A Drop of Hope by Keith Calabrese
Published by Scholastic Press on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 1338233203
Pages: 320
Goodreads

The title and the content of this book are just what is needed right now – Hope.   Calabrese offers a suspenseful and fantastically interesting book that is full of good people in a community with a lot of hurt in need of good deeds. This title offer hope, while expressing the wishes and dreams of students and adults.

A wishing well appears to be folklore but becomes the center of the storyline.  The author has weaved several stories into the plot that help to define the primary characters and other residents of Cliffs Donnelly.  Readers become acquainted with three unlikely friends, an astounding teacher, a mysterious deceased grandfather and a very special neighbor.  Each character seems plausible and human, they become instant positive influences on the reader.

The layout is fresh, chapters have several sections with subheadings.  Grade 4-6 readers will find the layout easy to follow and enjoy the peek at content that the headings provide.  This book should find its way to  intermediate school media centers and to public library shelves.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME