For teachers looking for engaging literature to educate their students, A Boy Called Hope by Lara Williamson is a perfect choice.
Not only does it explore complex themes of friendship, belonging and identity in a heartbreaking yet inspiring way, but it also offers the opportunity for rich lessons about those topics – ones that profoundly affect each of us.
In this blog post, you’ll find an overview of the novel’s content and suggestions on how to plan creative exercises based on it.
Whether you aim to help students grasp complex concepts or give them something meaningful and thoughtful to reflect on during class, this book will surely inspire them!
Related: For more, check out our article on Ice Palace by Robert Swindells here.
A Boy Called Hope – Storyline
A Boy Called Hope tells the story of 12-year-old Hope Jones, an orphan living in a small English village. He has a turbulent past and a difficult life, losing both parents at a young age. Despite his hardships, Hope possesses an unbreakable spirit and unwavering determination to make something of himself.
One day, while running an errand for the local shopkeeper in town, he discovers a mysterious book tucked away in an alleyway. Upon finding the book, he learns it contains secrets about magical creatures and powerful spells.
Hope’s curiosity leads him to take the book home with him, and soon enough, he begins to discover that he has special abilities – abilities that no one else seems to possess.
With plenty of adventure, Hope embarks on an epic journey to find his true purpose and new life with newfound friends. Only when the ultimate challenge presents itself does Hope realise what it truly means to be brave and have Hope.
Keys Themes in A Boy Called Hope
Adventure
Adventure is a central theme in A Boy Called Hope as it follows Hope on his exciting and daring quest. He discovers magical creatures, learns powerful spells, and goes on an epic journey to unlock the secrets of his true purpose.
This theme helps define Hope’s character as it allows him to step out of his comfort zone and take chances despite the difficulties and dangers he faces.
Bravery
Bravery is another central theme in the story as it shows how Hope continuously pushes himself out of his comfort zone and takes risks to achieve a greater goal.
He shows immense courage throughout his journey, never avoiding complex challenges and dangers. This ultimately teaches him what it means to have Hope even in the face of adversity.
Friendship
Friendship also plays an integral role in A Boy Called Hope, with Hope forming close relationships with other characters. These friendships provide him with emotional support and help him through difficult times.
Ultimately, these connections help to develop him into a more mature person who learns about courage and perseverance from those around him.
Key Characters in A Boy Called Hope
Hope Jones
Hope is the story’s protagonist, a 12-year-old orphan living in a small English village. His unbreakable spirit and unwavering determination make him an admirable character.
Throughout his journey, he discovers the true meaning of courage and Hope and ultimately learns to embrace his unique abilities.
The Shopkeeper
The shopkeeper serves as Hope’s introduction to the magical book that sets his adventure off on its path. He is kind and knowledgeable, providing guidance and protection to Hope throughout his quest.
The Wizard/Magician
The wizard serves as a mentor figure to Hope, teaching him about the power of magic and helping him discover his true potential. His wisdom helps transform Hope into a more confident individual who can stand up for himself even when faced with dangerous obstacles.
Learning Opportunities in A Boy Called Hope
Developing Courage
Through Hope’s adventures, students can learn about facing their fears and having the courage to push through difficult situations. This could be explored through role-play activities or class discussions on how to meet their challenges with resilience.
Understanding Responsibility
As Hope begins his quest, he learns to take responsibility for his actions and accept the consequences when things don’t go as planned.
This lesson can be addressed in the classroom by encouraging students to take ownership of their mistakes, apologise when necessary, and make amends where appropriate.
Exploring Creativity
Fantasy elements such as magic and mysterious creatures in the book can open up opportunities for students to explore new ways of seeing reality and using creative thinking to solve problems. Exercise such as story writing or drawing can prompt them to imagine different scenarios outside their everyday lives.
Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan 1: Developing Courage
Objective:
Students will learn to be courageous and confident to push through difficult situations.
Materials Needed:
Paper, pens/pencils, whiteboard
Procedure
- Begin by introducing the book A Boy Called Hope and explain how it follows the journey of a young protagonist who finds courage in the face of adversity.
- Ask students to think of a situation that might have been challenging for them. Have them write down their experiences on paper or share them with the class.
- Discuss how they could have responded differently and what tools they could use to face their fears, such as positive self-talk or visualisation techniques.
- Present different scenarios on the board and encourage students to think of creative ways to deal with each one using courage rather than avoidance or procrastination.
- Conclude by discussing the importance of having confidence in ourselves and our abilities, even when times get tough.
Lesson Plan 2: Understanding Responsibility
Objective:
Students will learn to take responsibility for their actions and accept the consequences when things are unplanned.
Materials Needed:
Pens/pencils, discussion topics/questions
Procedure
- Introduce the concept of responsibility and talk about how it’s essential to accept ownership for our mistakes, apologise when necessary, and make amends where appropriate.
- Ask students to bring up examples from their own experiences where they had difficulty accepting responsibility for their choices or apologised too late after making mistakes.
- Discuss strategies for taking responsibility, such as owning up immediately instead of blaming someone else, apologising sincerely without making excuses, or asking for help instead of trying to fix everything alone.
- Break into pairs or small groups for deeper conversations on specific topics related to responsibility, such as being accountable versus being dependable, learning from mistakes, or understanding that we can make mistakes but still be good people.
- Conclude by having each group present a summary of their findings and provide feedback/comments from other groups.
Lesson Plan 3: Exploring Creativity
Objective:
Students will explore different ways of seeing reality and use creative thinking to solve problems.
Materials Needed:
Art supplies (paints, clay etc.), imagination exercises
Procedure
- Begin by introducing elements from the story, such as magical creatures or mythical locations which can open up opportunities for students to engage in imaginary play to open up new possibilities beyond what is confirmed.
- Divide students into small groups and ask each one to pick an element from the book that sparks interest within them.
- Ask each group to brainstorm ways to express this element creatively, such as through drawing, painting, sculpting etc.
- Give them time, individually or collectively, to develop ideas on how these creations can help them see reality differently based on this magical element.
- Allow each group to come together as a class to discuss what has been created and any observations that may have developed during their process.
- Wrap up with a reflective activity encouraging students to connect back with reality while still incorporating aspects of fantasy into their reflections.
A Boy Called Hope Resources
A Boy Called Hope is a book by Lara Williamson designed to help young readers ages 8-10 develop courage and understand responsibility through the story of a young protagonist on an exciting quest. This website offers resources to support reading and comprehension activities for teachers, parents, and librarians.
Things To Do With A Boy Called Hope is a page of activities created for children who have read the book – from design ideas for their magical creature to creating a comic strip version of the story or writing their fantasy adventures!
Pop Up Hub A Boy Called Hope Resources provides creative and engaging resources such as art projects, role-play activities, and discussion starters that can be used in the classroom to help students explore the themes discussed in the book.
Literacy Shed Plus A Boy Called Hope includes video clips, tasks and worksheets that focus on developing vocabulary and comprehension skills related to the text and developing empathy with characters found in Williamson’s books.
FAQ About A Boy Called Hope
What is A Boy Called Hope about?
A Boy Called Hope is a story about a young protagonist who embarks on an exciting quest to find courage in adversity. Along the way, he learns important lessons about responsibility and accepting ownership for our mistakes.
Who is this book intended for?
This book has been designed to help young readers aged 8-10 develop courage and understand responsibility. It also provides teachers, parents and librarians with resources to support reading and comprehension activities related to the book.
Are there any accompanying resources available?
Yes! Various activities are created for children who have read the book, as well as art projects, role-play activities and discussion starters that can be used in the classroom to help students explore the themes discussed in the book. Additionally, video clips, tasks and worksheets are available, which focus on developing vocabulary and comprehension skills related to the text.
