Hope

by Isabell Monk

During a visit with her great-aunt, a young girl learns the story behind her name and learns to feel proud of her biracial heritage

Genres: Picture Books, Cultural, Childrens, Family, African American

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Amy Talbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I read it during our homeschool read aloud time. In a time in history when our country is so divided and there is such tension between cultures, this precious book is a ray of sunshine. I couldn't help but get emotional as I read this little powerhouse of a book. I believe this should be on every library shelf and being read at home too. As adults there is much to learn from this little gem. I can't say enough about this lovely book. Isabell Monk is a wise woman.

[Hendrix Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

So lovely

[Amanda Roller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fiction story told from the perspective of a young biracial girl who is recounting her first experience with someone questioning her race. The tale is beautifully narrated with African American vernacular used for the characters' dialogue. This detail truly lends to the warmth and honesty of the story. Although the author is addressing a serious issue, one that is certainly difficult for a child in Hope's position, she keeps the details very engaging and age-appropriate for a young audience. The illustrations are colorful and bright and help to tell the story very well. 'Hope' is a book that exposes children to the perspectives and values of biracial families in a very thoughtful way. It is story that opens the conversation with young learners about families that are made up of multiple races/cultures. I think that 'Hope' gives insight to what biracial children often face in our world. The questions about 'what you are' can add up to take a toll on a young child's sense of self worth and sense of self. Aunt Poogee gracefully explains to Hope that she is indeed mixed - mixed with love, strength, perserverance, and faith. This book has a nostalgic tone to it that is a wonderful look back to generations past, and the comfort and hope that our elders have the ability of bestowing upon us.

[Jiya Felder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being multiracial myself born in the south, I related to this book 100%. It's very informational and it touches on some historic events in a kid friendly way. There has been so many times that I was looked upon by older figures like something was wrong with me because I am mixed. She broke down slavery and immigration all in one book and taught the reader that there is many different mixes and many different cultures that had to wait for a better day and found their better days in someone else and created beautiful children no matter what skin tone they are.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This narrative is about a young biracial girl named Hope. Her mother is black and her father is white. She visits her aunt Poogee during the summer and she heard someone labeling her as “mixed.” She does not understand why she s labeled this way. She keeps wondering what that word means and it causes her unrest. Then, her aunt explains the meaning behind her name. She describes the struggles Hope’s ancestors went through to achieve what they have today (ex. Immigration, slavery, civil right…etc.). Her aunt says that she is “…generations of faith ‘mixed’ with lots of love.” It is a book portraying the joy of two races joining and representing the “hope” they always possessed. This is a wonderful book for children to read because it teaches them the value of family and that everyone is beautiful in their own way. As a teacher, I can use this book to introduce units about African American history or the topic of immigration. Students can color worksheets with important civil right leaders and construct a miniature book. It promotes discussion because it illustrates historic events tied to freedom, slavery, and education. This book may be used for from first grade because of its plot and underlying messages. The author, Isabell Monk, does a wonderful job to portray that families come together by love and overcome obstacles and hardships that they might face. This book teaches children to love themselves and take pride in their history and ancestors. Janice Porters illustrations bring the story to life through its color and detail.

[Keri Denin Milam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This narrative explains biracial identity from the perspective of a child. The narrator, Hope, visits her Great Aunt Poogee, and hears one of Aunt Poogee's old friends call the young girl "mixed." Hope doesn't understand why she was called that, or what it means. The author, Isabell Monk, does a great job of capturing a small child's point of view on such a controversial topic. Through the voice of the aunt, Isabell Monk does a wonderful job of explaining how two races join and make one family, and the problems faced to be able to do so. As a teacher, I will use this text to teach race relations, and about the idea of Multicultural families. I love the fact that this book is packed with cultural information, and from a child's perspective. Isabell Monk explains the Idea of Multiracial families in a heart warming way, that children can understand. "Yes, I am Mixed! With lots of love!" I also appreciate the idea that Isabell Monk herself is an African American, which i believe makes the cultural perspectives and dialogue from Aunt Poogee much more authentic. The illustrations are wonderful and look like art that could be hung on a wall. They correspond to the text and enhance and add to the story. Overall, the story and illustrations create a very warm, cultural, feeling, and teach a message that all children should learn!

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book "Hope" is about a young girl(Hope) who is given the opportunity to explore her biracial background one summer weekend with her Aunt Poogee. One weekend, the two go to the open-air market and are greeted by all of the different people there. Everything is wonderful until Aunt Poogie runs into an old friend of hers who, making a judgment, comments based on Hope’s appearance, asks if the girl is “mixed.” Not understanding what the comment means, Hope is very intrigued by it for the rest of the day. That night, Hope’s aunt sits with her and tells her the story of she got her name. She speaks about how both her families struggled in different ways over the course of many generations for freedom. It was this struggle that gave Hope’s parents faith that their child would enter a world in which she would be a member of a culture "that is simply ‘human.’” The illustrations are also very important in this edition, and engages the text very well. Even the cover might inform the reader that the hug is a way to express love, worm relationship. The author, Isabell Monk wrote her first book for children. Isabell lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her dogs, Nikki and Nelson. This book inspired me so much , and I really liked its subject.

[Saba N Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Identity is a big issue for children of bi-racial heritage and Isabell Monk does a wonderful job showing through Hope’s story that every child is special and should be proud of their mixed heritage. Most children with parents that are from different ethnicities or cultures can relate to Hope and probably have gone through some of the problems that society creates for people of mixed heritage. This is the perfect book for children to learn that they are wonderful, they are beautiful and they have every right to be proud of who they are! And in a way, children of non-mixed races learn a great deal of understanding, tolerance and an appreciation of children of mixed races and heritage.

[Melody Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl spends the weekend with her Aunt Poogee and hears someone call her 'mixed'. She doesn't understand why she gets called that and she gets a wonderful answer from her aunt. She learns the history of her name, and of the struggles her family went through to be able to be what it is today. A wonderful celebration of two races joining in one family to embody the hope their families always had. This book hits home with me because I went through similar situations when I was young. Its important for children to see that everyone is equal and differences can be appreciated.

[Renae Williams]

This book has beautiful illustrations. I love books that have an older family member telling the younger child stories that are full of culture. Everytime I am around my older family members I ask lots of questions because i learn so much about my history. In this book Hope was able to learn information about herself that she never knew. It also explores her biracial roots. This book gives you a warm feeling and would be nice to have in the family collection.

[Mariah Eshelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Hope takes a trip to her Aunts house, she always has the best visits. On one she remembers, she discusses how the question was brought up if "she was mixed." Hope did not know what that meant, so her aunt went on to tell her. She talked about their culture and what their family did to get them to this point in their lives. I thought this was great story for teaching culture and learning about biracial heritage. This story will show children to see themselves with pride and self respect.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found at the library, a family story that's sweet about a little girl named Hope who visits a beloved Great Aunt Poogee. The story considers the fact the girl is a mixed-race child, & does it well. Her aunt gives her good advice to answer, "I am generations of faith 'mixed' with lots of love! I am Hope!" The illustrations are terrific.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice story about Multiculturalism.

[Jessica]

Hope is a fiction story told my a little girl who remembers her first encounter of someone questioning her about her race. The author addresses this topic in a very age- appropriate and engaging manner. This would be a good read aloud story to share with children because it opens up room for children to questions and wonder about the make up of their family. Its not just a story for interracial children but any child who doesn't know the story about their family. Hope is just like any other child who questions her race and losing control of how she feels about her self. She doesn't know how to handle her situation but she talks with her aunt who explains to her about her family and expresses to her that she is mixed- mixed with love, strength and faith. The illustrations in this book helps tell the story and kept colorful and bright.