The blurb of Hope in the Valley speaks of how the book is a tale of “growing up in Silicon Valley at a time when immigrants are looked at with suspicion”. With news coming in from all over the world–and most recently from Belfast–I can’t help wondering, how much has changed? How is it that a book set almost fifty years ago is still relevant today?
Hope in the Valley is a layered story told from the point of view of the youngest of three siblings, Pandita Paul. Pandita doesn’t want things to change. She doesn’t want the house across the street to be demolished, and she doesn’t feel set for middle school, especially now that her erstwhile best friend is friends with trendy Katrina Reed. She certainly doesn’t want to join drama camp, but when it’s something her father asks her to do for him, what can she say?
The various threads of the story are beautifully woven together to bring to the reader the complex fabric of society in the Silicon Valley in the 1980s. With Pandita, we explore the past, learning about racism and community, grief and belonging. What makes the book truly compelling is how authentic the voice is. Pandita isn’t a flat character who refuses to grow. As the story progresses and she tries to make sense of the world, we join her. We face challenges with her and see things through her eyes. Hope in the Valley, as the title promises, is an optimistic read. It reminds us that in an imperfect world, we can still find little bubbles of joy and nuggets of hope.
| Title | Hope in the Valley |
| Author | Mitali Perkins |
| Tags | Historical Fiction, Middle Grade |
| Ages | 10+ |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4.5 |
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