Hope in Patience by Beth Fehlbaum

Bibliographic Information
Publisher: Westside Books
Publication year: 2010
ISBN: 978-0997387124

Reader’s Annotation
The second in a trilogy, Hope in Patience follows fifteen-year-old Ashley Asher she seeks legal justice and continues to heal from the crimes her stepfather committed against her through therapy, and beginning to trust her biological father and his new family.

Plot Summary
Fifteen-year-old Ashley has a lot she needs to recover from. First, having been a victim of her stepfather’s repeated sexual abuse and assault since childhood, she constantly deals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety. She is also in the process of physically healing from when her mother and step-father tried to abduct her from her biological father’s home, where she was assigned to live by Child Protective Services despite never having a relationship with him. With the help and compassion of her father, new step-mother, and unorthodox therapist, Ashley begins the long process of healing from lifelong trauma.

Critical Evaluation
Fehlbaum tackles a serious and significant issue with this work. Ashley’s history as an abuse victim and resulting self-injury is depicted realistically, as are her relationships with her parents and step-parents. However, the writing style is simplistic and one-dimensional. The reader does not gain much insight into the feelings of characters besides Ashley. While realistic to the average teenager’s self-centeredness, the author’s choice to do this leaves the reader wondering about the point of view of the others involved. For example, one wonders if Ashley’s mother is really the unfeeling monster Ashley perceives her to be, or if her poor treatment of her daughter comes with an inner struggle and ultimate poor decision of where her loyalties should lie. Overall, Hope in Patience is important because of its subject matter, but leaves something to be desired in terms of character development and interaction.

Author Information
In addition to writing Young Adult Contemporary Fiction, Beth Fehlbaum is a high school English-Language Arts teacher who frequently draws on her experience as an educator to write her books. She has a B.A. in English, Minor in Secondary Education, and an M.Ed. in Reading.

Beth is a featured author on the 2015-2016 Spirit of Texas Reading List- High School for the Kirkus Starred Reviewed Big Fat Disaster (Merit Press/F+W Media, March 2014) and The Patience Trilogy: Courage (1), Hope (2), and Truth (3) (Steady On Books, April 2016).

Beth is a member of the RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network) Speakers’ Bureau. She has a following in the young adult literature world and also among survivors of sexual abuse because of her work with victims’ advocacy groups.

She has been the keynote speaker at the National Crime Victims’ Week Commemoration Ceremony at the Hall of State in Dallas, Texas and a presenter for Greater Texas Community Partners, where she addressed a group of social workers and foster children on the subject of “Hope.”

Beth is in-demand as a panelist, having presented/appeared at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference, the American Library Association’s annual conference, YALSA, and N.C.T.E./ALAN, and she is also the founder/administrator of UncommonYA, a thirty-member-strong marketing group and website for authors of edgy YA fiction. Beth is a member of The Author’s Guild.

She is a survivor of a traumatic childhood, like Ashley in The Patience Trilogy, and the day-to-day manager of an eating disorder much like Colby’s in Big Fat Disaster. These life experiences give her a unique perspective, and she writes her characters’ stories in a way meant to inspire hope.

Beth lives with her family in the woods of East Texas.

Source: http://www.amazon.com/Beth-Fehlbaum/e/B001JP9NRQ/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Genre
Fiction

Curriculum Ties
Health
Sexual Education

Booktalking Ideas
First warn that the book has mature themes and might not be suitable for young children. Introduce the story by giving a brief overview of the first book in the series, then explain that this one follows Ashley as her journey of healing continues. Then give a rating from 1-5 and tell the audience why this is my rating, and take questions.

Reading Level/Interest Age
Booklist: Grade 10-12
School Library Journal: Grade 8 and up

Challenging Issues
Child Abuse
Language
PTSD
Rape and Sexual Assault
Self-Injury
Sexual Content and/or Nudity
Violence

Preparing for Potential Challenges
http://jeselynsminiyacollection.blogspot.com/p/preparing-for-potential-challenges.html

Why the Item Was Chosen
I included this item in my collection because the subject of sexual abuse in families is uncomfortable, but one that must not be swept under the rug. A young adult browsing my collection might read this book and finally gain the courage to speak up about the abuse they or a friend are suffering. Libraries exist to provide information; while some might find the subject matter of Hope in Patience inappropriate, it is necessary for young adults to know that sexual abuse and trauma can be overcome. I hope that the inclusion of this series in my collection solidifies for my young adult patrons that they deserve to feel safe at all times, and they should follow Ashley’s example and speak up if they do not.