Hope Was Here

Hope Was Here was a surprising read for me! I wasn’t expecting a book about a 16 year-old girl and waitressing and politics to make me think and most of all…HOPE.

Hope Was Here is one of the best titles to fit with a book I’ve ever read; the main character’s name is Hope and its main theme is hope. Hope Was Here is a very inspiring story. When I was done reading it, I thought it was the most inspiring story I’ve ever read…that’s pretty big!

Every character was unique and thought out. All of them had their own problems and were hoping (there’s that word again) by some miracle at times, everything would work out. Hope Was Here’s main focus was hope, but Joan also touched on the topic of an atypical family. Anything Joan show more wrote about Hope not knowing who her father is…had me almost to tears every time. I was crying during many portions of the book. To me, that’s a sign the author did something right.

I really cannot put into words how much this book made me FEEL! So much emotion and thought went into the writing of this from Joan Bauer’s end. I’m making sure to check into Joan’s other novels, I’m hoping they’re just as well written! The book is stuffed full of quotes, it was hard to only chose a couple to share with you!

Hope Was Here contained many interesting tips for waitresses. If you love reading AND are or want to be a waitress, this may be an interesting read for you!

Hope Was Here also contained politics and the process of it, which normally would bother me, but it didn’t at all in this book. show less

Written quite a while ago, but seems pretty reflective of current young adult activism (tho different subject).
Hope, 14 yrs old, lives with her aunt since her Mom left. They are moving to WI from NY for a new work oppportunity and Hope is concerned about what kind of a life they'll have. Corrupt politicians and a boss with leukemia give her plenty to get involved with and is how she meets and becomes friends with other teens, in between her summer job hours.
Hope is an inveterate writer, and a kind & intelligent person. I like that she writes down tips to being a great waitress. How many readers might end up waitressing at some point in their lives? Probably plenty, so they are learning some job skills at the same time they are enjoying show more a story.
While I love reading books featuring my home state (WI), Mulhoney is definitely NOT a name we would ever have for one of our towns. It felt strange to keep reading that. show less

When Hope and her aunt move to small-town Wisconsin to take over the local diner, Hope's not sure what to expect. But what they find is that the owner, G.T., isn't quite ready to give up yet - in fact, he's decided to run for mayor against a corrupt candidate. And as Hope starts to make her place at the diner, she also finds herself caught up in G.T.'s campaign - particularly his visions for the future. After all, as G.T. points out, everyone can use a little hope to help get through the tough times... even Hope herself.

When Hope and her aunt move to small-town Wisconsin to take over the local diner, Hope's not sure what to expect. But what they find is that the owner, G.T., isn't quite ready to give up yet—in fact, he's decided to run for mayor against a corrupt candidate. And as Hope starts to make her place at the diner, she also finds herself caught up in G.T.'s campaign—particularly his visions for the future. After all, as G.T. points out, everyone can use a little hope to help get through the tough times... even Hope herself.

Since she was a premature baby in the NICU and was abandoned by her mother, Hope has lived with her Aunt Addie, and since Addie is a cook who travels from job to job, Hope has lived in many places and is becoming a fairly good traveling waitress, too. She loves Addie, but hates all the uprooting, and is convinced that she will hate their latest relocation - a small town in Wisconsin. But when the owner of the restaurant where they work announces that he's running against the corrupt mayor in the upcoming election, Hope finds herself involved in this place and its people more than she would ever have guessed.
A lovely and sweet story that doesn't get too saccharine, with nicely developed characters and a thoughtful message. Definitely show more recommended. show less

The story is thoroughly readable and deceptively simple. The characters are funny, lovable and thoroughly flawed, which makes them easy to relate to. Hope is a strong and independent female protagonist who, at 16, is wiser than her years. It's a wisdom gleaned from dealing with some pretty major issues during her sixteen short years: abandonment, loss, rootless, betrayal, and, always, hope. I love stories with a moral that you don't have to dig too deeply to find. In the end, Hope overcomes confusion and despair through some unpredictable twists that keep the story fresh.

HOPE WAS HERE offers many YA and adult challenges in different directions, from a mother's rejection to the death of a father.

The plot moves smoothly along, with humor and character defining politics. Characters are lightly drawn where more depth would be welcome:
what is Flo's life outside the restaurant? what motivates a female police person to defend left political stances?
why so much emphasis on everyone eating so much meat? how did Jillian learn her way around a computer? what is Adam's background?

The story is so welcoming and warm and loving that it would have been better to hold off on the too predictable ending with a carefully rendered sequel.
Each young character would move on out to deal with the world, then back to make the show more family even more solid.
Insight into the mother's motivations - from her perspective this time - would round things out.

Sure wish this had all been more developed - lots of lost possibilities! show less