Hope Was Here

I walked away from this book thinking it was one of the best teen fiction books I'd read in a long time. The title really grabbed me, and I love the way the author used the idea of hope and the main character Hope interchangeably - that it's "hope was here", and also "Hope was here". I recommend this book - it's very clean, fun to read, and is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Hope is a teenager who lives with her aunt. Her mother actually named her Tulip, which was the worst name ever, and Hope changed it when she turned 12. Her aunt is a short-order cook and Hope has worked as a waitress for several years when they move from New York City to Wisconsin. They've moved several times to work in different restaurants, and this move turns out to be monumental for both of them.

There is so much to the story-line in this book that makes it wonderful. There is a political campaign that the teenagers all get involved in, there's a little bit of romance for both Hope and her aunt, and there are deep family relationships that are very touching. Hope has spent her whole life dreaming about finding her father one day and eventually learns that fatherhood is not just about biology, it's about love.