“"Something Like Hope" is a compelling realistic fiction story by author Shawn Goodman, who will be at the Rochester Teen Book Festival on May 19, 2011 (www.tbflive.org). This book is for readers over age 11 who are mature and can handle reading swear words that are used judiciously but are essential in telling a sadly believable story. Some readers may want to wait until they are older, however, to read this gritty and authentic story. The chapters are extremely short; their length (or lack of it) make you want to keep reading. "Just one more chapter, just one more" is what you will be thinking, even after you've read six more chapters.
Readers will like this book if they enjoyed any of these books:
"Imani All Mine" by Connie Porter (young mothers)
"Get Well Soon" by Julie Halpern (teenagers living in institutions/detention centers)
"Locomotion" by Jacqueline Woodson (foster care)
"The Girl Who Fell From the Sky" by Heidi Durrow (difficult living circumstances)
Main character Shavonne is angry, scared and living in a girls' juvenile detention center. While similar to the books mentioned above, Shavonne's first-person story is not like any other because it's totally believable and sadly shocking. Author Goodman (who is also a school psychologist) clearly knows how teens think because as you read Shavonne's story you can see her experiences in your head as if they really are happening. This isn't necessarily a sad story that will make you cry (although the last chapter did make me cry) but it will make you think that there really are people out there who actually do the bad things that happen around Shavonne in this book - this "real" factor comes out in the author's writing. Clearly, and unfortunately, he writes from experience working with trouble teens in this highly recommended novel.”
MsWrobel wrote this review Saturday, November 5, 2011.
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