Reviews of The Story and Science of Hope
A lucid mini-course in an essential life-enhancing emotion.
“A multifaceted and encouraging exploration of “the thing with feathers.”
Curtis’ opening discussion draws on many disciplines as she distinguishes hope from faith, pure positivity, and optimism. Ultimately, she notes, hope is “leaning in and working toward something meaningful to you—even if you’re not sure it’s going to happen.” Curtis considers beliefs about hope held by those in Japan, India, and ancient Greece, as well as observations by Friedrich Nietzsche, Emily Dickinson, and Barack Obama. She cites scientific studies that show the physical, psychological, and practical benefits of hope and examines the development of tools to measure it, including MRI brain imaging. The author doesn’t downplay the adverse forces—personal, local, or global, modest or extreme—that make it difficult to keep this often delicate emotion alive, but she advocates for nurturing hope through nature, art, relationships, and education. She strikes a motivating note at the end by speaking to the power of hope to effect change, small or great, followed by brief profiles of activists working to improve the world and more suggestions for cultivating hope. Suárez’s illustrations—rainbows of luminous semi-abstract, watercolorlike images—appropriately brighten each page, while Curtis’ writing is simple and clear, with information presented in brief, well-organized blocks. In a world where hope sometimes seems to be at a premium, this book offers inspiration and direction for developing a much-needed skill.”—Kirkus Reviews
Honest, authentic, and yes, hopeful, this will be a reassuring read for anxious kids.
“The concept of hope is often presented as gauzy and amorphous, good vibes slotting into one of many cheerful lessons put forth by rote picture books and Instagram posts. Curtis, however, takes a deeper dive into the history and science of hope in this picture book, drawing on research by Hope Theorists to discuss the physical, emotional, and social power of hope. She begins by defining what hope is not—it is neither a wish, nor optimism, nor toxic positivity, but rather a sense of possibility that drives people toward action. Countless people have tried to qualify hope’s complexity—the story of Pandora, Curtis posits, asks people to consider the value of hope, Nietzsche called it the greatest evil, and Emily Dickinson gave it wings. Hope Theorists have sought to understand it as a biological and neurological process, using MRIs and other quantitative measures to study its potential origin in the brain and its effect on the human body. The book fully acknowledges, however, that while hard data on the concept is useful, hope is still a feeling, and it more often comes hand in hand with struggle than good vibes. It’s here that Curtis emphasizes hope as a call to action, particularly in the climate crisis, and provides specific examples of people translating their hopes into collective action, giving the book more substance. Layered textures in the art evoke the softness of watercolor and pastels, and the compositions remain largely conceptual: hope is shown as a colorful bouquet that runs through spreads, emanating from the centers of stylized human figures or flowing from an open book or headphones. Honest, authentic, and yes, hopeful, this will be a reassuring read for anxious kids.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Whether used to inspire activism or reflection, [this] book is a gift centered around hope. A good choice for middle school nonfiction shelves.
This work couples art with an approachable description of hope’s importance in the age of instability and will be a balm for anxious youth and a necessary reminder for adults. The unique approach in this picture book for older readers introduces readers to Hope Theorists, researchers of the concept of hope. Moving through headings like Hope Is Revolutionary and Hope Can Be Measured, the concepts are laid out plainly and can be read as a whole but also as individual elements. Curtis includes back matter, such as further reading, a glossary, and actionable items in addition to examples of inspiring projects helping the environment. Complementing the text, the digitally rendered artwork feels authentically created to enhance each section and spur conversations about the interconnectedness of art and words. While the target audience is middle grade, all readers could benefit from the climate change message it shares.— School Library Journal
Inspirational and meaningful
“This is a well-researched and reassuring look at hope…”—Sal’s Fiction Addiction
An important book for young people
“The Story and Science of Hope by Andrea Curtis is an important book for young people ages 9-12. It discusses the work of theorists who study how hope can improve our lives, the psychological and physical benefits of having hope, and how it motivates. Included are examples of people who’ve engaged in positive social activism in their efforts to solve society’s problems. In uncertain times, it uses frank, honest commentary to offer hope. Examples will help kids foster positive attitudes about learning new ideas, about the role of science in our lives, and about what inspires creativity. Ana Suárez’s contemplative illustrations can motivate kids to think about how they can make the world a better place.”—Winnipeg Free Press
