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Hope Springs
Fans of Kate DiCamillo and Katherine Applegate will fall in love with this tug-at-your-heartstrings middle-grade novel about one girl who is desperate to find the "perfect home" as she moves from one town to the next with her Grandmother.
Eleven-year-old Jubilee Johnson is an expert at three crafting, moving, and avoiding goodbyes. On the search for the "perfect place," she and her Nan live by their Number One Relocation Rule—just the two of them is all they need. But Jubilee's starting to feel like just two is a little too close to alone .
Desperate to settle down, Jubilee plans their next move, Hope Springs, Texas—home of her TV crafting idol, Arletta Paisley. Here she meets a girl set on winning the local fishing tournament and a boy who says exactly the right thing by hardly speaking at all. Soon, Jubilee wonders if Hope Springs might just be the place to call home.
But when the town is threatened by a mega-chain superstore fronted by Arletta Paisley, Jubilee is faced with skipping town yet again or standing up to her biggest bully yet. With the help of her new friends and the one person she never thought she'd need—her Momma—will Jubilee find a way to save the town she's come to love and convince Nan that it's finally time to settle down?
Eleven-year-old Jubilee Johnson is an expert at three crafting, moving, and avoiding goodbyes. On the search for the "perfect place," she and her Nan live by their Number One Relocation Rule—just the two of them is all they need. But Jubilee's starting to feel like just two is a little too close to alone .
Desperate to settle down, Jubilee plans their next move, Hope Springs, Texas—home of her TV crafting idol, Arletta Paisley. Here she meets a girl set on winning the local fishing tournament and a boy who says exactly the right thing by hardly speaking at all. Soon, Jubilee wonders if Hope Springs might just be the place to call home.
But when the town is threatened by a mega-chain superstore fronted by Arletta Paisley, Jubilee is faced with skipping town yet again or standing up to her biggest bully yet. With the help of her new friends and the one person she never thought she'd need—her Momma—will Jubilee find a way to save the town she's come to love and convince Nan that it's finally time to settle down?
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 10, 2021
13 people are currently reading
1889 people want to read
About the author
Jaime Berry
2 books38 followersJaime Berry is a native of rural Oklahoma and a former New York City public school teacher. After years with two small boys in a too-small Brooklyn apartment, Jaime and her husband moved to the wilds of suburban New Jersey and added another boy and a dog to the mix. There, they live in a Victorian house that, despite slowly falling apart, they all love. And where telling, reading, and writing stories takes up most of her day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 30, 2021
You can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.--Ernest Hemingway
Jaime Berry's Oklahoma roots really shine in this debut MG novel set in the fictional town of Hope Springs, Texas. After one move after another, Jublilee is ready to put down some roots. Can she talk her Nan into staying in Hope Springs? What about her mom and the country music career she has been chasing. This book has it all: crafting, fishing, quilting, good country food, friendship, a TV personality, a country music heartthrob, and more (including a gassy dog named Rayburn). There are even craft instructions for several DIY projects like homemade dog bones. Sometimes jumping up and moving on is light on adventure-seeking and high on avoiding conflict. To paraphrase Hemingway --wherever you go, there you are.
Thank you to Little, Brown Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Jaime Berry's Oklahoma roots really shine in this debut MG novel set in the fictional town of Hope Springs, Texas. After one move after another, Jublilee is ready to put down some roots. Can she talk her Nan into staying in Hope Springs? What about her mom and the country music career she has been chasing. This book has it all: crafting, fishing, quilting, good country food, friendship, a TV personality, a country music heartthrob, and more (including a gassy dog named Rayburn). There are even craft instructions for several DIY projects like homemade dog bones. Sometimes jumping up and moving on is light on adventure-seeking and high on avoiding conflict. To paraphrase Hemingway --wherever you go, there you are.
Thank you to Little, Brown Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
HOPE SPRINGS is a heartwarming story about a girl looking for a place to call home and how she must open her heart to the possibility of settling down once she thinks she’s found it. Set in a small town with a big box story threatening the local businesses, Jubilee suggests a way to bring the townspeople together, resulting in a place for her and her grandma in their community.
Jubilee and Nan have moved a lot. Anytime things get complicated, they pick up and relocate. Jubilee wants to move to Hope Springs because it’s the hometown of her crafting idol Arletta Paisley. Shortly after she and Nan arrive, she befriends the mayor’s daughter as is immediately welcomed into the community. But Jubilee and Nan have Relocation Rules, and they don’t make attachments…until Nan has an accident, and they have to relax the rules and accept some help to get by. And when Jubilee’s idol turns out to be a big disappointment, she and her new friends work together to put together a rally to help support the local businesses before the new SmartMart box store comes to town. Jubilee starts to think Hope Springs might be the place she’s been looking for, but her estranged mom has other plans and wants Jubilee to live with her again. Will Jubilee be able to set down roots and allow herself to belong, or will her past catch up to her and force her to keep moving?
There are so many things I loved about this story. The relationship between Jubilee and Nan is filled with so much love, but fear also keeps them from finding a place to belong together. I love watching how they adjust to the reintroduction of Jubilee’s mom and uncle in their lives and how they come to a new place in their relationship. I also really love the small town of Hope Springs, and it comes to life for me in the way the author describes it. It’s the type of small-town I’d grown up in, and the impact of a big box store on its local businesses is a real issue. As someone who moved a lot growing up, I could relate to Jubilee’s desire to settle down but her difficulty communicating her wishes to her mom and grandma. I loved watching Jubilee open her heart to the people around her and connect in ways she’d never had the opportunity to do before.
I look forward to recommending this book to young readers when it comes out this summer.
HOPE SPRINGS is a heartwarming story about a girl looking for a place to call home and how she must open her heart to the possibility of settling down once she thinks she’s found it. Set in a small town with a big box story threatening the local businesses, Jubilee suggests a way to bring the townspeople together, resulting in a place for her and her grandma in their community.
Jubilee and Nan have moved a lot. Anytime things get complicated, they pick up and relocate. Jubilee wants to move to Hope Springs because it’s the hometown of her crafting idol Arletta Paisley. Shortly after she and Nan arrive, she befriends the mayor’s daughter as is immediately welcomed into the community. But Jubilee and Nan have Relocation Rules, and they don’t make attachments…until Nan has an accident, and they have to relax the rules and accept some help to get by. And when Jubilee’s idol turns out to be a big disappointment, she and her new friends work together to put together a rally to help support the local businesses before the new SmartMart box store comes to town. Jubilee starts to think Hope Springs might be the place she’s been looking for, but her estranged mom has other plans and wants Jubilee to live with her again. Will Jubilee be able to set down roots and allow herself to belong, or will her past catch up to her and force her to keep moving?
There are so many things I loved about this story. The relationship between Jubilee and Nan is filled with so much love, but fear also keeps them from finding a place to belong together. I love watching how they adjust to the reintroduction of Jubilee’s mom and uncle in their lives and how they come to a new place in their relationship. I also really love the small town of Hope Springs, and it comes to life for me in the way the author describes it. It’s the type of small-town I’d grown up in, and the impact of a big box store on its local businesses is a real issue. As someone who moved a lot growing up, I could relate to Jubilee’s desire to settle down but her difficulty communicating her wishes to her mom and grandma. I loved watching Jubilee open her heart to the people around her and connect in ways she’d never had the opportunity to do before.
I look forward to recommending this book to young readers when it comes out this summer.
February 28, 2021
Eleven-year-old Jubilee Johnson is used to moving all the time. Her mother is a country singer who's always on tour, so Jubilee lives with her grandmother. Nan tends to drop everything and move whenever the slightest thing bothers her.
But Jubilee's heart's desire is to settle in one place for longer than a few months, a place where she could have friends and join activities, a place to call home. So Jubilee plans the next move, convincing Nan they should try Hope Springs, Texas, the hometown of Jubilee's TV crafting hero, Arletta Paisley. Once they arrive, Jubilee makes a few friends right away, and even finds a part-time job at the Fabric Barn. But her new friends aren't happy with Arletta Paisley, who is bringing a SmartMart superstore to Hope Springs. They think it'll put all the small businesses out of business. Will Jubilee find a way to save the town and convince Nan to stay?
What a delightful read! Jubilee is a wonderful, extremely likable character, whose first person narration draws you in immediately. Then the colorful writing (Nan's almost-swears are priceless!), lively dialogue, and timely issues cast a spell over you. You won't be able to stop reading!
Bonus: Includes several craft "recipes" for kids to make!
But Jubilee's heart's desire is to settle in one place for longer than a few months, a place where she could have friends and join activities, a place to call home. So Jubilee plans the next move, convincing Nan they should try Hope Springs, Texas, the hometown of Jubilee's TV crafting hero, Arletta Paisley. Once they arrive, Jubilee makes a few friends right away, and even finds a part-time job at the Fabric Barn. But her new friends aren't happy with Arletta Paisley, who is bringing a SmartMart superstore to Hope Springs. They think it'll put all the small businesses out of business. Will Jubilee find a way to save the town and convince Nan to stay?
What a delightful read! Jubilee is a wonderful, extremely likable character, whose first person narration draws you in immediately. Then the colorful writing (Nan's almost-swears are priceless!), lively dialogue, and timely issues cast a spell over you. You won't be able to stop reading!
Bonus: Includes several craft "recipes" for kids to make!
August 13, 2021
Hope Springs is a charming middle grade debut novel about finding home in unexpected places and fighting hard to show up for those we love. Set in a small town, this book shines a light on the value of community, small business, and hands-on hobbies like crafting and fishing! The author also manages to blend tough subjects like grief and disappointment in an idol with humor, heart, and good-natured fun. This is a heartwarming Southern story from a promising debut author I’m excited to read more from.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2021
This beautiful book has my whole heart! When 11-year-old Jubilee Johnson has to move again with her Grandmother, Nan, she finds a way to land in Hope Springs, Texas, the hometown of her crafting empire idol, Arletta Paisley. Though Jubilee knows she and Nan won't be staying long (they never do) she begins to put down roots with her new fishing friend, Abby, and the owner of the local Fabric Barn, Holly. When a mega-chain superstore comes to town with Arletta as its spokesperson, Jubilee learns the truth about Arletta and the importance of community. This charming story mixes themes of home, family, and true friendship, with crafting, quilting, fishing, country music, and the wisdom of literary figures and other artists - as often quoted by the witty Grandma Nan! I read the first chapter and couldn't stop! HOPE SPRINGS has a Kate DiCamillo vibe that tugged on my heartstrings. Thank you, Jaime Berry, for the ARC. What an honor to be an early reader!
July 13, 2021
As the title states, Hope Springs! Jubilee has many hopes—hope that her mom will stay, or maybe that she’ll stay gone, hope she and Nan will move again, or maybe stay in one place. It’s hard to know what to hope for when so many things have fallen through in Jubilee’s 12 years, but this move is going to be different! Jaime Berry’s debut novel is full of friendship, family, home, and hope and is sure to be a hit with those in grades 5 and up who enjoy sad-happy warming books by authors such as Joan Bauer, Barbara O’Connor, Nancy Cavanaugh, and Angela Cervantes. Highly recommended with no reservations in regards to profanity, sexual content or violence. Thanks for the print arc, Little, Brown Book for Young Readers.
August 19, 2021
HOPE SPRINGS, Jaime Berry’s debut novel certainly delivers on its title- a sense of hope, albeit sometimes with tension and doubt, springs off every page.
Jubilee Johnson and her grandmother have made a safe and quiet life for themselves after Jubilee’s father died and her Momma took off to become a country singing star. But safe and quiet also means that they move. A lot. And while they’re always on the lookout for the perfect place to call home, nowhere ever feels quite right. Until they arrive in Hope Springs, TX, hometown of Jubilee’s hero and crafting mentor, a tv crafting expert, Artletta Paisley.
Jubilee tries to abide by her and Nan’s first rule that they’re better off alone, but life in this small town opens up friendships and opportunities, and Jubilee’s heart, even to the one person she thought she could never let back in; her momma.
With a setting and the warm, comfortable feel of Winn-Dixie, this is exactly the kind of book a MG reader can get lost in. The world of this small town is inviting, yet some very real complications pull at Jubillee, compelling her to stretch and grow.
This is a book about the wanting and yearning of childhood, of loss mixed with found family and finding your place in the world. It’s also about realizing that your heroes are sometimes the ones you least expect. HOPE SPRINGS is a wonderful read that I highly recommend for MG readers.
Oh, and I love the addition of crafting projects sprinkled throughout the book!
Jubilee Johnson and her grandmother have made a safe and quiet life for themselves after Jubilee’s father died and her Momma took off to become a country singing star. But safe and quiet also means that they move. A lot. And while they’re always on the lookout for the perfect place to call home, nowhere ever feels quite right. Until they arrive in Hope Springs, TX, hometown of Jubilee’s hero and crafting mentor, a tv crafting expert, Artletta Paisley.
Jubilee tries to abide by her and Nan’s first rule that they’re better off alone, but life in this small town opens up friendships and opportunities, and Jubilee’s heart, even to the one person she thought she could never let back in; her momma.
With a setting and the warm, comfortable feel of Winn-Dixie, this is exactly the kind of book a MG reader can get lost in. The world of this small town is inviting, yet some very real complications pull at Jubillee, compelling her to stretch and grow.
This is a book about the wanting and yearning of childhood, of loss mixed with found family and finding your place in the world. It’s also about realizing that your heroes are sometimes the ones you least expect. HOPE SPRINGS is a wonderful read that I highly recommend for MG readers.
Oh, and I love the addition of crafting projects sprinkled throughout the book!
April 4, 2021
Jubilee Johnson lives by a lot of rules. Many of them, in fact. She and her Nan have to have many rules because they move around a lot, and without rules, their feelings might get hurt. But there’s not a lot that would mean more to Jubilee than for her and Nan to find the perfect place where they can stay put. And Hope Springs, for a lot of reasons, seems to fit the bill in Jubilees mind. There are only two things that Jubilee would like better than staying put somewhere: Meeting Arletta Paisley, her crafting hero, and having her own mother want her back. Jubilee and Nan are two characters who are full of heart, and humor, and in Hope Springs, without giving anything away, they find a supporting cast which is bound to steal their hearts. In the end, Jubilee Johnson has to make some tough decisions, which left this reader totally satisfied.
My thanks to Jaime Berry, the author, for sharing her wonderful book.
My thanks to Jaime Berry, the author, for sharing her wonderful book.
March 14, 2021
Jubilee Johnson is a main character after my own heart. With her Nan moving her around all the time, Jubilee turns to crafting, organization, and DIY projects to try and create a home for herself. But when she finally convinces Nan that they should move to Hope Springs, hometown of her crafting idol, Arletta Paisley, Jubilee finds herself becoming part of a community for the first time... a community that she could envision becoming an actual home. Jaime Berry's characters are just that... characters. They're funny and wry and entirely engaging. The world of Hope Springs is painted so clearly, you can feel it on every page. And the novel is absolutely infused with hope, just as the title implies. HOPE SPRINGS is a story about making connections and finding your people, and it delivers on its title in every possible way. Thank you to Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC.
March 6, 2021
This debut by Jaime Berry is sure to be a hit with students in our school library. That cover alone will draw them in! This hopeful story of Jubilee finding comfort and security in the new town of Hope Springs will tug at readers' hearts. I loved that she was a strong character who, along with the help of friends, found a way to make a difference for herself as well as for her new community. Thank you for sharing the ARC with #bookposse! I look forward to purchasing a finished copy for our library when it publishes.
May 10, 2021
Jubilee Johnson and her grandmother Nan have always run away at the first sign of trouble, choosing to pick up stakes and leave for the next town rather than face whatever difficulties life brings. It's not until they land in Hope Springs that Jubilee finds herself somewhere she might actually be able to open up, settle down, and be herself at last. With an indomitable main character, prose that wraps around you like a warm hug, and a thread of hope that runs through it, this story will leave you with a big smile on your face and your heart full!
April 10, 2021
When an eleven-year-old character captures your heart within the first few pages, you grab hold and settle in. Jubilee is just such a character. She has spunk, spirit, and most of all hope. This is a story of discovering friendship and family in all the right places. Readers who loved The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise will love this book as well. Jubilee's voice inhabits the story from the first word all the way to the end.
May 16, 2021
I absolutely LOVED this book. It is clever and kind, full of endearing characters and a strong sense of community. I adored the gentle humor and compassion, the quirky characters and the sense of authentic *honesty* around which the story is built. Jaime Berry's writing is so lovely and this whole story felt like sitting on the porch in the sunshine, sharing sweet tea with a dear friend. Definitely a favorite!!
April 23, 2022
Jaime Berry writes with joy and light, and every character comes to life on the page. Jubilee has a heart of gold. Fran is feisty. And there’s a farting dog in a small town craft store. What else do you need? This story is warm and joyful and will brighten your day. Highly recommend to readers 10-up.
March 28, 2021
Moving around a lot, trying to find a place to belong...Hope Springs has it all. Sweet ending! I was rooting for main character, Jubilee, and am so happy for how the book ends! Dynamic character kept me reading! I will share this with my sixth grade students! #bookposse
June 8, 2021
Three words: creativity, empower, and beginnings. Thank you to Jaime Berry and Little, Brown Book for Young Readers for sharing this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved the quotes, the family dynamics, the untraditional family, and the overall storyline. I hope you read and enjoy it too!
March 2, 2021
It was a fantastic book about friendship and family and finding your home. I also loved the craft projects sprinkled throughout the book.
May 5, 2021
A wonderful debut MG novel by Jaime Berry. Full of hope, new beginnings and a bit of quilting and crafting. Thanks for sharing an ARC with #bookposse
November 30, 2021
This was so darling and quite the sweet journey! Also loved all the recipes and craft ideas as well!
October 10, 2021
*4.5* The bookstore I'm in love with had a box of free books so I picked out an ARC of this book (speaking of, first ARC I've ever read and that was a cool experience!). This is the sort of book I would have gone wild for as a kid, I loved reading about kids who were sort of out of place and finding one, and I love that it included craft projects. I can guarantee I would've reread those recipes a hundred times, trying to decide what to make. I couldn't stop laughing as I imagined the Arletta Paisley character as a bit of a stand-in for Ree Drummond of Pioneer Woman fame (partially because I saw her ranch and store this summer and also because it was a totally unexpected subplot). Sweet and a nice reminder that middle grade novels are still well done!
September 6, 2021
Thank you so much Little Brown Books and Jaime Berry for sharing an advanced copy with LitReviewCrew. I just loved Jubilee's story. Full of heart and memorable characters, I cheered for Jubilee the entire time! A story that shows that life is about the people in our lives and the way we support each other, this book is also a celebration of small, close-knit communities and big dreams.
January 16, 2025
This was our January middle grade book club meeting choice. This was the author's debut novel, but we had read and enjoyed her second novel, Heart Finds earlier in 2024. Like her other novel, this story centers around family and it is a family in crisis.
Jubilee lives with her grandmother, and they move often and this time they are considering Hope Springs, Texas. The place is not unfamiliar to Jubilee as it is billed as the hometown of her favorite lifestyle TV host where she learns crafting, decorating and life mantras from. The town is not what Jubilee expected, and she learns some uncomfortable truths about her hero, but this might just be the place where they can finally put down roots.
Filled with middle grade themes of family, friendship, and finding your own place in the world, this novel will appeal to middle school readers grades 4-6 that like realistic fiction. I like how the author took on the mystic of celebrity and made it understandable to young readers. Jubilee realizes some hard truths, but she is also becoming aware of how her family is different from others and that this is an okay thing. Our group loved that she found supportive new friends of all ages and how they created a community that worked together to solve their problem (the new superstore moving into the edge of town).
I would recommend this book for reading and it would be a great read aloud for class discussions.
Jubilee lives with her grandmother, and they move often and this time they are considering Hope Springs, Texas. The place is not unfamiliar to Jubilee as it is billed as the hometown of her favorite lifestyle TV host where she learns crafting, decorating and life mantras from. The town is not what Jubilee expected, and she learns some uncomfortable truths about her hero, but this might just be the place where they can finally put down roots.
Filled with middle grade themes of family, friendship, and finding your own place in the world, this novel will appeal to middle school readers grades 4-6 that like realistic fiction. I like how the author took on the mystic of celebrity and made it understandable to young readers. Jubilee realizes some hard truths, but she is also becoming aware of how her family is different from others and that this is an okay thing. Our group loved that she found supportive new friends of all ages and how they created a community that worked together to solve their problem (the new superstore moving into the edge of town).
I would recommend this book for reading and it would be a great read aloud for class discussions.
August 28, 2021
This is the story of Jubilee Jones and her Nan, who travel around from place to place when things get hard. When Nan is ready to make their next move, Jubilee subtly points her to Hope Springs, TX, hometown of her beloved hero Arletta Paisley. Jubilee discovers that Hope Springs really could be home and that even though she tries to adhere to the 19 relocation rules, she finds herself extremely attached to the town and it's residents.
This is a cute story about a girl who moves a lot and never really puts down roots. Until Hope Springs, where she makes friends and gets a job working in a fabric barn. The fall from grace of Jubilee's TV idol was rather predictable but the heartwarming story of her family coming back together gave me the sniffles.
This book also deals with the issue of abandonment, which could be upsetting for younger readers. It is handled quite well and is a tough subject for kiddos but will probably mean a lot to kids who have been in Jubilee's shoes. While I don't pretend to understand any of the fishing lingo in this book I still enjoyed the small town of Hope Springs, giving me a little of my own hope spring in the turmoil of the world right now.
This is a charming story and very well written. I think this author is going to do well in the market. This is her debut story and I would definitely read another book by her.
This is a cute story about a girl who moves a lot and never really puts down roots. Until Hope Springs, where she makes friends and gets a job working in a fabric barn. The fall from grace of Jubilee's TV idol was rather predictable but the heartwarming story of her family coming back together gave me the sniffles.
This book also deals with the issue of abandonment, which could be upsetting for younger readers. It is handled quite well and is a tough subject for kiddos but will probably mean a lot to kids who have been in Jubilee's shoes. While I don't pretend to understand any of the fishing lingo in this book I still enjoyed the small town of Hope Springs, giving me a little of my own hope spring in the turmoil of the world right now.
This is a charming story and very well written. I think this author is going to do well in the market. This is her debut story and I would definitely read another book by her.
August 27, 2025
Jubilee has always liked moving around from place to place with her Nan. With the help of their Relocation Rules and her idol Arletta Paisley's craft show, anywhere can feel like home. That is, until she and her nan move to Hope Springs, Arletta's former hometown. Soon Jubilee is making friends, discovering new things about herself (and a few not so great things about her idol), and feeling more at home than she ever has. But with her Momma fighting to take her back, her nan being used to running at the first sign of trouble, and a new superstore threatening town businesses, Jubilee worries that the place she has found for herself in Hope Springs but be just another thing she leaves behind.
I love the small-town vibe of this novel. It's sweet and charming while also dealing with some more serious topics, like the idea that your heroes aren't always who you thought they were or who you want them to be. I also liked how the family dynamics were handled: It's clear by the end that things are not perfect between Jubilee and her Momma, but they're also working to improve their relationship. Overall it was a great sweet story that I would recommend to any middle schooler struggling with finding a place for themselves.
I love the small-town vibe of this novel. It's sweet and charming while also dealing with some more serious topics, like the idea that your heroes aren't always who you thought they were or who you want them to be. I also liked how the family dynamics were handled: It's clear by the end that things are not perfect between Jubilee and her Momma, but they're also working to improve their relationship. Overall it was a great sweet story that I would recommend to any middle schooler struggling with finding a place for themselves.
January 9, 2023
Eleven-year-old Jubilee and her grandmother, Nan, have landed in Hope Springs, TX, hometown of Jubilee's Martha Stewart-like idol, Arletta Paisley. Nan considers it just a pit stop in their string of frequent Relocations, but Jubilee hopes it's for good, especially since it's beginning to feel a lot like home. With a new superstore coming to town, Jubilee and her new friend spearhead a festival to promote the town businesses. Everything is going to plan, until Jubilee discovers that her on-the-road musician mother wants to reclaim permanent custody. While Jubilee can often find solutions in Arletta Paisley's folksy sayings, this time she doesn't know what to do.
Jubilee is resourceful and energetic, and loves organizing and making crafts; as a bonus, directions for crafts are included at the end of each chapter. She's extremely likeable and has a talent for bringing people together. This a charming story with a protagonist you can root for her as she pulls out all the stops to make her vision for a happy home a reality.
Jubilee is resourceful and energetic, and loves organizing and making crafts; as a bonus, directions for crafts are included at the end of each chapter. She's extremely likeable and has a talent for bringing people together. This a charming story with a protagonist you can root for her as she pulls out all the stops to make her vision for a happy home a reality.
August 4, 2021
Jubilee Johnson and her grandmother have lived by Relocation Rule Number 1: “Just the two of them is all they need”. But, when their latest move lands them in Hope Springs, Texas, moving may no longer be the answer to their problems. Here she meets a girl set on winning the local fishing tournament and a boy who hardly speaks at all, but always knows the right things to say. Friends- the thing Jubilee has been missing in her life. But when the small town is threatened by a mega-chain superstore fronted by Jubilee’s crafting idol, Arletta Paisley, Jubilee is forced to either take a stand to help her new friends or skip town again. Jubilee calls on her new friends and the one person she never thought she would need- her Momma. Will she find a way to save the town she wants to call home and convince her Nan that they can finally settle down?
I hope you add this tug-at-your-heartstrings middle-grade novel to your TBR.
I hope you add this tug-at-your-heartstrings middle-grade novel to your TBR.
June 10, 2023
This was such a lovely read - filled with depth despite its age level and length, and with a cast of well-developed characters who felt as much a part of the story as Jubilee, our main character, did. There was enough plot to carry the story forward, but definitely enough character moments to show us Jubilee’s growth over the book. This was just… a really poignant, emotion-filled story that I think is going to stay with me for a bit. It very simply but eloquently dug into some hard truths about relationships, permanence, and the human condition, without being preachy. Middle grade is one of my favourite genres because of these kinds of books and the authors who write them - they have the incredible skill of using simple language to unpack complicated emotions and truths, and they do it well.
July 2, 2023
Jubilee lives (or, more accurately, constantly moves around with) with her grandmother while her mother is trying to make it big as a country music star. Only managing to live in one town for brief time, Jubilee has begun feeling the need to put down roots, and hopes to direct their next move which will hopefully be the last.
This is a solid realistic fiction title that would make a great addition to any middle grade school library. I loved how resilient Jubilee was, and the non-traditional family dynamics that were part of this story. It's the story of a strong girl who longs for a community, a mother and grandmother who are dealing with hardships and trying do what is best for Jubilee. It's the story of new friendships and being true to yourself and speaking for yourself.
I look forward to more from Jaime Berry!
This is a solid realistic fiction title that would make a great addition to any middle grade school library. I loved how resilient Jubilee was, and the non-traditional family dynamics that were part of this story. It's the story of a strong girl who longs for a community, a mother and grandmother who are dealing with hardships and trying do what is best for Jubilee. It's the story of new friendships and being true to yourself and speaking for yourself.
I look forward to more from Jaime Berry!
August 22, 2021
*I was given an advance copy by NetGalley in exchange for a review*
Hope Springs is a sweet debut middle grade novel about a young girl named Jubilee and her Nan, who move from place to place so frequently that they never get a chance to form roots. Jubilee picks out a town called Hope Springs, and that’s where they move next. What Jubilee or Nan don’t realize is that this might be the place where they form bonds, find community, and learn what it means to fight for what they believe in, in more ways than one.
Hope Springs is filled with like-able characters, has a quick pace, and is very heartfelt and earnest. I would happily recommend this to those in search of realistic fiction.
Hope Springs is a sweet debut middle grade novel about a young girl named Jubilee and her Nan, who move from place to place so frequently that they never get a chance to form roots. Jubilee picks out a town called Hope Springs, and that’s where they move next. What Jubilee or Nan don’t realize is that this might be the place where they form bonds, find community, and learn what it means to fight for what they believe in, in more ways than one.
Hope Springs is filled with like-able characters, has a quick pace, and is very heartfelt and earnest. I would happily recommend this to those in search of realistic fiction.
October 11, 2025
A heartwarming character-driven story with a lovable, relatable protagonist, plenty of good messages, efficient pacing, a healthy dose of humor, a healthy dose of gravity, and satisfying emotional payoff. My only significant critique is that it is a little out of touch sometimes for pre-teens. I’m not sure how many 11 year olds sit around and talk about property taxes and labor benefits, so I think the arc of their grassroots organization could have stood to be a little more simplistic but overall this story could appeal to a wide audience with a myriad of interests or life circumstances. An engaging, satisfying read.
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