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!

*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.

Who doesn't have a love/hate relationship with big box stores? Jubilee loves moving around the country with her Nan. No matter where they go, she can feel at home when she enters a Smart Mart. She loves that store and the spokesperson- super crafter Arletta Paisley. It takes moving to Hope Springs and slowly becoming a part of a real community to open her eyes that maybe big box stores aren't as great as she thought.
We slowly find out how Jubilee came to live with Nan, and I thought that the relationship between her and her Mom was well done. Sometimes kids are happier living with someone other than their Mom and Dad. It's nice to see that kind of story in MG.

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.