Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heartwarming, funny coming-of-ager has lots of charm.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
HOPE WAS HERE is about high school senior Hope, whose mother left her to be raised by Hope's aunt, Addie, shortly after Hope was born, and Hope's only seen her mother a handful of times. Aunt Addie is a chef, and she and Hope have had to move around a lot as one restaurant closes and another one opens up somewhere else. Their latest move takes them from New York City to a small town in Wisconsin, which Hope is pretty sure doesn't have much to offer. Little could she have imagined it would turn out to be a place to call home.
Is It Any Good?
This is a heartwarming, feel-good story with a strong main character, lots of humor, charm, and plenty of comfort food. Hope Was Here is brimming with warmth and wisdom. Tweens and teens can admire Hope's resilience, work ethic, wit, and yes, hope. Quirky, well-developed characters keep the story moving at a good pace. There's sadness and grief, too, but the sweet ending satisfies.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the role models in Hope Was Here. Which characters do you like the most? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
Does Hope's grief seem realistic? Have you lost a loved one, or do you know someone who has? How did you handle it? How can you help someone who's sad?
How do the teens who aren't old enough to vote help bring positive change to their town? Why do they get involved in the mayoral election? What can you do to help your community?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Puffin Books
- Publication date : June 2, 2005
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 208
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : March 2, 2022
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