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Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
Reach for Hope by Amanda LaPera is the second book in her coming-of-age Desert of Dreams series. Carolyn was formerly an “army brat” with both parents in the military, but with them retired, life was finally settling down. In the summer of 1985, home life was difficult for Carolyn and her two younger brothers, Charlie and Chris. Whilst their mom worked, their dad’s life consisted of drinking, smoking, watching television, and routinely beating his children, especially Carolyn. When the family moved to the isolated, desolate new housing development of Lake Los Angeles, high in the Mojave desert, Carolyn had to start all over again. When she realizes that it is up to her to change her environment, she tries to go it alone, but can she ever trust people again and be free from the ever-present fear?
Reach for Hope is a wonderfully easy read that contains so many useful life lessons, especially for young readers. Amanda LaPera used her own experiences of growing up in the high Mojave Desert to create an environment and characters that ring true and believable. I especially appreciated Carolyn’s deep concern for her two brothers and her willingness to shield Charlie and Chris. The introduction of Ben into the equation gave the narrative an exciting, dramatic twist that brought depth and complexity into the plot. Carolyn’s fascination with her natural environment, its history, and culture added immensely to the simple story of a young girl growing up in a dysfunctional family. I particularly enjoyed watching the walls she had built around herself slowly begin to crumble as she became more confident in herself, but also as she began to allow her friends and her boyfriend to see more of the true growing woman inside the young girl. This is a standalone novel that can be read without reference to the others in the series. This is a beautiful story of a young girl finding her own voice, despite the best efforts of a domineering father and an enabling mother to quash her personality, but it is also a fun and interesting read about family and social dynamics for young adults. I highly recommend it.
