 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Things Hoped For
- By Andrew Clements
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Teens connect over music and death. Intriguing.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that a character in this story is found dead in a freezer, apparently a victim of suicide.
What's the story?
Gwen is living with her grandfather in New York so she can attend a prestigious music school and audition for top music colleges. But one day her grandfather disappears, leaving behind a cryptic message telling her to hide his disappearance and go on with her audition preparations, which she attempts to do despite her uncle hammering at the door every day, demanding to see her grandfather.
Then she meets Robert, a trumpet player also in town for auditions, who has a secret of his own. Having shared their individual secrets, together they discover one more in Gwen's basement, a secret that shatters Gwen's quiet, regular life and her ability to concentrate on auditions, yet deepens their friendship in surprising ways.
Is it any good?
This is a great group discussion book, because Clements only hints at the central meaning of the story, a most unusual trait in a children's book. Is he talking about faith in God? Family? Friends? Oneself? Dreams? They're all here, along with many others and a cast filled with thoughtful, giving characters.
This is a sequel only in that the main character from the first book enters as a supporting player partway through, bringing along the invisibility theme, which is the least interesting plot element here. Of more interest are the details about being a gifted young musician and living in New York. But this is primarily a character- and idea-driven piece, and even when some of the plot elements don't quite make sense, the ideas are intriguingly open-ended, and the characters are warm, real, and moving.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the death that occurs in the book. What did the character hope for, and did he succeed? What is the author trying to say with the book's title?
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AGE
it was a good book
it was good...but i thought there was too much <3 between the two characters...bobby is robert...and bobby used to hang out with alicia and Things not seen......what happened......where does Gwen come from?.....and why only gwen?...these questions have not been answered in the book but you should read it you'll learn something.
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AGE
Totally Inappropriate. Too much violence, kissing, swearing and smoking! The message is DEATH and music. Never Red it!
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AGE
Read This Book...
This is an awesome book that is powerful in it's writing, meanings, and characters. (Yes, I meant to put meanings with an s because, I believe a books can be interpreted differently by everyone who picks it up.) Andrew Clements is a striking writer that gets better with each story he tells. He has a way of writing that keeps you interested and enticed all the way through the book. He makes each character stand out vividly in your mind with their own unique feelings and personalities. He leaves hints to make you understand the reasoning behind everything he puts in print. I believe that you just have to look for it. This book is five stars all the way to me, as is its prequel, "Things Not Seen".
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AGE
by a kid
i just read things hoped for pretty much all night i love it!!!!
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AGE
Weirs is a way to describe it. It is very slow at the beginning and tends to be designed for girls. The end is fast, confusing and has the grandpa dead in the freezer. The girl also invites in a strange boy and an invisible, naked boy?? It was captivating and implored you to finish, however, it leaves you still asking questions at the end.
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AGE
not his best but stll great.
A great book, but not up to what school story, a week in the woods, the report card, and the jaintor's boy.
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AGE
it was all about music and a naked invisible and the death of Gwen's grandfather
it was really nice. read it you will know it is really interesting. don't be so silly okay good luck and be hurry.......
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Kid, 12 years old
December 10, 2009
AGE
hi my name is joe
I LOVED THIS BOOK
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| Author: | Andrew Clements |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Publisher: | Penguin Group |
| Publication date: | November 20, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 167 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 10 |
| Read alone: | 10 |
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