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Hope's Gift (2012)

by Kelly Starling Lyons(Favorite Author)

3.98 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0399160019 (ISBN13: 9780399160011)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Putnam Juvenile

review 1: Set during the Civil War, this is a beautiful story of Hope and her family. Hope's family are each slaves on a Southern plantation and her father has run away to join the Union soldiers. Before he left, he gave Hope a beautiful conch shell which she treasures. Papa says its song is the "sound of freedom...and nothing can keep it from coming. Nothing." The slaves hope and wait and share any news they hear. Really touching and beautiful story.Includes an author's note that gives more information about the Civil War. However, my children and I did not love the illustrations. The people's heads seemed far too large for their bodies in most illustrations...reminiscent of bobble head dolls but not quite that extreme. The scenery and colors and backgrounds were nice, bu... moret we did not care for the illustrations of the people. I suspect it was to draw attention to the emotions etched on their faces, but it was distracting to us.
review 2: From Lyons' words to Tate's illustrations this is a good book to introduce younger readers about one of the most troubling chapters in American History. Papa chooses to leave his family behind on the plantation to join in the fight for freedom, but not before giving his daughter a seashell "That's the sound of freedom, Hope," he said. "And nothing can keep it from coming. Nothing." Hope carries that shell and her Papa's words through the years that he is gone. Hope can even empathize when Master has to leave his own daughter to fight in the War. Hope's Gift is a great story of perseverance and faith when it seems all hope is lost. less

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