Written by Hugh(현.초6)/August 8, 2025
Family: a Bond with Love; not just only considering about Blood
An ordinary girl who works as a waitress has a lonely past. She was abandoned by her biological mother right after she was born. Decades past, and she still can’t forget that her mother did. The novel Hope Was Here, written by Joan Bauer, is a story of an ordinary girl named Hope and her aunt Addie working in a diner that is located in a countryside and working with employees there. The author states that even if families aren’t connected with blood, they can bond with love and real families that are connected to their child with blood has a possibility of abandon them and give their child to others.
The author demonstrates that even if families are not solely defined by blood ties, but rather by the bonds of love and families who are connected with blood, they could give up their child give them to others by contrasting Deena and Lou. In chapter 1, Hope explains about her mother abandoning her; she says “My mother didn’t want the responsibility of a baby, and went off to live her own life” (5). The most essential thing that a parent should get is responsibility. However, Deena gave up the responsibility and left for own good although she’s her biological mother, she abandoned her with no love. In chapter 11, in the diner, waitress Lou Ellen talks about her daughter and her family. She says; I’m not used to people helping. I named her Anastasia because I wanted her to do something big in the world. She doesn’t have a daddy either”(91). Unlike Deena, Lou Ellen sacrificed herself by trying to feed her actively to protect her although she doesn’t have a husband, she doesn’t give up, and tries to care her doing her best. In the story, the author is showing different stories about motherhood. The lesson that we can now from the book is that motherhoods can be different depending on the mother’s attitude of caring a baby.
The author suggests that although families aren’t connected with bloodlines, they could feel the emotion of love meanwhile real families can abandon their babies to others by mentioning the example of G.T and Addie in the book. In chapter 19, G.T considers about adopting Hope after marrying Addie. He says, “Hope, I was wondering if you’d consider letting me adopt you because I’d like more than just about anything to do this father thing officially” (171). Even though G.T isn’t Hope’s biological father, he respects her and wants to be a father so that he can communicate and listen to Hope more. Moreover, in chapter 1, Hope tells about Addie’s encouragement when Hope was a baby. She says, “Addie’s been my number-one constant. She stood by me in the hospital at my little oxygen tent telling me to come on and get strong. She’d wanted a baby all her life” (6). Even though Addie is an aunt, not a mother, she doesnt’t give up Hope than her sister. She cares her with the responsibility as a mother. She feels the emotion of happiness. The readers can understand Addie’s love and resilience with Hope through the story. Too much summary.
In conclusion, the author implies that although families aren’t bonded with blood, they can help, adore, and feel happiness by raising their child and biological parents could give up the responsibility as a parent and abandon their children for their own good. The author wants readers to understand various types of families that they could give positive or negative effect to children. The readers have to listen to their parents, what they do so that they could live happily with their parents.