Selling Hope

It is May 1910. The world is in a state of panic due to earth's imminent passage through the tail of Halley's Comet. For Hope, who with her father travels with a vaudeville circuit, the longing for a real home, combined with the opportunity afforded by the state of the world, drives her to desperate, and very clever measures.

Back in the eighties, as a little girl, simply knowing of Halley's Comet made me feel what might be described as terrified wonder. I promptly categorized comets together with UFOs, the Mary Celeste, and the Bermuda Triangle. I wonder how I'd feel, if I was a little girl in 1910, being told that earth would be passing through the comet's tail. Would I buy an anti-comet pill, the way we stocked up on hand sanitizer and face masks during the H1N1 outbreak?

Charming. That's how I'd describe 'Selling Hope', historical novel by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb. Maybe that's just because I am partial towards characters named 'Hope'. Who wouldn't be? Or maybe it's the charm of vaudeville star Buster Keaton winning my affection, the way he'd done for Hope, and so many others who'd loved his deadpan humor a century ago. Or perhaps, it's the thrill of vaudeville, as I found myself jostling with the throng, swept along by the twists and tales of the magician and his assistant. Or it could be the charm of another age, another place, brought to life so artfully and convincingly by Kristin Tubb.

Teaching tip: 

To develop students' schema for historical novels, have them create pinboards on Pinterest, showcasing pictures and websites featuring places, people and objects mentioned in the novel. See the one I made for 'Selling Hope' here.

 Did you know? 

Selling Hope won the 2011 Crystal Kite Award for the Kansas/Louisiana/Kentucky/Tennessee/Missouri/Arkansas region.