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A review by blogginboutbooks
Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins
4.0
There's a lot to like about HOPE IN THE VALLEY. Pandita is a sympathetic heroine who is on a relatable journey to find her voice. She has her struggles, but she pushes through and faces her challenges with courage, even when it's difficult. Her warm, Indian family is supportive and kind, even when not all of the members of the family agree with each other. I like how they lifted each other anyway. I also like how Pandita found inspiration and encouragement from strong females, some fictional, others real but whom I'd never heard of before. It's always fun to learn about new heroines to admire.
While I enjoyed this novel overall, it dragged for me a little here and there. There's not a ton of action in the story to keep the reader engaged. It discusses important issues, like fair housing, but I'm not sure the subject holds a lot of interest for young readers. Today's kids are also unlikely to know about the songs, tv shows, books, musicals, etc. that are mentioned in the novel. In spite of the book's likable characters and important lessons, it just doesn't have a lot of kid appeal. It's an uplifting, empowering read, yes, just not a very exciting one.
If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
While I enjoyed this novel overall, it dragged for me a little here and there. There's not a ton of action in the story to keep the reader engaged. It discusses important issues, like fair housing, but I'm not sure the subject holds a lot of interest for young readers. Today's kids are also unlikely to know about the songs, tv shows, books, musicals, etc. that are mentioned in the novel. In spite of the book's likable characters and important lessons, it just doesn't have a lot of kid appeal. It's an uplifting, empowering read, yes, just not a very exciting one.
If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.