Hope's Crossing [Hardcover]

Joan Elizabeth Goodman (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

They came from across Long Island Sound, Tories in search of plunder and ransom, bringing terror to Hope Wakeman's Connecticut home. The family is defenseless now that Father is away serving in General Washington's army. They can only watch as Noah Thomas and his crew strip the house of treasured belongings. And before she realizes what is happening, Hope finds herself a captive and a slave to Thomas's ill-tempered wife. Hope has one unlikely ally: Thomas's plucky mother is a different sort of Tory, one who sees beyond partisan divisions. Together the frail old woman and the girl set off in search of safety, on a journey that takes them from the tiny villages of Long Island to the bustling Tory stronghold of Manhattan. A map helps readers follow along on this journey, during which many astonishing things are revealed to Hope about herself and her companion.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8AWhen 12-year-old Hope's father leaves his family behind in answer to General Washington's summons, he admonishes her to be brave. They have no way of knowing that within days her courage will be severely tested. Late one night, their homestead is attacked by Loyalist raiders in search of her father. Not finding him, they take Hope instead and burn the place to the ground, setting a terror-stricken girl upon a difficult journey during which she is forced into a variety of roles simply to survive. Eventually, she and Mother Thomas, her captor's mother (who had been treated little better than Hope), escape together, eventually ending up in New York City, a Loyalist stronghold, where she pretends to be the woman's Loyalist granddaughter. After the elderly woman dies of smallpox and Hope becomes deathly ill but survives, she finds herself recuperating in the home of a Tory general. With the aid of a friend of Mother Thomas, the girl secretly flees the general's house and makes her way home. Hope exhibits tremendous resourcefulness and steadfastness. Because she meets so many kind, warmhearted people while living among the Tories, she learns that the enemy wears a very human face. This story is rich with the details of life during the Revolutionary War. The discussion of the treatment of smallpox, particularly the primitive inoculation practices of the time, do not often appear in young people's novels. While Hope's character lacks the emotional depth of some of Ann Rinaldi's protagonists, her adventures should be popular.APeggy Morgan, The Library Network, Southgate, MI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

In a historical novel that, in the wake of Goodman's Winter Hare (1996), seems tepid, Tory kidnappers bundle a Connecticut patriot's daughter over the Sound to Long Island, where she endures mistreatment before undertaking the arduous journey home. Seized in lieu of her father, away on business for General Washington, Hope escapes before she can be sold to a slave trader, and with her captor's aged mother, Maude, makes her way to a war-torn but bustling New York City. Unfortunately, bands of raiders have brought northbound travel to a standstill. Hope frets over the protracted delay, fearing her pursuers, but then smallpox strikes. Hope loses her dear companion, and almost dies herself; after a long convalescence in the care of a British officer's wife, she again escapes, and a crusty old suitor of Maude's sails her across enemy lines to a happy reunion with her family. Hope's path is smoothed by plenty of adult friends, plus a convenient stash of family silver to cover expenses, and neither Goodman's sketchy descriptions of Revolutionary Warera New York, nor her characters, who are either types or quirky to the point of impenetrability, contribute to the sense of time and place; still, although she is not the most self-reliant of heroines, Hope faces and overcomes her own fearsspecifically her terror of heightsas well as physical hazards in the course of her journey back. (Fiction. 10-13) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; None edition (April 27, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395861950
• ISBN-13: 978-0395861950
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,588,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why I like this book, February 11, 2006

By 

Jill M. Warren "Mouse" (Moberly, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hope's Crossing (Hardcover)

This book is an inspiring book. One reason is because Hope Wakeman tries to get to her family after Tories raid her home and put it afire. Every chance I got, I would read "Hope's Crossing". Joan Elizibeth Goodman is a really good author. Goodman really can make a boring book into a really good book(keeping it as the author's book.)
But one thing I don't get is that a Loyalist(like Pruitt Jones) would help a lonely Patriot. Joan can really think about what she writes into a book. I would have never thought of that sort of book!!! It was a REALLY great book.
FOR ANYONE WHO READS THIS REVIEW: It was written by my daughter who is 10 yrs old...I'm very proud of her and her opinions and how well she stated them....Thank you!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Girl's Review, April 14, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Hope's Crossing (Paperback)

In just one November night one girl's life can change forever! READ THIS BOOK if you want to find out why an around thirteen- year old girl named Hope Wakeman has to be called Hope Jones!

During the Revolutionary War, Hope gets taken from her home in Connecticut and made a slave for Noah Thomas and his family. His family includes him, his selfish wife, Mother Thomas (who really didn't want to make Hope work), and their baby. My favorite part of the story was when Hope climbs out of a window and climbs down a tree when she is afraid of heights! The saddest part was when someone dies of small pox but I'm not going to tell you who. Mother Thomas is a gentle woman, and she and Pruitt Jones are Hopes foes (from the war) but help her anyway!

At the opening of this book I told people to never ever read it but later on in the story I would definitely recommend it. It turns out to be really dramatic, but the beginning was kind of dull. That's my opinion. If you want to find out your opinion... READ THE BOOK!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hope's Crossing, November 4, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Hope's Crossing (Hardcover)

The book I read is called Hope's Crossing. I thought this book was very good. It was written by Joan Elizabeth Goodman. Joan Goodman has written many books includingThe Brooklyn Bridge,The Great Pyramid, The Great Wall,The Roman Colosseum, The Panama Canal, Machu Picchu, Hoover Dam, and Tikal. She has a degree from Bank Street College of Education. She was a teacher for New York public schools. This book is about a girl named Hope. Her father has gone away to fight in the Revolutionary War. The other people in the war that her father is not fighting for have come to Hope's house to get Hope's Father. Since he is not there they take Hope instead. The rest of the story is about Hope's journey back to her home.
The time period is in 1777 and 1778.This book is a little hard to read because the dialogue that is used is in the time of the Revolutionary War. In the dialogue the person who is talking uses words like tis, and sayings like thank you, no and other sayings that people today would not use.
The most important aspect is that Hope's father when he left to fight told Hope to "be brave." Through out the story Hope repeats her father's words in her head. This is how she concurs her fear of heights and, does many other things.
The most important characters are Hope and Mother Thomas. The story is from Hope's point of view and Hope is the one who the book is always talking about. Mother Thomas is one of the man's mothers who took Hope. Mother Thomas leaves her home with her son to help Hope get Back home. If it wasn't for Mother Thomas Hope would have been sold to be a slave. Hope hears that Noah, the person who took Hope wants to sell her to a slave owner. Hope tells what she heard to Mother Thomas and she helps Hope escape.
The author chose to write about this because every time she went to the beach that was near by where she lived she would pass a statue that was of people in the Revolutionary War. Later after seeing these she decided to make a story that was in the Revolutionary War time period.
The author doesn't chose one side or another. Hope starts out by thinking all people on the other side were bad then, she learns that there are many nice people who try to help her who are on the other side.
I liked this book a Lot. It was well organized, accessible and written. I liked that it was written in a way that you felt like you were there. I would recommend this book to you if you like to read realistic fiction.