Hope Nation

Hope Nation

Bibliography

Brock, R. (2018). HOPE NATION: YA AUTHORS SHARE THEIR PERSONAL MOMENTS OF INSPIRATION. New York, NY, Philomel Books. ISBN 9781524741679

Plot Summary

Hope Nation is a collection of stories and essays written by different authors that share their moments of hope that they have experienced as young teenagers and young adults. Experiences with discrimination, death, accidents, and more have shown these authors that you can always find hope in the bad.

Critical Analysis

Rose Brock has brought together a variety of different authors, ones from different backgrounds and walks of life to discuss one main theme: hope. Each author has written their own personal experience with it and how it has affected their lives and their outlooks on the world and the people that inhabit it.

Each author has their own specific voice in how they tell their story. David Leviathan has written a short story to relate his message, while other authors like Angie Thomas and Nicola Yoon talk about their experiences with racism and how that inspired them to hope. Each essay is unique and written poetically and with style and tact. These authors know their audience and work hard to make sure their stories relate to the lives of young adults. But people of all ages can read these stories and feel connected to them, which goes to show how we have all experienced some type of hope in our own lives.

Hope Nation is a wonderful collection filled with messages for young adults that will inspire faith and trust in any type of circumstance they may face.

Review Excerpts

Horn Book Guide: "A few passionate expository pieces have a distinctly political bent and seem to be written in response to the 2016 U.S. presidential election; most others are moving personal stories from the authors' diverse experiences as teens. A consistently readable and well-curated collection."

Voice of Youth Advocates Star: "All essays encourage the reader to turn off the negative voices and seek out those who offer support, while reminding readers that agreement is not a condition of support. It is a strong addition to both YA and adult nonfiction collections."

Booklist Starred Reviews: "This amazing outpouring of strength and honesty offers inspirational personal accounts for every reader who wonders what to do when everything seems impossible."

Connections

Books Similar: Hope Wins by Rosemarie Brock

                        Notes on Being Teenage by Rosalind Jana

                        And God Cried, Too: A Kid's Book of Healing and Hope by Marc Gellman

Books on Social Issues: Victory Stand!: Raising My Fist For Justice by Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes,                                         and Dawud Anyabwile

                                        Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town that Looked                                               Away by Candy J. Cooper

                                        Tomorrow Begins Now: Teen Heroes Who Faced Down Injustice by Ava                                                     Lorelei Deakin

Activity: Write your own personal story on what hope means to you and when you have experienced hope.