Overall, what do you think of All the Little Hopes? (no spoilers in this thread, please)

Overall, what do you think of All the Little Hopes? (no spoilers in this thread, please)

I absolutely loved this book! I am fascinated by WWII books however I have never even heard about prison camps here in the States. To get to know these ever so interesting characters and feel their trepidation about the German prisoners coming to their town. Thank you Ms. Weiss for this beautiful story.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting, easy read with many touching moments. The story line is about friendship, family, and growing up as told from the perspective of two young girls from North Carolina, with WWII as the time frame. I could easily envision this book as an adult/YA crossover with lots of interesting discussion topics and life lessons that would make for great conversation amongst parents and young adults.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a coming of age story with a multitude of intersecting themes, friendship, home, family, acceptance, forgiveness, belonging and justice. The story is rich and compelling and filled with characters from whom it is impossible to remain detached.
The tragedy of sacrifice and loss, the power of words those spoken and left unsaid, and an undercurrent of spiritualism fill the story with sumptuous layers to explore and enjoy.

This was in some ways typical of books centered in small rural southern cities and I mean this in a positive way. The cities are almost central characters in these stories. There are always quirky characters, local festivities and other characters with mysterious edges. This is not to denigrate the book. It was a quick and easy read I loved the Brown family and the beautiful relationship between Bert and Lu. I could also relate to the difficulties of young teens growing up. Though typical in many ways there was enough substance to set this book apart from others

I found this book totally engaging. I think of the era as the time my mother and her siblings grew up. But this southern rural world seemed so different from my family's large city mid-western world. I loved experiencing it through these characters. I will be sharing this book with friends.

Much to my own surprise, I really enjoyed this book; I wasn't sure how much I'd like it when I started reading. I liked the format very much - alternating chapters between the 2 main characters. While it was a coming of age story for 2 young girls in North Carolina during WW11, it provided a different perspective than usually discussed in novels about the war. I also did not know about prisoner of war camps here in the U.S. It was an interesting read, especially if you're a fan of historical fiction.

I enjoyed the book. The main characters Bert and Lucy were great characters who each contributed to the well being of each other both learning life experiences far different than each of their families. I enjoyed the characters learning that we are more alike than different as they transitioned from their distrust of the war camp prisoners who worked for them to becoming trusted individuals whose company they enjoyed. I had not known that the US had prisoners of war that worked in our country especially being assigned to family farms etc.

All the Little Hopes by Leah Weiss is a wonderful story of two young girls in North Carolina but from very different geography, backgrounds, viewpoints. Fate throws them together. The novel is told by the two girls in alternating chapters. You see the world from each of their views. There is mystery, friendship, judgement, forgiveness, charity, and suspense. It reminds me just a little of Where the Crawdads Sing in that they are surrounded by loving adults that add wonder, generosity, and magic to their lives. I would have finished it in one sitting but life kept getting in the way - it's a hard book to put down.
I definitely recommend it.

I enjoyed the book. Did not know about the POWs in America. Liked the short chapters told by the two girls. Good read!

I enjoyed the book. The characters were interesting and the storyline kept me engaged until the end. I would definitely recommend it to friends!

I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I did not know about the POW's in America. I recommended it to all my friends.

I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story set during World War II. The Trula Freed character was very interesting, as was Lucy's rich aunt, Fanniebelle Hollingston, who exposed the girls to a totally different lifestyle than the one they were used to living on a farm.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and gave it 5 stars in my personal book reviews. I became so immersed in the story that it took only a few days to read - didn't want to put it down.

I really liked this book. It was sweet and touching without being maudlin and over sentimental. I didn’t know about the POWs coming to the US to work and I loved how attitudes changed towards them as people got to know them. I especially liked the friendship between the girls and the secrets that bound them together. Although I found a few of the mysteries easily solved, I loved how loyalty, humanity, and contrasting cultures were expressed through vivid storytelling. But, most of all, I liked how the book explored and enveloped the ever-changing perception of what it means to be a family.

I really loved this book. I am fascinated by history so connecting with the different perspectives during WWII was so engaging. I did not know prior to this about the POWs presence in America. My own mother and father came of age during WWII. My uncle and father served in the Marines and Navy. I had a personal connection, but the story was well developed and the characters made me want to keep reading. I would definitely recommend this book.

I enjoyed the book very much. Historical fiction is an enjoyable way to learn about history as I didn't enjoy history classes in school. I also didn't know about POWs in the US during WWII. I enjoyed the Brown family and how they worked together, took in Bert and helped the military. It seemed like an idyllic life even with all their hardships.

I "gobbled" this book in less than a week! From the first pages I was intrigued and captivated. The subplots are just the right amount of "extra." I have recommended this novel to all my book loving family members.

I was enveloped by this book from the first pages, and thoroughly enjoyed it until the end. It is multi-faceted in the exploration of not only the impact of the relationship between the two girls, but it delved into many aspects of the relationship that is so inherent in young women as they mature together - admiration, jealousy, frustration...It also explores the impact of our origin and roots - those early experiences that stay with us and form us, regardless of who we believe we become.

I really enjoyed this book and gave it a 5 star review. It was a fantastic coming of age novel that showed that home is made up of the people that you love and want to take care of and that's not always your real family.

I enjoyed the book but started out confused as it seemed like a junior high read with the Nancy Drew connection. I changed my mind once I was into it a few chapters. I did not know there were German interment camps during WW2 just as I didn't learn about Japanese interment camps until I was an adult in my 40's and saw where one was built in Idaho. Thank goodness for historical writers that fill us in on all the events that were not in our grade/high school history books. Never too late to learn. I loved all the wonderful array of characters the author brought into the story. It seems we don't see a lot of coming of age stories of girls and there are so many about boys.
Great read. I will consider it for our book club.

Like Melissa C. I was surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. It is basically a YA novel, but because it includes some rarely known WWII history and because she describes such a wonderful family so beautifully, it kept me fully engaged. I was a little disappointed in the way she treated the PTSD issue and also the almost flippant attitude with which Tiny Junior's murders were dealt. I always like the narrator switching style because it offers different perspectives more neatly - with less words - than the all knowing narrator.

I really enjoyed the book, as well. I’ve recommended it to several people for their book clubs. I didn’t know about the German POWs in the US either. I found that very interesting and did some further research on it. I loved all of the characters and found the story line engaging.

It was a wonderful, easy, informative read. To read about history that you didn't know about to learning about customs and beliefs of other parts of the country is always fascinating and makes for great reads.
It was easy to visualize the characters which was enhanced by the use of the southern language patterns.
A very good read and one I will recommend.

I really enjoyed this book. At first I wondered if it would be too young adult or the same as many WWII books I’ve read. I was pleasantly surprised by how interesting and enjoyable it was to read. I’ve since recommended it and lent the book to many friends

I love the writing style. It flows so beautifully. I truly wish life were not getting in the way, as I would love to just escape into it and not put it down until done.

I really liked this book. In some ways it reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird and also the good aspects of Every Bone a Prayer (minus the heavy-handed magical realism of the latter.) Many, many years ago I read Summer of My German Soldier in a children's lit class as part of an M.A. program, and I learned about the German POW camps at that time. The incorporation of that part of USA history into the book was another of its strong points.

This is a great story. It’s a different plot and refreshing, with love and insight on almost every page.

Sometime ago I read If the CREEK DON'T RISE. I believe ALL THE LITTLE HOPES adds another level to Leah Weisses writing.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was the first book by this author that I have read and it led me to reading her other book "If the Creek Don't Rise." The book was very well written and the subject matter was very interesting to read. I will definitely recommend it to my friends and also my book clubs.