A review by helenareadsbooks
Hopeless in Hope by Wanda John-Kehewin

4.25

Wanda John-Kehewin’s young adult novel Hopeless in Hope tells the story of 14 year old Eva. Eva often feels lonely and small because she’s bullied at school and her mom is an alcoholic. Her nohkum is the only person Eva can rely on, but when Nohkum is hospitalized, Eva struggles to believe that her mom is capable of taking care of her and her younger brother. After her mom makes a terrible mistake, Eva is put into a group home and is separated from her brother. Eva is overwhelmed by her emotions and anxiety, and wonders if she’ll ever be reunited with her family. 
 
I like the way this book is written—the author gives readers a ton of insight into Eva’s thoughts and it reads like a diary. Eva cares deeply about her family and is protective of them, but she’s also rightfully angry at her circumstances. Eva craves connection and a peaceful life at home, but her mom keeps letting her down. With the help of her nohkum, Eva begins to understand her mom’s pain and the cycle of trauma present in their lives. Eva goes on a journey of forgiveness and acceptance, and it was heartwarming to see her growth and where these characters end up. I also loved the honest discussions of anxiety and depression and think there are several great messages in this book about the importance of taking care of your mental health. 
 
I unintentionally read Brandi Morin’s Our Voice of Fire (highly recommend the audiobook!) simultaneously with this one, and was surprised by the ways they overlap. One is fictional and the other is not, but both books inform readers about the impact of intergenerational trauma, residential schools, and the foster care system on Indigenous communities. Brandi Morin’s memoir reinforced the discussions and emotions presented in Hopeless in Hope. While both books discuss these topics, they focus on the people rather than the trauma, and they demonstrate how it’s possible to rebuild your life and find hope after despair. 
 
With compassion, care and love, Hopeless in Hope tells the story of a family finding their way back to each other. It provides space for complex feelings and is a great starting point for young readers to learn about the difficult topics within, while also showing the importance of family and having hope. 
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This book is out now! Thank you HighWater Press for sending me a copy to review. 
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