Savvy Review: A Flicker of Hope

Hello, Everyone! Today, I’m happy to share my thoughts about a new book by Julia Cook: A Flicker of Hope.

I believe it’s safe to say that even as adults, we sometimes feel hopeless. Even we need encouragement and support from time to time. I have found that many students I come in contact with in my school counseling program are in need of this same encouragement and support. Instilling hope in children is vital because “hope is a critically important predictor of success.” In the article Keys to Building Hope in Children: Part 3, Problem Solving, Dr. Anthony Scioli, Ph.D states, “Hope can function like a psychological bridge, transporting an individual from a place of darkness into a space of light, from a position of entrapment to an area of freedom. Hope implies there are options, an exit strategy; an escape route.”

Julia says this book is her heart on paper, and it is quite evident when you read it. First of all, I LOVE this book. It speaks to me as an adult, and I know it can help the children I come in contact with who need “a little boost of hope.” Here are my big takeaways for kids from A Flicker of Hope:

No one can see your dark clouds. Even though people may not know what you are going through, they can see a difference in you. They are able to tell that your flame isn’t as bright is it typically has been.
When you reach out to others for help, they are able to give you “a little boost of hope” through encouraging words and support. In that moment, your flame shines a little brighter.
You’ve got to find the courage to ask for help. It’s okay to need support, and if you can’t find it with one person, keep asking until you get the boost you need.
It’s important to “stay lit” because you have a unique light that others may need a boost from one day. You have a special gift inside of you, and you need to keep your light in order to share that gift with others.

I also love the line, “It’s not the ‘how I know’ that matters…it’s the ‘what I know.'” Once you read this book for yourself, you’ll get it. I have no doubt that A Flicker of Hope will give children a new way of thinking and allow them a way of escape from hopelessness. Julia Cook does it again!

A Flicker of Hope officially released on December 4. I am giving away copies to my Savvy followers on my Facebook Page. Be sure to to check it out for your chance to win! The giveaway will end on Tuesday, December 11 at 10PM EST.

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