I absolutely loved everything about this book. It tells the story of a group of boys labelled 'delinquents' and sent to live in a group home, Hope House. The boys follow a strict programme, where they progress through levels - Orientation through to Graduation. It should take nine months to complete but if they break a rule, the boys can be moved, depending on the severity, back a stage or back to the beginning. This is the case for AWOL who, at the start of the novel, has just been given a pale yellow shirt again, denoting that he is back at the start of his nine months. As his name suggests, AWOL runs, but as we learn more about him and his past, the reasons for this are not what you might expect.

The boys in this book are very clearly just that - boys. They have done unspeakable things but the author doesn't let us demonise them and, unlike some members of the community they live in, we see them as children first, who have done terrible things but have also had terrible things done to them. The home is run by a man called Watts, who doesn't have much in the way of relevant qualifications to help the boys but has something more important. Watts sees the children as children but also as future adults with, despite their past experiences, the potential to contribute and become functioning members of society. He is far from perfect himself but understands that these boys have been let down, not just by their families, but by a community that has abandoned them and he knows that their rehabilitation needs to be a community effort too.

This book is brilliant. It is compared with The Chorus, which I absolutely agree with. I would also include Monsieur Lazhar and To Sir, With Love.

A brilliant book, highly recommended.

I absolutely loved this debut.

The subject matter is close to my heart as I work in a similar situation but in the UK. I think this was presented in a very real way and I loved diving into stories and emotions from the characters as well as what’s going on behind their actions.

I really like the way this book is written, it jumped around in time to tell the stories of these kids in a way that flowed smoothly and worked well for me as a reader.

My heart broke for the boys in several places along the way and I will rush to read anything else this author puts out.

Loved it. Such vibrant characters with fantastic humour and I enjoyed the perspectives of their outlook on life. Also heartbreaking in moments which felt like a punch to the stomach at one point. Brilliant coming of age novel that I would definitely recommend!

An emotional yet heartwarming story of friendship and family. Beautifully written with well crafted characters. A gorgeous little book.

Joe Bond has written a brilliant debut that explores a group home for boys and healing power of the found family. Set in 1980's rural Kentucky, the boys who end up at Hope House come from the streets, with no one on their side for support, encouragement, or anything except indifference. Through the telling of their stories at Hope House, we come to understand the unique circumstances around their stay, and what it is that their souls need—belonging.

What struck me most was the novel’s understanding of found family: belonging isn’t necessarily something given to us by blood, but something built through care, understanding, and choosing to show up for one another. Despite their anger and resistance, these boys are still just young and misguided teenagers, carrying an enormous hunger for love and stability.

There is something so alive in Bond’s portrayal of youth—their recklessness, vulnerability, humour and spirit. Deeply emotive and beautifully told, this is a striking debut about healing, belonging and the possibility of becoming something more than you and others give you credit for.

Hope House is a funny, moving and lifelike story about a home for teenage tearaways. All of them are under the care of Mr Watts who tries hard to get them through a five stage programme so they can rejoin society. However Watts not only has to deal with unruly boys but also the system that doesn't seem minded to help either him or them. It is so much easier to write troublemakers off than to dig a little to find out why they do the things they do. Watts refuses to give up.

There are some very strong voices in this novel - AWOL who narrates but always shies away from sharing his story with his peers, Smoove who believes in the power of prayer, Damico who longs to get through so he can see his child again, Peanut who struggles with anything and everything but is unfailingly cheerful and Karvel the obvious leader who the boys all long to be like.

Joe Bond has written a truly lovely book that delicately explains a way of life in a home where noone expects much from the inmates but whose manager will never give up trying to find the best life for.

Great writing, great story and very sympathetic and likeable characters. Made me cry and smile.