The March for Hope

Gr 2-5–As Hope and her mother board the train for the Women’s March, Hope inwardly laments that she would rather be going somewhere more fun. After all, her experiences at school do not make her confident in the equity the march aims to inspire. But, when surrounded by so many people lifting their voices together and echoing the same message, Hope discovers that her own voice can be more ­powerful than she realized. This thoughtful depiction of the 2017 Women’s March is told from Hope’s perspective, chronicling her journey from skeptic to supporter in a stirring and relevant way. Limited, though poignant, text propels the story forward, including light dramatic tension and ­resonant moments between Hope and her mother as well as the people around them. The accompanying illustrations emphasize forward momentum and camaraderie through their use of warm colors and ­depiction of a wide variety of women through history. The protagonist is inspired to ­organize a girls’ march at school. Hope and her mother are Black; she wears her hair in braids and puffs.