Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer conveys the enduring growth of optimism of a young teenager, Hope, a thriving waitress who helps her Aunt Addie operate Stairway Diner, owned by G.T. Stoop, stricken with leukemia. As Hope adjust and embraces changes in her life and new environment, she develops lasting friendship and relationships with her customers and spreads a bit of sunshine—“hope” in their lives.  She discovers that the people who truly matter are those who surround her with support, encouragement, and lasting impressions.

Joan Bauer, an amazing author who provides reflective “food for thought" worthy text within her heart-warming words of wisdom in Hope Was Here, a Newbery Honor Book. Hope Was Here demonstrates the genuine relationship between Hope, Aunt Addie, G.T. Scoop, Braverman, customers of Stairways Diner, and the townspeople of Mulhoney, Wisconsin as they work together, in their mission to get G.T. Scoop elected as Mayer. Hope is on journey with Aunt Addie, and together they discover their new home, life, and enduring love that centers around "hope and perseverance."

Joan Bauer’s Hope Was Here is a must read book that inspires young adolescence to become active and productive members of society in a positive manner. It further allows the reader to truly remember that even the uncertainty and negative aspects of life can have a brighter outlook when you least expect. This book is a “jewel” because it presents so many relative connections of true lessons learned. My rating of Hope Was Here is without a doubt a “5.”  

A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park

A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park portrays the life accounts of two young adolescents both from Southern Sudan, Nya from the tribe of Nuir, and Salva from the tribe of Dinka. The author, Linda Park allows the reader to embark in a reflective and eye-opening journey through the eyes of Nya and Salva as they provide detail accounts of how they developed the will to persevere through the harsh environment, war-torn country, and realities of their way of life. 

Nya and Salva clearly demonstrate the love for their families, dreams, and determination to survive as children who are given responsibilities that are unimaginable for the realities of our youth of today. Both characters exemplify the human spirit of courage, and the power of core family values that allow them to push forward “one-step, one-day, one-time, and one-problem,” at a time. After losing his family, Salva finds the strength and encouraging, steadfast voice and remembrance of his uncle’s words of motivation to stay alive through the treacherous desert and long walk to the “safe-haven” of several refugee camps, and recalls the “gentleness of his sisters; the strength of his father; the care of his mother” (81) in order to reach his destination. 

Nya’s life account gives the reader a clear understanding of how she has the sole responsibility of fetching water that takes half the morning to travel for her family’s survival. Although the water she gathers from the pond is brown and muddy, she acceptingly takes on her task daily. Both Nya and Salva’s journey of their harsh environment and life gives the reader the opportunity to experience the great lengths of what their lives are like in comparison to our life.

This book is an eye-opener for me; it allowed me to walk in their life even if it was only through the pages. Without a doubt, I thoroughly felt Salva’s loss of his uncle, the separation of his family, the exhaustion of traveling in the desert, the desperation of finding family, the uncertainty and trauma of being “lost boys,” the awe of developing into a young leader, gaining new family and experiences of education, the hope and perseverance of taking one day at a time, and Nya’s hope of wanting to learn to read, write, and attend school.

Linda Sue Park is a phenomenal writer especially when she crafts the unexpected surprise in the end of the book. I did not expect the path of intersecting lives. Amazingly written—this book surely deserves an outstanding rating of a “5”.

http://www.lindasuepark.com/books/books.html

When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Scars by Cherly Rainfield

Legend by Lu Marie

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Firegirl by Tony Abbott

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

Hoot by Carl Hiaassen

I Am A Pole (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert

PG-13 Spoiler page-17

I Am A Pole (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert humorously portrays Pole’s journey of exploring where he fits in the big scheme of his life’s experience. Pole accepts that he is indeed a pole; however, his dilemma arises when he attempts to figure out what type of pole he can be. When I first read this book, I immediately related to Pole. Seeing myself in similar experiences of “dead-end” jobs, and the occasional “dream-job” that is out of reach, or for that matter not quite the “perfect-fit" job; Stephen Colbert strategically and cleverly allows the reader to reminisce on past experiences.  It could be used for setting worthy and realistic goals. I enjoyed, chuckled, and got a kick out of it.  The one thing that tainted this “children’s book” for me is the crude illustration on page—17. If Colbert did not include it, it would be a valuable to use as a picture book in the classroom for K-8. I would recommend Colbert's I Am A Pole (And So Can You!) for an older audience with a sense of humor.