Jesse Joshua Watson

This book’s main message is that happiness can be found in even the darkest of times, even if that happiness comes from a simple game of soccer among children.
I loved this book because it will challenge children to think about a tough issue, the earthquake in Haiti. Children will see what happened to these people and it will challenge them to empathize with the Haitians. For example, the book begins, “When the earth shook and took away my neighborhood, I thought I would never be happy show more again. Wailing filled my ears. Dust filled my nose. Tears filled my eyes.” Children will hear how devastating this event was. The little boy in this book also must relocate with his family to a soccer stadium and build a home out of cloth and tarp. The little boy watches as children stand in line for water and is confused as people speak different languages around him. Though this is a sad topic, it is important for children to be aware of the difficulties other children around the world face.
I also enjoyed this book because it is told in 1st person from the point of view of a child. The main character uses his love of soccer to help him cope with the tragedy and confusion around him. For example, one page reads: “I forget about my hunger as I dribble the ball…I shoot the ball between two piles of sandals and jump into the arms of my teammates, like I’ve seen them do on T.V.” The child’s innocence in his soccer game is extremely heart-warming, and the joy he finds in playing a simple game of soccer with the other children is symbolic of the new hope that Haiti can find. As one character states in the book, “Right now we need to think about the future. And the future is you.” Because the book is told from the point of view of a child, it is more relatable to the children reading the story. The boy in the story uses games and fun to cope with difficult situations, just as the readers might do. The boy’s point of view is innocent and hopeful, just as Haiti hopes for their future. show less

After the earthquake in Haiti, kids are still kids. A boy dreams of playing professional soccer for his country and finds hope in a special soccer ball given to him by a stranger.

The book would be useful in discussion about coping after tragic life events.

In my opinion, “Hope for Haiti” is an excellent multicultural book that teaches children about the disaster in Haiti. The best parts of the story are the plot, writing, and overall message. The plot in this story is suspenseful and melancholy. In the beginning of "Hope for Haiti," the disaster had just occurred. The writing in the book is descriptive and emotional. For example, the boy says, “When the earth shook and took away my neighborhood, I thought I would never be happy again. show more Wailing filled my ears. Dust filled my nose. Tears filled my eyes.” The boy and his mother go to a soccer stadium where they make a home out of some sheets, tin, and six posts. Many people live at this soccer stadium, and they fight for food that is brought to them by “men in blue hats.” The boy meets an older man who talks to him about soccer. He says that he thinks the boy could become a famous soccer player. They begin to play soccer together with a bunch of rags tied up. The man gives him a soccer ball to play with (one that had been signed by a famous soccer player, Manno Sanon). At the end of the story, the boy makes a goal with the soccer ball. This book states that there is hope for the boy and other people who live in Haiti. This book is very thought-provoking, and it pushes readers to broaden their perspectives about having hope after a catastrophe. The big idea is to teach children about the struggle of people in Haiti. show less

This is a very moving story about a boy in Haiti after the earthquake of 2010 finding hope through the game of soccer. The pictures are beautiful and help tell the story of the earthquake's destructive effects on Haiti. Having a story told about a boy involved in the Haiti earthquake makes the topic more relatable to students. They will connect to the boy and his desire to play sports even through hard times.

Critique: This is a realistic fiction story that will become a historical fiction show more book when it's old enough. It's based on the events of the Haiti earthquake and depicts what life is really like for those affected by the earthquake. I like how the text helps children understand the social issue present in Haiti right now. It's important for children to know what goes on in other parts of the world but the harsh reality isn't always needed.

Style Critique: The text on the page is really small and takes up a small portion of the page. The majority of the book is the illustrations. The pictures are of one event, a moment in time. Students will be able to interpret a lot from the pictures along with the text. I think the author did this because children can interpret a lot from pictures, especially when it comes to emotional concepts. show less