Hope Was Here
Heartwarming, funny coming-of-ager has lots of charm.
Parents say
Based on 1 review
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Hope Was Here is a Newbery Honor-winning coming-of-age story. Parental separation and adoption are strong themes, and there's grief and sadness from illness and death. There's an incident with verbal harassment and being grabbed by the arm. A couple of beatings are mentioned but not narrated directly and mention injuries. There's one kiss and some mild romantic dynamics. The strongest word used is "butt."
Community Reviews
Very Good Highly Recommend For Age 12+
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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: Joan Bauer
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Topics: Great Girl Role Models
- 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), iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: February 23, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Tokyo Ever After
Romantic coming-of-ager is funny, breezy, but genuine.
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Love & Gelato
Teen grapples with grief and first love in charming romance.
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The Rest of the Story
Sweet coming-of-ager explores family connections.
For kids who love coming-of age books and grief tales
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