Hope Meadows: Real Life Stories of Healing and Caring from an Inspiring Community

by Wes Smith

Pairing senior citizens with unwanted foster children, Hope Meadows is the brainchild of a determined sociologist.

Built on an abandoned Air Force base in Illinois, the community is a remarkable town that's changing lives by making dreams come true. It's a place where "unadoptable" children are given the chance to thrive in permanent homes.

A book to share with friends, "Hope Meadows" is a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and a very special town built from the heart up.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Fostering, Adoption

224 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2001

Reviews

[ML Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that drives home the point that you can do something; you can help no matter the season of your life. Perhaps foster children or troubled children or even children in general isn’t your forte but the lesson I took was that you can find your passion at any age.

[CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating is based primarily on the subject matter, more than on the writing style. I disagree with another review, which said the book was unreadable because of the poor writing. I thought that the sections written by various members of the community, while not always as well written as the main narrative, were an excellent way to give a definitive voice to many of the residents of Hope Meadows. I came away from the book with a huge sense of respect and even awe for what these adults are willing and able to do in order to help some of the most at risk children imaginable. The stories were sad, but really not graphic, and in fact sometimes frustratingly vague. There was only one couple interviewed for the book that I didn't like and perceived as selfish. For everyone else I read about, I was touched by their stories, encouraged by their accomplishments, and warmed by the way that the various lives from such different backgrounds were able to come together to make a better life for everyone. I may not want to live at Hope Meadows myself, but it does make me want to live somewhere similar. I completely recommend this book.

[Chana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so impressed with this community, and the vision, persistence, conviction and intelligence of the woman who created it. The stories of the children are very moving and each victory of a child in this community feels personal to the reader. I googled Hope Meadows and it is still in existence and seems to be going strong. Please G-d, let them be successful for the good of the children. It is like a finger in the dam, but maybe more such communities can be created. It sure is needed, the State statistics seem to be worse than those of the birth families.

[Badly Drawn Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly heartwarming story of a "Utopian" community. I finished this book and wanted to pack up my kids and move there. This book has a lot to teach us. Most powerfully of all is the message that one person, or a small group of people, can make a huge difference in the lives of many. I was so touched by the stories of sacrifice, love, and overcoming the odds that I walked around with a smile for days. Hope Meadows is aptly named because it imparts a message of hope for us all.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful account of an Illinois village where foster parents adopt formerly abused kids. Elderly are also given low cost housing to support the families. A great experiment for social change in our foster care system. I may like to live here.

[Lamec Mariita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of biographies about the residents of Hope Meadows. The stories were very interesting. I found the book very inspiring. A beautifully written book by a talented author. I totally recommend it.

[Terry Bourbon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book several years ago, and started reading it, and then put it away and lost track of it. I came across it recently, and read it pretty quickly. This is the story of an amazing town, that was founded for the purpose of taking care of foster children in a home setting. The town is in Illinois, and the founding of it, and the time frame that this book is written in is a heartwarming story of something done right. In the midst of parents and foster children mingling with birth children and relatives, there are seniors who also relocated here to help with the children. I found some of these stories even more amazing than that of the children. I can believe that setting up a town of foster parents and grandparents can change a child dramatically, but I did not predict how dramatically these kids brought back some of the seniors from health issues to fully functioning crossing guards, babysitters, reading tutors, etc. I am so inspired by the story I intend to research this town, and I have to wonder why other communities have not tried this. The book is written by a reporter, and goes between two styles, one is a backstory or summary of a given family, and then the words from someone in that family - the foster parent, the child, a grandparent. Few of these families are connected by blood or dna, all of them are multiracial, and all of them are successful. There are mentions of children that were too damaged or too ill to stay, but by and large even seriously abused or neglected children have been placed here successfully. Truly an inspirational read, highly recommend. Not too graphic or in depth for those with soft hearts.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of biographies about the residents of Hope Meadows. The author explained how the whole idea started (the biography of the founder) and then did the biographies of various families living there--the foster parents, children and grandparents. We learn what the adult's lives were like before Hope Meadows, what brought them there, and about the children in their care.

There were brown-and-white pictures of the various people in the book. The stories were interesting, and, overall, I'd recommend this book to those interested in the foster care system, troubled kids, or stories of adoption.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The only think I found confusing was the author would switch from third person to first person, and I didn't always know who the speaker was. Other than that, the story of foster children, parents, and my favorite, foster grandparents living in the same community was amazing. It was cool to see how the older generation benefited from the younger and vice versa. If this was local, I'd move in tomorrow. That's right up my alley.

[Sari Lynn]

A truly intriguing concept of an intergenerational intentional community, rendered unreadable by clumsy writing. What a shame.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring story of a "village" of families that adopted the "unadoptables" in the foster care system.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly uplifting, yet realistic look at the people who make up Hope Meadows and their unique way of helping foster kids.

[Hildegart · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a great book to read (even though I only gave it three stars). It is full of hope and inspiration for those kids that now have homes.

[Christina Dent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fascinating idea, creating a community where retired folks can still have a huge impact on children and their adoptive families, loved it.