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Hope and Other Punchlines
by
The New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things and What to Say Next delivers a poignant and hopeful novel about resilience and reinvention, first love and lifelong friendship, the legacies of loss, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.
Sometimes looking to the past helps you find your future.
Abbi Hope Goldstein is like every other teenager, w ...more
Sometimes looking to the past helps you find your future.
Abbi Hope Goldstein is like every other teenager, w ...more
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Is it tacky to review your own novel? Probably! But alas I wrote this book, and it's the one that almost killed me, and took a whole year longer than it was supposed to, and I'm super ridiculously proud of it, so I'm giving myself FIVE STARS. I truly hope you like it too.
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"I know better than anyone that you can't always draw a straight line from the who you once were to the who you are now."
Abbi Hope Goldstein celebrated her first birthday on September 11, 2001. While that doesn't make her completely unique, one fact does: on that fateful day, a photographer captured her, wearing a birthday crown and holding a red balloon, while the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed behind her.
That photo, entitled "Baby Hope," became an iconic symbol of that day. I ...more
Abbi Hope Goldstein celebrated her first birthday on September 11, 2001. While that doesn't make her completely unique, one fact does: on that fateful day, a photographer captured her, wearing a birthday crown and holding a red balloon, while the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed behind her.
That photo, entitled "Baby Hope," became an iconic symbol of that day. I ...more
Jun 14, 2019
Nilufer Ozmekik
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
i-m-intrigued
3.5 sad, gloomy, tear jerker but at the end hopeful, bright, surviving stars as like how the life goes rounded up 4 stars!
To find yourself completely you need to learn losing yourself at first!
Baby Hope was in danger, lonely at her birthday, September 11, 2001 ! She was saved from her daycare and as she was wearing a crown on her hat, holding a red balloon, captured by a photographer with a bunch of strangers are standing behind her! At the background South Tower of World Trade Center was colla ...more
To find yourself completely you need to learn losing yourself at first!
Baby Hope was in danger, lonely at her birthday, September 11, 2001 ! She was saved from her daycare and as she was wearing a crown on her hat, holding a red balloon, captured by a photographer with a bunch of strangers are standing behind her! At the background South Tower of World Trade Center was colla ...more
After Tell Me Three Things, Julie Buxbaum became one of my must-read authors.
To millions of Americans, Abbi Hope Goldstein is known as simply “Baby Hope”—the subject of an iconic 9/11 photograph that shows her being carried to safety while Tower 1 collapses in the background. Abbi is 17 now, and her face remains instantly recognizable. For her own painful reasons, Abbi wants to enjoy one final carefree summer while she can, as an anonymous camp counselor, not as a 9/11 icon. But then she meets ...more
To millions of Americans, Abbi Hope Goldstein is known as simply “Baby Hope”—the subject of an iconic 9/11 photograph that shows her being carried to safety while Tower 1 collapses in the background. Abbi is 17 now, and her face remains instantly recognizable. For her own painful reasons, Abbi wants to enjoy one final carefree summer while she can, as an anonymous camp counselor, not as a 9/11 icon. But then she meets ...more
I have a good time reading this book but I think first half of the story is a bit boring. By the way, I love the way Julie Buxbaum puts ‘tell me three things’ game in this book. It reminds me of her “Tell me three things” book very much!
book #5
for summerathon, under the challenge of: "sunrise colors on the cover" ✓
this aint it chief 😞 ...more
this aint it chief 😞 ...more
Wow, what a great book! As one could expect from any book trying to tackle the events of 9/11, this was a *tough read* in places. I don’t think it’s possible to relive those details without feeling reminded/triggered about everything that happened that day and in the days that followed, and Julie Buxbaum’s exquisite way with words make that experience even more visceral. Abbi was photographed as a baby being rescued from the towers. She’s lived her entire life as a symbol of hope to others, with
...more
4.5 stars
Ms. Julie Buxbaum has become one of my most favorite and trusted YA authors and I'll probably read every book she writes. Her stories are always relevant and her writing is always a blend of charming, witty, heart-wrenching, and adorkable.
Hope and Other Punch Lines is a YA contemporary about the aftermaths of 9/11 to the survivors and to the relatives of the victims of the tragic event and I really am grateful to have come across this novel because it's a wonderful tribute to those who ...more
Ms. Julie Buxbaum has become one of my most favorite and trusted YA authors and I'll probably read every book she writes. Her stories are always relevant and her writing is always a blend of charming, witty, heart-wrenching, and adorkable.
Hope and Other Punch Lines is a YA contemporary about the aftermaths of 9/11 to the survivors and to the relatives of the victims of the tragic event and I really am grateful to have come across this novel because it's a wonderful tribute to those who ...more
#iamemotional
There are events in my life I’ll never forget... where I was, who I was with, what I felt. September 11, 2001 is one of those moments that has stayed with me... forever.
This novel takes me back to that time and adds a whole new layer to the story. Every character played an important role in this novel. Their stories mean everything to me.
This book will require some recovery on my part and will likely land on my top 5 this year. I’m sure.
There are events in my life I’ll never forget... where I was, who I was with, what I felt. September 11, 2001 is one of those moments that has stayed with me... forever.
This novel takes me back to that time and adds a whole new layer to the story. Every character played an important role in this novel. Their stories mean everything to me.
This book will require some recovery on my part and will likely land on my top 5 this year. I’m sure.
So good!
“We need the serious to recognize the funny, and the funny to give us even a shot in hell at surviving the serious.”
September 11, 2001 changed lives. Holes were created in communities, families, and hearts. But love, courage, and compassion can be found in times of great loss and pain too. The little moments—a helping hand up, a hug, a kind word, or even a laugh to break the tension--make a difference. Abbi and Noah reminded me that laughter can be found in and after our worst moments.
Abbi Hope ...more
4.5 Stars!
I’ve lived in California for over 20 years, but my New York roots run deep. I was born, raised and went to college in New York. On September 11, 2001, I experienced the horror from 3,000 miles away, but also intimately in the way you feel your past and community calling to you. Kids I went to high school with died that day, both in the towers and as dedicated first responders. I called home repeatedly in the days that followed, only to hear the suffocating news of those missing and not ...more
I’ve lived in California for over 20 years, but my New York roots run deep. I was born, raised and went to college in New York. On September 11, 2001, I experienced the horror from 3,000 miles away, but also intimately in the way you feel your past and community calling to you. Kids I went to high school with died that day, both in the towers and as dedicated first responders. I called home repeatedly in the days that followed, only to hear the suffocating news of those missing and not ...more
Aug 19, 2019
Mlpmom (Book Reviewer)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
kindle-books
Like all Buxbaum books I loved this and the fact that it wasn't just a fluff read (not that there is anything wrong with fluff!). I love the depth and emotions all her books have and all the feels that they bring out in me. Most of all, I love that they are relate-able and how they always leave me with a smile on my face.
The relationships in this were epic. Jack has to be one of my most favorite characters and I loved his and Noah's friendship!! ...more
The relationships in this were epic. Jack has to be one of my most favorite characters and I loved his and Noah's friendship!! ...more
Good news friends...My recent reading slump has ended with this touching, thought provoking story that evoked so many emotions! At times it’s quite sad, but I also found myself laughing while being pulled into the lives of Abby, Noah and Jack. ⠀⠀
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I often tell myself I don’t like YA, then along comes a wonderful review from one of my go to book friends that tempts me into grabbing the book ASAP- in this case it was Larry’s review from @the.bookishworld.of.yrralh (instagram) ⠀⠀
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What I loved abou ...more
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I often tell myself I don’t like YA, then along comes a wonderful review from one of my go to book friends that tempts me into grabbing the book ASAP- in this case it was Larry’s review from @the.bookishworld.of.yrralh (instagram) ⠀⠀
~~
What I loved abou ...more
Wow! I forgot how amazing it is to read a Julie Buxbaum book. Once again, she gifted me with a story that touched my heart, and its mere mention brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.
I keep saying this, but 9/11 books are tough for me. That day left an indelible mark on me, and I will admit, that some of the tears I shed were the sad kind. The first chapter was so emotional, and the interviews with the 9/11 survivors were both touching and heartbreaking. But, why I value a book like thi ...more
I keep saying this, but 9/11 books are tough for me. That day left an indelible mark on me, and I will admit, that some of the tears I shed were the sad kind. The first chapter was so emotional, and the interviews with the 9/11 survivors were both touching and heartbreaking. But, why I value a book like thi ...more
Reading Tell Me Three Things by this author gave me a love for YA. It’s one of my favorite books and will make me read anything Julie Buxbaum writes. I love how her YA books feel authentic. From the main characters with their realistic family dynamics to the dialogue and awkward social situations. Reading her books bring back so many of those teenage feelings that I haven’t felt in so long. Her books aren’t NA or erotic fiction masquerading as YA. These are safe books that teenagers can read and
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I’ve now read all three of Julie Buxbaum’s YA novels and I’ve loved them all. She’ll certainly be an auto-buy author for me from now on. Hope and Other Punchlines is the stunning, emotional story of a 9/11 survivor, Abbi. On her first birthday, she was saved from the South Tower’s day care center. Wearing a paper crown and clutching a birthday balloon, Abbi Hope was photographed with the tower crumbling behind her. The photograph became a phenomenon and from then on she was no longer just Abbi,
...more
Aug 13, 2019
T. Rosado
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult,
top-read,
5-stars,
romance,
audio-faves,
im-not-crying-youre-crying,
witty,
2019
5 Stars
This is the 3rd book I've read by this author, which for me is the magic number. After rating three books at 4.5+ stars by an individual author, they usually merit “favorite author” standing. Julie Buxbaum has now become one of my favorite YA authors. (I still need to read her adult lit.)
Hope and Other Punchlines was in essence a "9/11" story that focused on the tragedy's effect on two teens and their families. I'd recently read a couple of books with 9/11 as their backdrop, but not from ...more
This was a fantastic read.
As someone who has lived in Northern New Jersey all her life and remembers seeing papers floating in the sky on 9/11 after my Elementary school was evacuated to the field for a bomb threat, this book really meant a lot. I am lucky that I didn't know anyone personally that was lost that day and none of my close friends did either, but that of course does not take away from the tragedy.
This is the first book I have read regarding the subject and I honestly didn't know it ...more
As someone who has lived in Northern New Jersey all her life and remembers seeing papers floating in the sky on 9/11 after my Elementary school was evacuated to the field for a bomb threat, this book really meant a lot. I am lucky that I didn't know anyone personally that was lost that day and none of my close friends did either, but that of course does not take away from the tragedy.
This is the first book I have read regarding the subject and I honestly didn't know it ...more
This book is an exquisitely crafted look at public and private grief and what it means to grow up in the shadow of tragedy. Julie Buxbaum knows how to mix the sad with the funny in a brilliant, heart-melting way. Loved this so much.
I know better than anyone that you can't always draw a straight line from the who you once were to the who you are now.
Rather unexpectedly, this novel stole my heart. I chose this for my book club's September selection, thinking the 9/11 aspect would make for some interesting discussions. Honestly, though, for the most part, I've surpassed the point in my life when YA novels really resonate, and didn't have high hopes. But then the sweet, fresh voices of Abbi and Noah made me smile and laugh ...more
Rather unexpectedly, this novel stole my heart. I chose this for my book club's September selection, thinking the 9/11 aspect would make for some interesting discussions. Honestly, though, for the most part, I've surpassed the point in my life when YA novels really resonate, and didn't have high hopes. But then the sweet, fresh voices of Abbi and Noah made me smile and laugh ...more
May 06, 2019
Danielle (Life of a Literary Nerd)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
IT's a myth, this concept of a before and an after. Every time I see a perfect blue sky, want to know what I really think? I think there are only afters and after thats."This story kinda snuck up on me. There was good character moments and surprisingly a lot of humorous dialogue, but I didn't really connect with it for a large part of the story. But the last 50 pages really elevated the story. I felt the emotional weight and really connected with the characters. There was a lot of ha ...more
Fantastic and life-affirming
Another fantastic YA read from Julie Buxbaum. She weaves a classic love story into the raw emotions of loss and life after 9/11. The subject is treated with sensitivity and - yes - humour. Because love and laughter is how we heal. I laughed and cried and I love this book.
Another fantastic YA read from Julie Buxbaum. She weaves a classic love story into the raw emotions of loss and life after 9/11. The subject is treated with sensitivity and - yes - humour. Because love and laughter is how we heal. I laughed and cried and I love this book.
![destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1627172939p2/15335689.jpg)
Jul 09, 2019
destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]
marked it as try-again
DNF/set aside @ 30%
Meh. I might pick this back up and try it again soon. I mean, I probably will? It's just... *sigh* I really, really, really hate this love interest. I think he's toxic and gross and he's blackmailing Hope, and it's all icky and low-key ruining the vibe of the entire story for me. ...more
Meh. I might pick this back up and try it again soon. I mean, I probably will? It's just... *sigh* I really, really, really hate this love interest. I think he's toxic and gross and he's blackmailing Hope, and it's all icky and low-key ruining the vibe of the entire story for me. ...more
“I’m so, so tired of always worrying about our world splitting into a before and an after again.”
This was my first novel I've read by Julie Buxbaum but it definitely will not be my last. The writing, characters (for the most part), and overall theme of the story worked so well for me. Reading books about 9/11 have become a bit of surreal experience for me. Mainly because I was old enough to remember exactly where I was when the planes hit the towers and yet not old enough to immediately unde ...more
This was my first novel I've read by Julie Buxbaum but it definitely will not be my last. The writing, characters (for the most part), and overall theme of the story worked so well for me. Reading books about 9/11 have become a bit of surreal experience for me. Mainly because I was old enough to remember exactly where I was when the planes hit the towers and yet not old enough to immediately unde ...more
May 14, 2019
Zemira Warner
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary
I dunno guys. I really wanted to like this book.
I didn't care much about the characters. I would find myself not even registering what I was reading at times because I was bored. Some portions of dialogs made me cringe. Making jokes about 9/11 didn't sit well with me. I still remember the moment when I saw the news that day so vividly.
I still think Julie Buxbaum has it in her to write another hit. This just isn't it. ...more
I didn't care much about the characters. I would find myself not even registering what I was reading at times because I was bored. Some portions of dialogs made me cringe. Making jokes about 9/11 didn't sit well with me. I still remember the moment when I saw the news that day so vividly.
I still think Julie Buxbaum has it in her to write another hit. This just isn't it. ...more
Jul 28, 2019
Tanya (Girl Plus Books)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult,
contemporary
4.5 STARS
Sixteen-year-old Abbi has lived her life in the shadow of 9/11 – not only as a survivor but as the subject of a famed photograph from that day. She longs to escape the notoriety even as she is dealing with health issues that stem from her exposure to the fall-out on that terrible day. She meets Noah while working as a summer camp counselor and is drawn into his project to track down everyone from the famous photograph. What starts as unwilling participation turns into a genuine friendsh ...more
Sixteen-year-old Abbi has lived her life in the shadow of 9/11 – not only as a survivor but as the subject of a famed photograph from that day. She longs to escape the notoriety even as she is dealing with health issues that stem from her exposure to the fall-out on that terrible day. She meets Noah while working as a summer camp counselor and is drawn into his project to track down everyone from the famous photograph. What starts as unwilling participation turns into a genuine friendsh ...more
I really wish I had liked this one more. Too bad that it was just full of cliches and one main character (Noah) I disliked from beginning to end. I thought Abbi was fine, but she honestly needed a life since she seemed wholly dependent on her ex-best friend Cat to give her a social life. And I also kind of hated that Abbi was fine with forgiving Noah and his whole blackmail thing, but didn't want to try to make up with Cat. I don't know, I think Buxbaum just dropped that whole thing and it didn'
...more
wonder if everyone, if everything, dies twice. If that’s how grief is: cyclical, never finished. The Towers are still falling. And falling again.”
This book was so beautiful! I loved What to Say Next but this one is my new favorite.
Abbi Hope Goldstein, or to the rest of the world Baby Hope, is just a girl who wants to remain anonymous for one summer. Eight weeks. But when Noah recognizes her at the camp he’s working at for the summer he decides he’s going to recruit her in order to find the answe ...more
This book was so beautiful! I loved What to Say Next but this one is my new favorite.
Abbi Hope Goldstein, or to the rest of the world Baby Hope, is just a girl who wants to remain anonymous for one summer. Eight weeks. But when Noah recognizes her at the camp he’s working at for the summer he decides he’s going to recruit her in order to find the answe ...more
4 Stars—I read the description while browsing the books in Target and I was just fascinated. When I was teaching in Hawaii, I would make sure to do a special lesson every year on 9/11. I realized that my students were the very last of the kids who were born right before September 11, yet they weren’t old enough to remember what happened that day. I’m pretty sure that most of our followers at Jessica’s Reading Room are old enough to remember what happened and we all remember exactly where we were
...more
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Julie Buxbaum is the New York Times best selling author of Tell Me Three Things, her young adult debut, What to Say Next, Hope and Other Punchlines, and Admission (pubs 5/5/20). She’s also the author of two critically acclaimed novels for adults: The Opposite of Love and After You. Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages. Julie’s writing has appeared in various publications, includ
...more
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“Three things?” I ask. “I read about it in a book. Seems like a good way to get to know someone. Having to choose three things.”
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“I’m so, so tired of always worrying about our world splitting into a before and an after again.”
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