Harry and Hope

by Sarah Lean

Some friendships are meant to be ... Hope feels lost when her mum's boyfriend leaves. She loved Frank and he understood her better than anyone, even her mum. The only part of Frank left behind is his stubborn, old rescue-donkey, Harry. Hope promised to look after Harry, but maybe Hope needs Harry just as much as he needs her.

Genres: Animals

291 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2015

About the author

My fascination with animals began when I was aged 8 and a stray cat walked in the back door and decided to adopt me. As a child, I wanted to be a writer and used to dictate stories to my mother, but eventually I bought a laptop and decided I could type them myself. I live in Dorset and share the space around my desk with two dogs, Harry and Coco. MA in Creative and Critical Writing from University of Winchester.

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh dear. I think this must be the lowest rating for this book. Sorry Ruthie 🙈.

I have so many thoughts about this book I don't even know where to start.
I found this book kind of boring, I feel like nothing significant happened. Hmm I just feel that this story didn't need to be made, like it isnt really worth it?
It's written in quite a whimsical way, and the protagonist, who is 12, thinks like an english teacher; trying to over analyse everything and find meaning in ever little thing that happens. When I was 12 I just fell off rope swings, broke my arm and watched my little pony. It's just very unrealistic for a 12 year old to think that technically. And no one thinks like that anyway.
Continuing with this 12 year old thing, there this one bit where Hope is driving a tractor on a country road with a donkey. A 12 year old, driving a tractor. And no one said anything, no one questioned it. No one questioned why she had a donkey either.
Hope acts like an adult during this whole book and maybe it would have been better if she was a bit older, like 17 or somethin. It would have been (slightly) more enjoyable and believable.

Because the writing was so.. whimsical, like I said earlier, i feel like this book would have beenbeautiful if it was written in poetry. A bit like Sarah Crossans books or Elizabeth Acevedos books.

I also felt that there wasn't enough emotion shown in the characters and everything happened way too quickly. I think I would have enjoyed it if it had more detail (I know its aimed at younger audiences but still)

It also seemed too unrealistic in other ways. Hope's mother is a professional artist and I have no idea why her and her Boyfriend, Frank, are together. You never see them interact with each other and I personally think their characters clash with each other. Hope's mum hardly even talks to her.
I think the character of Frank would have worked better as a really close friend, older brother, or maybe a close uncle.
Hope even says in the book many times that she 'doesn't know what to call him/what he is to her'
I think that's because the author had poor character placement, and therefore even the character was confused.
I kept forgetting that it was her mums ex boyfriend and not just some friend. It just didn't really work for me.

I just wanted a story about a donkey and I wanted more time learning about harry and seeing Hope interact with him. Shes so attatched to this donkey but shes seems to only like him because he reminds her of Frank.
So the whole story was mainly about Hope missing Frank and not about the Donkey.

I wouldnt have called it 'Harry and Hope' I would have called it 'A 12 year old girl who rides tractors and her attatchment to her mums boyfriend'

So um yes. Didnt enjoy it very much haha. Thanks for reading this :p

[Ellie Mellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars/ I really enjoyed listening to this book because it was so light and at the same time was so full of nice and wholehearted content! :) Harry, Hope and Frank forever

[Ruthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My young friend from the yard lent me this book to read and I have spent my afternoon reading it in the garden.
It is a sweet read and a lovely story. I enjoyed reading it very much :)
Would recommend to anyone who likes a good story about a donkey

[Emy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't my favourite of Sarah Lean's books but I still enjoyed it. It was a sad story, but I liked the characters and especially Harry the donkey!

I would recommend this for 9+

[Lotti Ruegg · Rating 3 out of 5]

cool

[Lin SINGH-BARRINGTON · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as an adult. It was charming and beautifully written.

[Millie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Very sad and emotional. I couldn't put it down

[Martin Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stimulating story for young readers

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its a lovely book about a 13 yr old girl and a donkey.The reason i gave it a 3 was i found it very easy and not to entertaining

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐

Mi primer libro en inglés leído por mi cuenta y terminado.
Es una historia muy sencilla pero perfecta para poder entender con su vocabulario simple. La historia no ha sido lo mejor de mundo pero yo no iba buscando la mejor novela, solo quería leer un libro en inglés, entenderlo, avanzar en mi nivel y cumplir uno de mis propósitos lectores 😊.

[Annette Hjelm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tolvåriga Hope bor sedan några år tillbaka i en liten by i södra Frankrike, vid foten av det väldiga berget Canigou, med sin mamma, sin mammas pojkvän Frank och hans åsna, Harry. Hopes mamma är en orolig konstnärssjäl som har bytt pojkvänner lika ofta som de flyttat. De senaste tre åren har Hope äntligen känt en trygghet hon tidigare saknat, bland annat därför att de stannat på samma plats en längre tid, men framför allt tack vare Frank. De är som körsbär och mandlar, eller som yoghurt och honung. Två halvor som tillsammans blir ett. Hope har inget namn för vad han är för henne, och det är något som gnager i henne. Som läsare förstår man att han är den föräldragestalt hon tidigare saknat. När mamman stänger in sig i sin ateljé för att arbeta, och inte heller ser Hope för den hon är, då har hon alltid Frank. Frank och hans envisa och gamla åsna, Harry.

Frank är visserligen godhjärtad, men han är också en rastlös själ, precis som Hopes mamma. Oförmögen att leva sitt liv på någon annans villkor. Han har ägnat en stor del av sitt tidigare liv till att resa runt i världen, och en dag blir längtan ut för stor. Kvar hos Hope lämnar han åsnan Harry, som behöver mycket vård och omtanke nu när Frank inte finns där för honom. Hope är lika förkrossad över att Frank har övergett dem som åsnan Harry känner sig vilsen och osäker. Nu har de bara varandra. Hope vänder sin ilska och sorg till omtanke och omvårdnad om Harry. På något sätt måste Hope lyckas få åsnan att lita på henne. Det blir en händelserik sommar, framförallt känslomässigt, där relationerna mellan de olika personerna och även med åsnan Harry förändras på många sätt.

Det här är en historia väl värd att berätta, om en väldigt ensam flicka som äntligen får känna sig både älskad, förstådd och trygg. Det är också en berättelse om det största sveket av alla, att bli övergiven av den som betyder mest. Författaren skildrar detta på ett bra sätt, precis som hon förmedlar hur alla i berättelsen tvingas omvärdera och förändra sig. Dessvärre blir jag inte särskilt berörd. Jag saknar dynamik i texten, något som driver berättelsen framåt. Jag tror att boken hade vunnit mycket på om författaren vågat lämna en del öppet åt läsaren att själv få känna och dra sina egna slutsatser. Som boken är skriven är allt klart uttalat, som om författaren inte litar på att läsaren annars skall förstå, och med det försvinner spänningen och suget att läsa vidare.

♥

[Tiffni · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a teacher I look for books that are both entertaining and valuable for children; books that can teach a child something or present a perspective that is different from their own, but accessible. 'Harry and Hope' achieves this.

Hope, the main character in this story, sees the world a little differently and she is supported to feel this way - allowing us, the readers, to know that it is okay to be a little different. Hope is kind, wholesome, relatable and realistic. She is experiencing a hardship in her life, but is aware that she is not the only one who is struggling. She concentrates on helping and healing Harry. In the process she heals herself and her mother. She is a good friend and a thoughtful character - the kind of friend you would want for yourself or your own child.

*I was pleased to receive this book as a Goodreads Giveaway.

[Lua]

En väldigt söt och charmig bok om vänskapen mellan tolvåriga Hope och åsnan Harry. Fokuset ligger väldigt mycket just på Hope och hur hon tränar och lär känna Harry, som tillhör hennes mammas pojkvän. En dag berättar Frank att han ska resa iväg och Hope blir förtvivlad då Frank har betytt mycket för henne. Helt paff inser hon senare att han har lämnat kvar Harry åt henne - Frank är ju den enda som verkligen förstår åsnan och hur ska Hope klara av att få honom att gå in i skjulet själv på kvällarna? Men i saknaden av Frank växer bandet mellan Hope och Harry sig starkare...

Jag tror det här är första boken som jag läser med just en åsna i; Harry porträtteras väldigt fint och kan man inte så mycket om åsnor så kan man lära sig en del om dem. Boken har inte så mycket driv utan är en ganska långsam berättelse om just relationen mellan människa och djur, familjerelationer och vänskap.

[Christine Felton · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can I ever look at another donkey without thinking of Harry!
I was thrilled to win a (signed) copy of Harry and Hope from Goodreads and Harpercollins, as I had previously read both A dog called Homeless and Jack Pepper. I love the way Sarah Lean gets right into the mind and nature of the animals in her books, showing that they have emotions and feelings just like us. I see this on a daily basis with my own dog and cat, and hopefully (no pun intended) children who read her books will also see this .
Don't just take my word- read it, whatever your age

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read my review and enter giveaway here https://notintheparentingmanual.wordp...

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodread giveaway What a rare old fashioned book crammed with animals and close friendships ideal young girls read.

[Denyse Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. About a girl called Hope and her artist mother who have moved from place to place and then settled in France.

[KillerFrost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diffently a favourite. Such a amazing book if you love books about animals this is one for you. Its about a girl and a stubborn donkey that has an amazing story!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching story.