Hope is Made of Helium

by Amy Zinn

The first day of the new school year, balloons that contain the hopes of the graduating class are released into the air. When the balloons fall, whatever’s written inside comes true for the person who pops it. Students spend the year battling, enduring, and even embracing the effects of someone else’s desire and learn, in the end, that while they don’t always get what they want, they come away with exactly what they need.

Genres: Amazon

305 pages

About the author

Amy Zinn is the author of many books for young adults. She received an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and writes every day at home in California, where she lives with her husband, four boys, and dog.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than you expect...

I really liked Hope is Made of Helium. I thought it was going to be this light hearted book, I mean high schoolers making wishes 😊. But there was a lot of feeling and depth. Each character had so much going on in their life.
I love their evolutions/process of becoming better & less self absorbed. Interesting how the balloons they didn't want helped them to get over some of their fears or learn to let go. Or the ones they really wanted for themselves end up being to others who need them more.
I loved just the process of becoming. It is hard for teenagers to look outside of themselves, but great message of how much joy it brought them to help others. This author does a great job crafting clever stories and amazing characters. I have enjoyed all of the books I've read from her.

[Aaron G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope is Made of Helium is a sweet coming of age story where a group of high school friends’ lives are turned upside down by the popping of reality warping balloons. With a story that gripped my wife and I far more than it should (my usual fare includes Stephen King, and Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, so that should give you an idea of what I usually read), and characters that you can’t help but fall in love with, Hope is Made of Helium is a beautiful, heartfelt story of growth and resilience in the face of unexpected tragedies and obstacles, and showcases the power of the human spirit and what real love and friendship can do to for a person’s soul. While geared towards a YA audience, this book is one that my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed devouring!