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Overall Premise
The book "Call Me Hope" is about a girl named Hope Marie Elliot who is verbally abused by her mother. Hope Elliot is an 11 year old girl in sixth grade. She has a mother who spends most of her time not being a mother and the time she spends being a mother is usually spent calling her daughter names. Throughout the book Hope finds new ways to cope and not run away from home. I chose this book because it was highly recommended by my own mother and the first few pages were very captivating. -
Event 1 -- Portraying Personalities
The first important event in the book happens within the first few chapters. The event shows the personalities of Hope and her mother, Darlene. Hope is painted as a person who appreciates the little things in life, who finds peace in numbers, and who is creative with her life. On the other hand, Darlene is depicted as a verbally abusive mother who does not care enough for her two children. I believe this is an important event in the book because it sets the characters and their attitudes. -
Event 2 -- Purple Love
The second important event in the book happens during Hope’s school year. The event shows how Hope finds a way to cope when she feels inclined to run away. Hope takes her small clothes and brings them to Next to New, a local consignment store. She then saves up money to buy purple hiking boots she loves. As she gets to know the workers at the store they become friendlier than she thought. I believe this is an important event because it shows how Hope’s personality and life becomes more creative. -
Event 4 -- New Boots, New Friends
The fourth important event in the book happens as Hope sells enough clothes to buy the purple boots. The event illustrates the Next to New workers, Anita and Ruthie, and how they become Hope’s new friends which explains why this is an important event in the book. As Hope waits for her mother and brother to come home she receives a call from the store telling her she is able to buy the boots. When Hope gets her boots she realizes the workers are her friends, not just business partners. -
Event 5 -- New Milestone
The fifth important event in the book happens at school when the school counselor comes into Hope’s class to talk about verbal abuse. The event shows how Hope becomes informed about how serious verbal abuse is. The class becomes informed on how verbal abuse can be worse than physical abuse and how verbal abuse has long lasting effects. I believe this is an important event in the book because it is a new milestone for Hope, teaching her more about herself and her life than she ever knew. -
Event 6 -- Happy Birthday
The sixth important event in the book happens around Hope’s birthday. The event shows how Hope’s mother is not as abusive when she does not care about Hope or what she does. Darlene gave Hope $25 to plan herself a birthday party but instead Hope bought herself a presents. She also bought lunch for Anita, Ruthie, and herself because she had no one else to spend her birthday with. I believe this is an important event in the book because it shows how much Hope needs friends like Anita and Ruthie. -
Event 3 -- Rewarding Points
The third important event in the book happens over a longer period of time. I believe this is an important event in the book because the event shows how Hope is a creative and mature 11 year old. Hope decided that she should be rewarded for her reaction and for taking Darlene’s hurtful words. Therefore, she made a point system. Every time Darlene said a hurtful or hateful word, Hope gave herself differing points. Hope also have herself points for her reactions towards her mother’s bullying. -
Reflection -- Overall Thought
I believe this book is realistic and encouraging to those who are verbally abused. I am extremely glad I brought myself to read this book and would definitely read the sequel and watch the movie if there were any. One thing I would change or make different in this book would be the effect Hope’s older brother has on the verbal abuse, I feel he helped Hope cope more than the book showed. Overall the book “Call Me Hope” is a realistic book that readers of any genre would like to read. -
Event 8 -- Standing Up
The eighth important event in the book follows Darlene’s dress incident. After the long day of Darlene yelling at Hope she feels very sick but still goes to school. While at school she passes out and is walked to the counselor's room to talk. They then talk about her abusive mother and come up with a plan. Later that evening Hope gives an anonymous note to her mother saying, “I feel sick when you are sarcastic and I wish you would say what you are really thinking.” -
Event 7 -- The Dress
The seventh important event in the book happens a while after Hope’s birthday. Hope found her mother’s dress from Hop’s first homecoming at birth and believed she did not want it; therefore, she brought it to Next to New. Darlene saw it in the window while driving past and had a fit. She then picked up Hope from school to lecture her about stealing peoples stuff, which led to a day of yelling at Hope. I believe this is an important event because it shows that Darlene actually cares about Hope. -
Event 8 -- Continued
She is then sarcastic with her response to the note and Hope’s brother, Tyler, realizes it is from Hope. Without a doubt Tyler stands up for her and tells Darlene sarcasm is abusive. -
Event 9 -- Eavesdropping
The ninth important event in the book happens the next day, this is an important event because it shows if you stand up for yourself you have a better chance of fixing the problem. The school counselor comes to Hope’s house to speak with Darlene about verbally abusing her daughter. As Hope eavesdrops she blurts out in anger at her mother’s words, but this time it fixes things instead of ruining things. Hope then finds out Darlene loves the dress because she loves Hope and it reminds her of Hope. -
Event 10 -- The End of Sixth Grade
The tenth important event in the book happens at the end of the school year during a class camping trip. Hope and her class went on a camping trip after Hope’s problems were solved at home. Hope’s camping counselor was Gabriela Feliciano, league MVP and All-State Team. Throughout the camping trip they played games, sang songs, and had fun; Hope ended her sixth grade year happier than it started. I believe this is an important event because it shows that new, happy beginnings can really happen.
