Hopepunk is a lot like a traditional English trifle: there are so many layers it’s difficult to get all of the layers in one bite, but my oh my, isn’t it delicious when it does happen!
Hopepunk follows teenager Hope Cassidy, who’s had a hard time growing up in her conservative Christian household. She’s spent her entire life being told that the devil hides in rock and punk music, but that’s nothing compared to her sister Faith, who has to hide her dating a girl. When their youngest sister catches Faith and tells their mother, there’s nowhere for Faith to escape her mother’s judgement.
When Faith disappears before she can be shipped off to the conversion center, Hope’s family is broken up. While everyone finds their own way of dealing with the grief and guilt, Hope feels the innate need to rebel. She gets a tattoo, tries singing through the hurt at a karaoke place with her voice that’s been compared to Janis Joplin but that she’s always been ridiculed for. But when her long-time crush Danny is kicked out of his home after coming out, Hope can’t stand by and let history repeat itself—no one else should have to fear home like her sister Faith did. Inviting Danny to crash with her family leads to Hope and Danny building a friendship that could withstand almost anything—even the endless battle to dethrone the Alt-Rite hate-fuelled band that’s spearheaded by none other than Danny’s twin brother. Together, they’ll try to show the world that hope for a better future is the best resistance there is.
I wish I could go into depth about all the topics that somehow seamlessly interweave within this phenomenal novel. If you’re like me, you pick this book up thinking it’s going to be about Cassidy dealing with the disappearance of her sister and the resentment she feels toward her parents for casting out her sister for loving someone they don’t approve of. And yes, that’s very much part of this novel and the red thread that weaves through the tale but it’s also about so much more. It’s about Cassidy’s quest to make her mark on the world while her own is very much crumbling. It’s about standing up for the things and people you believe in, about fighting against prejudice and oppression, about what it means to be a good friend and even what it means to be a good sibling. It’s about finding music that speaks to your soul and the indescribable feeling of when you find the perfect song that makes every struggle, every obstacle in life worth it. It’s about forgiveness, reconciliation and unspoken feelings and riots and rage, rejection and rampant thoughts and hope being an act of resistance.
So while I’m not going to spoil anything, I’ll just point out a few things that made this the unforgettable read it was. One element, of course, is Hope Cassidy. Hope has such a distinct voice (no pun intended). She’s complicated, messy and hurting and most of all, relatable as hell. Watching her grow into her own, making painful mistakes and trusting the wrong people, losing loved ones and gaining new friends is such a whirlwind. Her powerful voice and sarcastic attitude made me fall in love with her from the very first chapter.
Second, my favourite by far was the way Norton approaches (unlikely) friendships in Hopepunk. While I don’t want to spoil too much about this story, I swear I had (platonic) heart-eyes every single time Cassidy and Danny had a scene together. How Norton managed to create this visceral bond between Cassidy’s crush who’s been kicked out by his family and taken in by Hope’s I’ll never know. But I teared up multiple times because it all felt too real. Danny’s ordeal so perfectly mirrored what Faith must have gone through prior to the novel starting and watching Hope try to redeem herself by being there for Danny because she couldn’t be for Faith will absolutely devastate readers, I’m sure.
That being said, this novel also deals with forgiveness and redemption and how unspoken goodbyes may just be the worst thing to ever happen when you lose someone. Don’t get me wrong, this book is a tour-de-force, at times funny and enchanting, but at the end it’s a gritty story about pain and what you can turn it into.
And lastly, of course, is the way Norton manages to tackle all these topics and make them fit like puzzle pieces. Despite being an atheist—or maybe because of it—I am often floored by depictions of religion in fiction, especially when it comes to oppressive ones. And even beyond religion, there is also so much discussion about prejudice and privilege and not being able to tell who’s a friend and who’s a foe in Hopepunk that was just…magnificent. Honestly, some of the twists in regard to these topics will haunt me forever.
So, whether you pick this up because of the premise, your love for music history or the badass cover, just know that what you see is not always what you get – and in this case, it’s a good thing, a brilliant one. Because Hopepunk will leave a mark on you, that much I can guarantee.
Hopepunk delivers a nuanced, thought-provoking story about a girl trying to find her place in the world as her own is crumbling around her. With a fiercely sarcastic protagonist, an unlikely friendship that will make you tear up and a love for music that transcends space and time, Hopepunk is an act of resistance you need on your shelves!
Hopepunk is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 11th 2021.
Will you be picking up Hopepunk? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
A heartfelt and funny new novel about forgiveness and redemption, and about how hope is the ultimate act of rebellion, perfect for fans of John Green and Becky Albertalli.
Growing up in a conservative Christian household isn’t easy for rock-obsessed Hope Cassidy. She’s spent her whole life being told that the devil speaks through Led Zeppelin, but it’s even worse for her sister, Faith, who feels like she can’t be honest about dating the record shop cashier, Mavis. That is, until their youngest sister hears word of their “sinful” utopia and outs Faith to their parents. Now there’s nowhere for Faith to go but the Change Through Grace conversion center…or running away.
Following Faith’s disappearance, their family is suddenly broken. Hope feels a need to rebel. She gets a tattoo and tries singing through the hurt with her Janis Joplin-style voice. But when her long-time crush Danny comes out and is subsequently kicked out of his house, Hope can’t stand by and let history repeat itself. Now living in Faith’s room, Danny and Hope strike up a friendship…and a band. And their music just might be the answer to dethroning Alt-Rite, Danny’s twin brother’s new hate-fueled band.
With a hilarious voice and an open heart, Hopepunk is a novel about forgiveness, redemption, and finding your home, and about how hope is the ultimate act of rebellion.
January 11th 2022!
Can’t wait for the release!