GUEST WRITER BRIDGET FINLAY RECOMMENDS HOPELESS IN HOPE BY WANDA JOHN-KEHEWIN
“I live on the wrong side of town
On the wrong side of the river.
No one can find me deep in the
Heart of the hopeless in hope.” (p. 41)
Wanda John-Kehewin’s novel, Hopeless in Hope, follows the story of Neveah (Eva) Brown, an Indigenous teenager navigating her own personal challenges of poverty, bullying, and family struggles. Eva lives with her Nohkum (grandmother), 4-year-old brother Marcus, and occasionally her mother, Shirley who battles alcoholism. The Brown family’s struggles to break cycles of abandonment and addiction form an empowering narrative of heartache, resilience, and reconciliation, likely to emotionally move any reader.
Eva, at only 14 years old, faces multiple struggles, including bullying, extreme levels of food insecurity, and a strained relationship with her mother. When her grandmother falls and ends up in hospital, Eva is placed in foster care, separated from her brother and grappling with her fragmented life. Through this, Eva embarks on a journey of understanding and perspective, realizing that everyone faces struggles of their own and that pockets of hope can always be found.
Wanda John-Kehewin, an Indigenous author, does an excellent job in portraying the intergenerational trauma from Residential Schooling on Indigenous people and their families. She introduces readers to a ton of new vocabulary and insights behind different Indigenous cultures and traditions, allowing the reader to be educated on the culture as well as read this beautiful story. The author allows for each character to be understood for their actions, not placing blame on anyone for negative behaviours, but rather emphasizes the consequences of the harm inflicted on Indigenous peoples.
The story contains mature themes such as substance use and domestic violence, making it an emotional, but powerful read, while keeping the content appropriate for a young adult audience. This book will certainly go into my classroom library and will be a great addition for readers wanting to deepen their understanding in aspects such as intergenerational trauma, residential schooling, family struggles, and overcoming adversity (even when it seems impossible).
Bridget Finlay is an aspiring teacher and author, who focuses her time reading, writing, dancing, and spending time with family. Bridget was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick, a city full of history and creativity. She hopes to inspire students one day to believe that anything can be achieved if you have the desire!