Hope Was Here [Joan Bauer]

Bauer, Joan. Hope Was Here
New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2000. 186 pgs.

Summary
Hope’s name wasn’t always Hope. Her mother named her Tulip. Her mother also left her to be raised by her aunt, Addie. Hope has spent the first sixteen years of her life roaming around the United States with Addie working in different diners. Hope knows how difficult life can be and how important it is to have hope, that’s why she changed her name.

Now she has to leave New York City and head out to Mulhoney, Wisconsin where Addie takes over running the diner of a man diagnosed with leukemia. This man, G.T., may be dying but he decides to run for mayor against the most corrupt politician in the state, Millstone. The teens in the town take up the campaign, fighting for a better future. They are led by a core group of students including Hope and the diner’s grill man, Braverman. G. T. runs for mayor on a platform of honesty, he won’t stoop to the dirty politics that his opponent uses. The opposition uses intimidation tactics, beats up Braverman, attempts to get the diner shut down, and finally downright lies about G. T.’s health.

Meanwhile, Hope is also dealing with her own personal issues. She dreams about her dad coming to find her. She starts to have feelings for Braverman despite her rule against dating co-workers. Hope worries about G. T.’s health. Then her aunt starts to date G. T. and Braverman asks her on date. Now she’s worrying about her aunt falling in love with a dying man and Braverman won’t talk to her after she walked away from his request.

Reactions
This book kept me interested. It was a book that reminded me there are good and honorable people in the world and sometimes they get to win. Teens will love the idea that they can stand up for a cause and be heard. It received a Newbery Honor and was obviously well written. Hope is the ideal that we hold onto when life gets tough and she was able to live up to her name.