finding hope

Eric is set for a brilliant hockey career but after a road trip he changes, starts using drugs, and his father kicks him out of the house. His younger sister Hope, haunted by her now-homeless brother, moves to the city to attend boarding school but becomes the victim of bullies and is tricked into sexting. As the novel progresses, with chapters alternating between Hope and Eric’s narration, readers learn that Eric was sexually abused by his hockey coach and Hope attempts suicide, and the siblings try to deal with their despair. This coming-of-age novel deals with sexual abuse, relationships with coaches, drug addiction, recovery, bullying, identity, suicide, and sexting and the repercussions. Social considerations noted. Teacher pre-reading of this novel is essential.