Kimberly Willis Holt

1968 looks like it'll be a pretty good year for Jaynell Lambert. The town's going to pave the dirt road she lives on, her girly-girl sister, Racine, isn't driving her completely crazy, and Grandpap has just moved in with his new emerald green Cadillac convertible. Jaynell and Grandpap have something special. But why won't Grandpap tell her the reason he visits with the dirt-poor Pickens family on the other side of town? When Jaynell finds out Grandpap's secret, the legacy of an old man transforms a family, and a town.

"At once gritty and poetic, stark and sentimental . . . a solid page turner. Holt once again displays her remarkable gift."( School Library Journal , starred review)

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Family, Historical, School

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Kimberly Willis Holt is the author of the Piper Reed series, including Piper Reed, Navy Brat, Piper Reed, Clubhouse Queen, and Piper Reed, Rodeo Star. She has written many award-winning novels, including The Water Seeker and My Louisiana Sky, as well as the picture books Waiting for Gregory and Skinny Brown Dog. A former Navy brat herself, Holt was born in Pensacola, Florida, and lived all over the U.S. and the world—from Paris to Norfolk to Guam to New Orleans. Holt long dreamed of being a writer, but first worked as a radio news director, marketed a water park, and was an interior decorator, among other jobs. A few years after she started writing, her third book, When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, won a National Book Award for Young People's Literature. She resides in West Texas with her family.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/kimber...

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the setting, characters and the premise of this story but something felt off to me and after sleeping on it I’ve realized what it is - and this is true also of Holt’s Part of Me that I finished before this. Her families don’t feel safe. I know this is a realistic situation but it is a turn off for me in middle grade fiction - I expect problems but a family that (while perhaps non traditional) serves as a safe place for the main character. There isn’t an abuse or neglect plot but just an edge to characters and situations that feels unsettling to me. That’s what kept this book at two stars (it’s okay) instead of three (I liked it) for me.

[jimtown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dancing In Cadillac Light
by Kimberly Willis Holt

This was another young adult book I'd found the description of too irresistible not to read. Geared for probably nine and older, the story had a lesson or moral to the story.

Janelle lived next door to Mr. Bailey's junkyard and not nearly enough time was spent there. The thoughts of spending time in the old cars in the junkyard lured me in but the book was more about Janelle's grandpap who came to live with them.

Janelle had to move in with prissy younger sister Racine and was told to spend her summer keeping an eye on old grandpap as the family was pretty sure he was going crazy. The fun moments came as Janelle spied on and trailed grandpap as he went about his day. She trailed him to the cemetery day after day until grandpap invited her to accompany him. One day grandpap bought an emerald green Cadillac home. It surprised everyone. Now, grandpap and Janelle went out for rides during the day and eventually he taught her to drive in the green Cadillac. Their times together seemed special until Janelle started to notice that grandpap treated everyone special. Everyone seemed to have a little piece of him. It seemed to diminish Janelle's joy sharing her grandpap with so many.

There were some real touching moments, the characters were real enough but after grandpap died, the book lost a lot of it's charm. The things Janelle held dear about her grandpap disappeared out of reach. It's a great story, I'm not sure how many of today's kids would find it interesting or appealing but I enjoyed it!

[Rebekah Haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Some days, I prefer the company of a pig to a man"
"A house loses it's bones with no one to rattle it's soul"

An MG novel I stole from my mother's library's weeded stack, so I knew it was going to be good. A girl gets put in charge of watching her elderly grandpa (who she loves dearly) and making sure he doesn't wreck anything as he goes on his daily walks. She gets closer to him as he teaches her how to drive and as she learns the life lessons he teachers her about growing older, changing and maturing, and dealing with the socioeconomic poverty line and the classism that it brings.

It really is a great novel, and I would honestly use it to teach these concepts to students.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always thank you Kimberly Willis Holt for bringing heartwarming characters into my life. Characters that feel like family and friends. The sister, grandfather, cousin dynamics are what makes the characters relatable and endearing. This is a story that will stay with you for days.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good, easy to read book. It is a young adult book that teaches all of us a good lesson about life.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about a young girl who is struggling with family values. This would be enjoyed most by upper elementary girls.

[Kari Gutierrez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Joel Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter gives this 4 stars. Has some content that might be uncomfortable for children such as the grandfather dying and another man catching fire and his shirt melting into his flesh.

[Tannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with Claire for Mother/Daughter Book Club. It was kind of sad, but also had some great moments. It was of a more serious nature and thought provoking. I enjoyed it a great deal.

[Meggen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming story of how a young girl comes to love and appreciate her aged grandfather. The grandfather teaches many important life lessons.

[Mary E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! When wrong looks right will 11-year-old Jaynell see the truth?

[Frances Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute, sweet YA book with appealing characters.

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful story by. Kimberly Willis Holt! Grandpa comes to live with family. Some say he needs to go to the nursing home. But who is to say who is "crazy"?

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life in a Southern town for a young girl and her family. The legacy left by grandparents an dreams that encourage.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kimberly Holt does a wonderful job making difficult subjects easily palatable for young readers!

Jaynell absolutely loves her grandfather and treasures every ride with him in his brand new Cadillac. She is assigned to watch over him to make sure he isn't going crazy, but he seems perfectly normal to her. She does, however, wonder why he spends so much time with the Pickens when her mother says to avoid the poor family. Even after her grandfather has passed, Jaynell still continues to learn from him.

Themes:
• grief and acceptance of death
• acceptance of the economically disadvantaged
• coming-of-age

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Jaynell, who is about 12. Her grandmother has just died, so she ends up sharing a room with her prissy sister so that her grandfather can move into her old room. She spends the summer following him around, hanging out with him, and learning stuff. The best part is when he buys a Cadillac, takes her cruising, and lets her try driving it.

The story overall felt much more sorrowful to me than it was probably meant to. It seemed like every time she started enjoying something or had something to make her feel special, it was ripped away from her. She was always being kept in the dark or restrained from expressing herself fully. The helplessness of being a kid! I wouldn't go back there for anything!

She does get to be the hero, which I was happy to see. Bonus: the experience helps her grow out of some of her uglier feelings and impressions about the world.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

gr 5-8 167 pgs

1968 Moon, Texas. 11 year old Jaynell's life is turned upside down when her Grandpap moves in with her family. Her father tells her to keep an eye on him in case he does anything "crazy". Jaynell doesn't think Grandpap's crazy even though he talks to the headstones in the graveyard and brings people their mail. She even defends his decision to buy the Cadillac, which Jaynall loves. But when he invites the Pickens, one of the poorest families in town, to move into his empty house, Jaynell wonders if Grandpap is crazy for moving them in or her parents are crazy for wanting to kick the Pickens back out.

A thought-provoking read, but a little slow in the middle. I especially found some of the details interesting. I had never heard of drinking soda with peanuts floating in it.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halfway through "Driving in Cadillac Light," I realized that the book was actually juvenile fiction. That's okay. One of the best things about being a teacher (I'm retired now), is that you get to read some really good stories that you might have otherwise missed. I'd put this book in that category. The story is narrated by 11-year-old Jaynell Lambert and is set in Moon, Texas in 1968. Set in Moon, Texas in 1968, the story, narrated by 11-year-old Jaynell Lambert, explores themes of loss, pride, prejudice, and overcoming selfish desires.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jaynell's family is happy though they struggle to make ends meet at times. They can't even afford dancing lessons for Racine. But they are much better of than the Pickens family. But when Grandpop comes to live with them, Jaynell begins to see things in a different perspective. Grandpop visits the Pickens, not caring how dirty things are, and he visits the cemetery every day. Then, he buys a Cadillac and teaches Jaynell to drive. Then he moves the Pickens family into his old house and the family begins to question his sanity.

Quirky, small town characters.

[Dotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandpap’s moving in and Jaynell must share a room with her sister, Racine. Jaynells’ life now includes spying, driving lessons and Racine dancing in the light of the Cadillac.

Grandpap is a pretty incredible person. Giving away his home and then to see how that affects his family was an intriguing read.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this story. Historical fiction of rather simpler times when a child could and would roam about the neighborhood. It also touched upon the stigma of being poor, getting old, and family relations.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's great so far!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't believe the title it realy doesn't mean anything in the book

[Jessie Gardner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Difficult to read with 6th grade, slow moving.

[Paula Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best Newbery winner that I have read on a long time! Very funny!

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

1968, a 12 yr life changes when her grandad comes to visit.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was a book I had to read for school, so I wasn't expecting much. Surprisingly, it was a very heartfelt book. I think I cried!

[Kaori ayame · Rating 1 out of 5]

it was so boring it might have been mor boring then gone with the wind ( n offenses to those who like gone with the wind)

[Hope Grover]

Lexile: 760

[Becky Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

My girls and I enjoyed this book. Nice to read from the perspective of the girl in the story. Interesting to see how things developed when she didn't share all that she knew.