The Hope Chest

by Karen Schwabach

A perfect Common Core tie-in, The Hope Chest includes nonfiction backmatter with period photographs, historical notes about the suffrage movement, and a Voting in America timeline. It's also a New York State Curriculum title for fourth grade.

Eleven-year-old Violet has one goal in mind when she runs away from to find her sister, Chloe. Violet’s parents said Chloe had turned into the Wrong Sort of Person, but Violet knew better. The only problem is that Chloe’s not in New York anymore. She's moved on to Tennesee where she's fighting for the right of women to vote. As Violet's journey grows longer, her single-minded pursuit of reuniting with her sister changes. Before long she is standing side-by-side with her new friends—suffragists, socialists, and colored people—the type of people whom her parents would not approve. But if Violet’s becoming the Wrong Sort of Person, why does it feel just right? This stirring depiction of the very end of the women's suffrage battle in America is sure to please readers who like their historical fiction fast-paced and action-packed. American Girls fans will fall hard for Violet and her less-than-proper friends.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Fiction, Historical, School, Childrens, Audiobook

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 22, 2008

About the author

Karen Schwabach grew up in upstate New York and lived for many years in Alaska, where she taught ESL in the Yup'ik village of Chefornak. She later taught in the education department at Salem College in North Carolina. She's the author of A Pickpocket's Tale, The Hope Chest, The Storm Before Atlanta, and Starting from Seneca Falls.

Also uses the pen name Sage Blackwood.

Reviews

[Emily C]

This was prep for part of my 4th grade's ELA this year, but I read it so it counts on Goodreads too, right?

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book I should have loved--women's suffrage! strong women! 1920!
It's the story of a young girl who follows her sister--who just happens to be a suffragist in Tennessee, trying to make sure that this last, crucial state ratifies the 19th amendment.
And yet, it was heavy handed beyond belief. Way too many "lucky breaks" The cast of famous historical characters was like a parade.
And every kind of viewpoint was presented in one tidy character. And I could never suspend my disbelief that an 11 year old could travel cross country.
This book probably also suffers since I just finished Green Glass Sea, which presents complex history with amazing subtlety in a completely natural, kid-friendly way. This is not the book to get kids fascinated with women's suffrage.

[Bill Prosser · Rating 2 out of 5]

Excited for the subject matter, disappointed by the "history" book feel to this one. The political agenda is not very well hidden either.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

CCBC recommended this book or I probably wouldn't have read it based on the cover *blush*. I think a lot of kids will skip this one when they see the cover art. But it is well written and surprisingly full of action for being a historical novel about women's suffrage featuring two little girls. A surprising number of issues are touched on within the historical context. I would have liked to have an epilogue to know what happens to Violet when she returns home after running away, but that is only hinted at. Maybe a sequel?

[Jennifer Castner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not age appropriate, adult situations, inappropriate slang

[Claire Stalzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this aloud to my class so I’m COUNTING IT. This book managed to keep 4th grade boys engaged for 19 chapters. 5 stars.

[Niki]

I typically read along with the books my kids have to read for school but was slow with this one. My 4th grader loved it and kept suggesting I go back and read it. I appreciate the discussions this book can create.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh!! Talk about hitting me over the head with a historical tac-hammer! As one reader put it, the nice little "parade" of historical characters that this 11 year old girl runs into is almost too much. I am ALL for women's suffrage, and equal rights, etc. Ironically, the author tends towards the "Men are dummies who don't get how awesome women are" underlying theme-- not really even being subtle about how she feels about women as the superior sex. I had to read this book with my son for ELA during homeschool/quarantine, and I am glad I was able to read it with him. I had to clarify that all men did not feel such negativity toward women back then, that all men weren't won over to vote against suffrage by being bribed with alcohol, and that all men didn't feel women were inferior beings. If the intent of this book was to write to school age kids, I'm disgusted with her approach. It should be in the fantasy genre-- if she is trying to be really historically accurate and astute, how many 11 year olds in the 1920's would go traipsing off across the country and get away with it with help from all sorts of "responsible" adults? Not only that, the way the main character, Violet, speaks to adults and to her parents wouldn't have been tolerated then, and since I feel like I must be a prude after reading this book-- I would hardly tolerate it from my own kids. I am all for thinking for yourselves and expressing your opinion. It would have been way more believable if the main character were an 18 year old girl learning that her parents weren't always perfect, and making her own way. But then again, it wouldn't be able to be sold to elementary schools across the country touting historical fiction for women's suffrage.

[Reading Vacation · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hope Chest explores the women’s suffrage movement in a new way. The story is told mostly by Violet, but it also includes her sister Chloe and their new friend Myrtle. Each character joins the movement for their own reasons and grows because of it.
Chloe has left her family because her parents were trying to force her into a marriage that she did not want. Instead of buying a hope chest for her marriage, she buys a car and names it The Hope Chest. Chloe has gone to college, is smart, and she knows what she wants. She learns what true love is when she meets the right guy.
Violet is the little sister who wants to be with her big sister. Little does she know, but doing this will put her directly into the middle of the suffrage violence. She becomes very active in the movement and even pretends to be against suffrage so she can spy on the enemy. Violet learns that she is independent and strong.
Finally, there is Myrtle. She is the young black girl who joins the sisters on their adventure. It is sad to see how Myrtle is treated by many of the whites just because of her skin color. Looking to leave the South, she bravely makes the move to Alaska with Chloe as the story comes to an end.
I liked how the story was told and the way the girls related to each other.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book that never checked out at my library but I wanted to "save it" so I checked it out.
I am so glad I did. This historical fiction account of the suffrage movement in the US was absolutely full of interesting details. I learned so much about the challenges and triumphs within the movement.
The red roses versus yellow roses was news to me! That some women were allowed to vote in New Jersey as early as 1776 was news to me! That women had to actively lobby the male senators and representatives was eye opening.
I liked the play on words of the title. Yes, a hope chest was traditionally where you collected your dowry for getting married. But this hope chest is a vehicle. It was transport for women. A way to be free and reach destinations to fight for women's rights. Wonderful!
And a rhyme that vexed me:
Oh dear, what can the matter be?
Oh dear, what can the matter be?
Oh dear, what can the matter be?
Women are wanting to vote.
Women have husbands, they are protected
Women have sons, by whom they’re directed
Women have fathers, they’re not neglected
Why are they wanting to vote?

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It really inspires young girls that you can make a difference in the world, and that girls can do anything boys can.It is about Violet who is 11, and she wants to find her older sister Chloe.Chloe ran out when when her mother and father said she had to get married, but instead of a hope chest she bought a car. If Violet is hanging with the wrong people why does she feel so right.Along the way Violet meets many new characters who make her life all turned around, and Find Out What Happens Next!!!!

[Gabrielle S · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this and it wasn't bad but it was a little too clear cut. Sort of like it had been written for school children to read about women's suffrage. You can write accurate historical fiction without making it quite so dry.

[Megan Snider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m about to have to read this with my students, so I wanted to read it ahead of time. This is a great book!! I’m slightly confused why this is being used for fourth graders because the vocabulary and content are pretty challenging, but it’s a great read!

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just loved it so much! I would read it over and over again. Highly recommend.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My fourth grader read this in his class and said I needed to read it. Thinking of the age group that read this, I think it was appropriate! He enjoyed it!

[Janna Mathews · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a good book! I read this with my 8 year old. It was a great way to teach about women's suffrage.

[Emily Goodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my 4th grade students-they loved it and I did too! So much history about suffragists that I didn’t know about and really emphasizes why women earning the vote was so important and such a challenge. A great read!

[Sarah Grace Couvillon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read this with my 4th graders but lowkey enjoyed it

[Kate Winters]

I liked it a lot. It is about a young girl named Violet whose best friend recently died, she has an older brother who is paralyzed from war, and an older sister named Chloe, whom she runs away to. Chloe takes her in and together they fight for women's suffrage. This book taught me a lot about history and what it was like for the people who won women the voting rights that I can use today, well, once I'm 18 years old.

[Robin Lux · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book because I teach 4th grade and it’s required reading. It was very good, well written in a manner children can understand with a lot of great historical information. I even learned a few things at the end as well. Looking forward to 4th quarter and sharing this book with them.

[Ashley O'shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter is in 4th grade and read this book in school. She and I followed along at home each week, reading a chapter at a time. What a wonderful way to teach the women’s suffrage movement to this generation. A beautiful, interesting historical fiction book.

[Spence · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am sorry but this book was boring

[Lonna Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

An historical fiction story of the American struggle for Women's Suffrage in 1920, this novel is set in the final state (Tennessee) as it is fraught over a battle of ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Told through the eyes of Violet, an 11-year old from Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, she runs away when she angrily discovers her mother has 3 years of hidden letters addressed to Violet from her independent-minded older sister, Chloe in New York City. Along the frightening journey, she encounters Hobie, an experienced hobo and Myrtle, a black orphan girl who is not content to be a servant to imperious, wealthy whites. Finding her sister and her automobile, funded by Chloe's hope chest money is daunting and leads to Washington, DC against the backdrop of WW I, the Spanish Influenza Epidemic, "shell shock," and a series of political machinations. This includes bribery, scandal, suffragists, antis, and the subjugation of women and Negroes. The ugly underseams of American History are exposed here, from rampant racism and Jim Crow to anti-semitism, anti-immigrants, and J. Edgar Hoover's brutal crusade against socialism and "Bolsheviks." "We've come a long way, baby," as the ad once proclaimed; yet that seamy side of US politics still threatens to unravel the threads of our societal fabric.

[Abbey Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hope Chest is an inspiring book for young ladies to read. Violet Mayhew is a young girl who left home in search of her sister Chloe. Chloe is in a suffrage league for the women's vote. Violet's parents did not support this cause, so Chloe left home and went to New York. Violet was left at home with her parents and older brother who was dealing with shell-shock. Violet finds out that her parents had been hiding letters from her sister that were written to her. Violet sets off to find her sister and is then gets tangled up in the suffrage movement. She gets to see both the suffrage side and the anti-suffrage side from the inside. On the way to find her sister, she encounters a man named Mr. Martin who seems to be running from the law and a "colored" girl named Myrtle. This book discusses the bribing that goes on and the process for a law to get passed. Violet learned so much on her journey that will change her life forever. I really enjoyed this book because it discussed history, but it had a great story line. At times, the plot was a little slow, but overall, I really enjoyed it! This would be great for 9-12 year old students, specifically girls. I think this can help students understand the process of what happens in Congress.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

We used this book as a read-aloud for my homeschooled 4th grader. It had difficult vocabulary words but she learned so much! It was a great time piece and it walked us through what was happening in / around 1919 including the suffrage fight (and why anti were so opposed), Jim Crow laws and the treatment of people in different states, the Spanish flu and WWI. We visited the local history museum with a suffrage exhibit and it was such a great tie in. This book was full of interesting discussion points. It even brought up info about 2/3 majority voting, senate v. house, etc. It also had a lot of sayings /adages that I found my daughter was clueless about their meaning!! I highly recommend this book. Any younger and they would be lost in the language. We read this at the END of 4th grade. I would recommend for end 4th grade or anytime during 5th grade.

[Jack]

In the book, The Hope Chest by Karen Schwabach,
it shares a story about a girl named Violet. She decides to run away from home to look for her sister, Chloe. Chloe left home with her hope chest money to become a nurse and support the women’s right to vote. The conflict is that Violet’s parents did not want Violet to be influenced
by Chloe and stole letters that the sisters wrote to each other. They even locked Violet in her room to keep her from leaving. Violet decides to leave and goes to find her sister. On the way she meets Myrtle and they take the journey together. There are many tough times on the way. I think this book is very suspenseful and entertaining. There are many twists and turns. There are new developments in every chapter. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the women's movement and if you are interested in historical fiction.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging and Educational

I bought this ebook because I wanted to get ahead of my kids reading it (it's in our curriculum). Sadly, we didn't get to finish it this year. However, that was mostly because my kids had so many questions and comments. The story was both high interest and relatable for my students (despite taking place almost 100 years ago). They were shocked and outraged by past US policies and laws regarding women and minority rights (both of which the author covered brilliantly and age-appropriatly). This led to so many great conversations! I cannot wait to use this story again next year and will make a point of giving us extra time to finish before summer break!

[Benita Bonner · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is not appropriate for 4 th graders. There are a few cuss words but that’s not the biggest problem. It’s how it makes Black children feel as they are forced to read it as part of EL curriculum in my district. It refers to them as “colored” throughout the entire book and the stereotypes and generalizations of Black people and women are appalling. Yes, you might say, “ well this is based on truths”. But navigating through this bk as part of teaching bigger themes? Very challenging. It might be an interesting READ for an adult or even preteen who can understand some of the concepts more deeply but to select this as a mandatory reading for ALL 4th graders is offensive, insensitive and reckless.

[Kathleen M Carreiro · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was asked to read this with a fourth grade and develop a performance piece with them. It started out well, though the opening scene with shouting and parental hair pulling was too traumatic, especially in a school with many socio-economic issues. It got better, and the students loved creating newspapers with headlines based on things we read about, for the 'newsies' to hawk in the theater aisles. As the book went on, it got waaay too involved. That last scene in Tennessee read like a civics lesson. Or, like an awkward attempt at presenting content through fiction. I felt the book was too adult, including swears.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this to prepare for ELA unit for my fourth grade class. The writing is poor, it feels like the author was trying to hit every marginalized group by giving them a quick mention, (with no explanation of who they were), and hoping the reader doesn't ask questions. There are situations that are not really appropriate for 9 year olds. The main character, Violet, is not very likable and the ridiculous amount of "good luck"/coincidences to make this story "work" is really stretching credulity, (think of Forrest Gump without the likability). The story of women's suffrage is fascinating and this story doesn't do it credit.