Hope Wins: A Collection of Inspiring Stories for Young Readers

Twenty-two renowned authors, including Soman Chainani, Stuart Gibbs, Hena Khan, and more, dig deep into their childhood memories to share personal stories of hope in Brock’s optimistic anthology. In “Everything I Needed to Know I Learned in a Thai Restaurant,” Christina Soontornvat reminisces on several years as a kid watching her parents run their establishment (the first Asian restaurant in Weatherford, Tex.) and the many invaluable life lessons her wise father and his customers taught her, including how to navigate prejudice. Ojibwe author James Bird’s “I Am the Greatest” recalls his three-year-old self, post-eviction from his family’s home in Ventura, Calif., marveling at strangers’ kindness following a car accident with his mother and siblings. Matt de la Peña, who wanted people to stop perceiving him as a “mop headed, half Mexican underprivileged kid in hand-me-down sneakers,” reveals his dream of becoming a basketball star, describing the role models who encouraged him in “There’s More to Playin’ Ball Than Just Playin’ Ball.” These personal essays, whose authors embody myriad worldviews and represent a widely intersectional spectrum, provide a much-needed window into how hope can flourish in hardship, and stress the importance of perseverance and a supportive community. Ages 8–12. (May)