World magazine recently reviewed the best books from 2023 (like the ALA does each year in January). Hope in the Valley was selected as fiction runner-up. (Winner was The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary Schmidt-I agree with this choice!! I loved and reviewed this book.) Two other runners-up which I have reviewed are The Many Assassinations of Samir, Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri & Enemies in the Orchard by Dana Vanderlugt.
I loved seventh grader Pandita Paul, the main character in Hope in the Valley. She is a credible and likable character. To Pandita's horror, the town is tearing down the old manison next to her house. On that porch, she and her now deceased mother would sit and talk. Since her mother's death, Pandita has continued to escape to the porch and write letters to her. Pandita hates change. Change pops up throughout the summer-being forced to join the summer drama group, being friends with a (very cute and talented) new boy, and is her father DATING?!!
A plethora of novels that focus on race are being published. Initially I was a bit turned off by this book because of it seemed to focus on how prejudice whites are. Ms. Perkins, however, handles it honestly and in context of the 1920s & the 1980s.
*Highly recommend for junior high and older.
-Borrowed from the library.
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