Hope's Boy: A Memoir | Andrew Bridge

Hope's Boy: A Memoir | Andrew Bridge | silence

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Hope's Boy: A Memoir

	Hope's Boy: A Memoir Andrew Bridge Hyperion, 2008 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 56 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Very Moving

As a teacher Hope's Boy reminded me of one of the reasons I went into teaching. To create a safe haven for all my students, a place where they are valued, cared about and where they can achieve success. This book should be required for all people who work with children. What a wonderful memoir and love story.

silence

I LOVED THE BOOK AS I CAN IDENTIFY WITH IT AS I WAS ALSO A FOSTER CHILD, BUT EXPERIENCES ARE DIFFERENT FOR ALL OF US AND REASONS FOR A CHILD TO BE IN THE SYSTEM ARE DIFFERENT.

A must read for those interested in the child welfare system.

This book is a must read for those interested in child protective services issues and chidren's rights. This book is heart-breaking and touching to say the least, but is truly an inspiring story. It's amazing that Andrew didn't turn out to be more bitter and that he turned out as well as he did despite the adversity he had to overcome. It is truly admirable that he went on to work as an attorney dealing with chidren's rights. I highly recommend reading this book.

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There is hope for Hope's boy

I had heard about this book in People magazine. I also noted that it was recently a best seller. That is why that I wanted to read it. It is a true story of a child in foster care seemingly raised without love. Andrew, the main character, is taken away from his mentally ill Mother by Social Services, and she never gets him back (the author does not mention what happens regarding why). Andrew still manages to suceed, going to college in New England, and then attending Harvard law school. It is heartwrenching to read.
To me, the story raises more questions than answers. What exactly drove Andrew to be as sucessful in school as he was, despite an unloving foster family that did not accept him? He mentions few friendships as he was growing up, and it is implied that the reason this was is that he was ashamed of his past and his foster family. It makes me wonder what his life is like now. Is he able to make friends? Is he involved with a signifigant other? Or does he have issues with maintaining friendships and a main squeeze due to his childhood? Does he have issues with the fact brought out in his book that his Grandmother and his Mother both had signifigant battles with mental illness (his Mothers is still ongoing), and that he is at risk for developing the same mental illness that runs in his family? I do not know if that is revelant to the review or not, but I do have to add this, as I kept asking these questions in my head as I kept reading the book.
I read the book and was moved by it, but I had a hard time liking the book, due to its depressing subject matter. As mentioned above, I want to know what Hope's boy is like as an adult now, and I do hope that Andrew Bridge will write a sequel.

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