Hope’s Boy
“My mother loved me more than she could care for me…”
REVIEWS FROM AMAZON.com
“Hope’s Boy,” Andrew Bridge’s haunting elegy of a childhood that seemed to be lost forever when the author, at age 7, became a ward of the State after being taken from the arms of his young mother on a street corner in North Hollywood, California. Mr. Bridge’s unsparing chronicle of his experiences on the front lines of our nation’s foster care system — including his time in a facility that seemed more like a prison camp, and his rearing by a sadistic foster mother, who herself was a prison camp survivor — opened my eyes more widely to the system’s endemic problems than any piece of investigative journalism on the subject ever could. But, at its core, Mr. Bridge’s book is a heartbreaking, unforgettable love story about a mother and her son. Even though Mr. Bridge’s mother, Hope, appears intermittently throughout his memoir, I felt her presence, even in her absence, on every single page of his book. I don’t know that I’ve ever read anything more powerful about love and loss than Mr. Bridge’s searing prose about his mother’s embrace as she struggled to hold onto him when he was being pried from her arms. And ultimately, I was inspired by how Hope’s love gave the boy, Andy, the strength to pursue, and, ultimately, achieve his goals. The adult Andrew has given a proud, defiant voice to the boy and his mother. I, for one, am glad to have heard them and hope that many others will too.
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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
 The Power of Perseverance and Resilience, February 5, 2008I was delighted to read Hope’s Boy. It reminds me why I’m a social worker. Connections with others, and the need for them, are at our core. They are powerful and enduring, as is the sense of loss when they are broken. In Bridge’s case, social workers and the foster care system broke his physical connections to his mother and grandmother. As social workers, our role is to support, honor and do everything we can to sustain the core bond between parent and child. We failed to do that for Bridge. Despite our failures, Bridge held close his memories of Hope, developing his own extraordinary capacity for resilience. He lends a powerful voice to so many foster children who have learned to “be still,” who continue to long for their own enduring bond with a forever parent. We can and must do better for them. I try to do that each day, for every youngster and family with whom I work. And I’m trying to teach that to the next generation of social workers, as well, who face a whole new set of challenges to keep children safe while they support and sustain the forever bonds they have with their parents. Thanks again for a wonderful reminder of our responsibility to nurture resilience and hope in all children. |
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Hopes Boy - A strong call to action! - a must read, March 31, 2008
Hopes Boy shows us the nice side of Foster Care being able to stay in 1 home throughout his childhood even though he received very little nurturing - how did he become what he is today? Shows Andrew was born for a greater good so his childhood was not something to be victimized by. He has done so much for other foster kids and this book is a great read that does not go too deep into the worst of foster care but definitely gives you a glimpse and creates awareness for this ever growing epidemic. Andrew is a true inspiration for others who feel trapped or victimized by their past - this book is definite must read for people who need to be inspired to change and make a difference in the lives of others. |
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Disturbing and heartwrenching, March 14, 2008
This book held my interest to the very last page, but only when I read the epilogue did I shed a few tears of rage. |
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Unforgettable, March 19, 2008
I saw this review in People magazine and it intrigued me. I bought the audio CD and have been hooked. I am now on the 9th CD and am in awe of Andy. Shame on LA County and the way they treated foster kids, Kudos to Andy and the way he has prevailed - his story is remarkable. I see Andrew Bridge speaks at various functions and I will make it a point to find and see him. And I’d love to find “Mrs. Leonard” and give her a piece of my mind. What a hateful woman. God bless Andy in all his future endeavors, and the work he has done for children in need. |
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
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