hopewashere

Judge A Book By Its Cover

Book Reviews and Synopses

Hope Was Here

Joan Bauer

Bauer,Joan. Hope Was Here. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. New York, New York. 2000.

Hope was Here is a touching novel about the hardships of modern life and the plot to destroy the Twin Towers. The story is filled with betrayal and savagery and demonstrates a bold plot which author Joan Bauer uses to gives a sense of action on every page. This book is rightfully a staple of modern literature and will capture readers for decades.

The story of Hope was Here is about Hope Larssen, a fourteen year old illegal immigrant-turned-graffiti artist in New York City. Her mother is divorced and a drug addict and with no job. The family must live in a converted U-Haul across from the George Washington Bridge.

One night, Hope heard a few men talking about destroying the Twin Towers. They plan to drive a car laden with explosives and topple the building. Hope is frightened but knows that she needs to tell someone. Since she is an unwelcome alien, the police are not an option. Hope plans to graffiti what she heard onside the Twin Towers.

Over the next week, she paints a detailed work showing her interpretation of the plot and manages to arouse fear in the public. The police are ordered to control the panic but do nothing until they manage to track down Hope and her mom. They ambush Hope as she finishes her mural and arrest both with criminal charges.

Put on trial in criminal court, Hope must find a way to tell what she heard and expose the dreadful plot before its too late!

Joan Bauer’s Hope was Here touches on many hardships of modern life and gives the reader an excellent page-turner, filled with action everywhere. Though it is slow towards the middle, it picks up and captivates the reader until the book is finished.

3 out of 5 stars.

Contributed by M. Schoenfeld

April 26, 2011