Hope's Gift

Written by Kelly Starling Lyons · Illustrated by Don Tate

When her father slips away to fight for freedom, a girl waits and hopes.

4.1 Goodreads · 198 ratings

32 pages· ~510L

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In 1862, as the Civil War drags on, Hope's father slips away one night to join the Union army and fight for freedom. He leaves her a conch shell whose sound, he says, echoes the promised song of freedom. Through long nights of roaring cannons, Hope holds on to the shell and waits, wondering if she will ever see Papa again, as President Lincoln prepares the Emancipation Proclamation.

From the publisher

A poignant story celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation ProclamationIt’s 1862 and the Civil War has turned out to be a long, deadly conflict. Hope’s father can’t stand the waiting a minute longer and decides to join the Union army to fight for freedom. He slips away one tearful night, leaving Hope, who knows she may never see her father again, with only a conch shell for comfort. Its sound, Papa says, echoes the promised song of freedom. It’s a long wait for freedom and on the nights when the cannons roar, Papa seems farther away than ever. But then Lincoln finally does it: on January 1, 1863, he issues the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves, and a joyful Hope finally spies the outline of a familiar man standing on the horizon.Affectingly written and gorgeously illustrated, Hope’s Gift captures a significant moment in American history with deep emotion and a lot of charm.

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