The Story and Science of Hope

Hope is more than a feeling - it can change the world! Discover how new science and ancient knowledge can help us face an uncertain world.

All over the world, kids are struggling with grief, anxiety, and fear about the climate crisis, war, and a future that seems out of their control. Sometimes it's hard to have hope, but hope may be the one thing that can change the world! Modern researchers, called Hope Theorists, are helping us to understand that we can use hope to improve our own lives and those of our neighbours, friends, and even the planet.

The Story and Science of Hope is an illustrated nonfiction book for middle-grade readers that weaves together ancient history with surprising new scientific research showing hope is more than a feeling - it's essential for our well-being. People who are high in hope are happier and healthier, they live longer, do better in school, and have stronger friendships. Learn the history of hope, how it can be measured, learned, and practised - even where you can find hope in your brain (spoiler: it's the bilateral medial orbitofrontal cortex, above your eyes and a few centimetres inside your brain)!

Backmatter includes real-world examples of hopeful environmental activists and a list of ways that kids can cultivate hope, as well as a glossary of unfamiliar terms, sources, and further reading.

Key Text Features

• illustrations
• definitions
• facts
• further information
• further reading
• glossary
• headings
• historical context

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.2: Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarise the text.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.8: Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.2: Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarise the text.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.8: Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.2: Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.3: Analyse in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.5: Analyse how a particular sentence, paragraph, chapter, or section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the ideas.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6: Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.