We Hope for Better Things
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About
A 2020 Michigan Notable Book
2020 WFWA Star Award Winner
2019 Christy Award Finalist
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The past is never as past as we'd like to think
When journalist Elizabeth Balsam is asked to deliver a box of old photos to a relative she didn't know she had, the strange request seems like it isn't worth her time. But as she explores her great-aunt's farmhouse with its locked doors and hidden graves, she soon discovers just how dramatically some of the most newsworthy events of the previous two centuries shaped her own family. As she searches for answers to the riddles around her, the remarkable stories of two women who lived in this very house emerge as testaments to love, resilience, and courage in the face of war, racism, and misunderstanding.
Take an emotional journey through time--from the volatile streets of 1960s Detroit to Michigan's Underground Railroad during the Civil War--to uncover the past, confront the seeds of hatred, and discover where love goes to hide.
"I haven't read such a powerful, moving story since I read To Kill a Mockingbird."--Colleen Coble, USA Today bestselling author of the Rock Harbor series and The View from Rainshadow Bay
"We Hope for Better Things is an exercise of empathy that will shape many a soul."--Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Perennials
"We Hope for Better Things is a remarkable debut novel."--Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of Everything She Didn't Say
"Storytelling at its finest. A timely, sobering, moving account of how far we've come . . . and how much distance remains to be covered."--Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Life List
"Enthralling characters and acute attention to detail. It's a must for those who need to understand that Detroit history is also American history."--Aaron Foley, city of Detroit's chief storyteller and editor of The Detroit Neighborhood Guidebook
"In this powerful first novel . . . Bartels successfully weaves American history into a deeply moving story of heartbreak, long-held secrets, and the bonds of family."--Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"A forbidden interracial marriage, an escaped slave, an expectant mother waiting for her Union soldier to return--all of these stories are deftly told by Bartels, as she explores the hard realities of racism and its many faces during various eras of American history. . . .Compelling characters make this winning debut also appealing for fans of general historical fiction."--Library Journal
"Bartels' debut tells the story of three Balsam women, each of a different era, told against the backdrop of racism and violence in America. . . .will appeal to fans of faith-based women's fiction authors like Colleen Coble."--Booklist
Endorsements
"We Hope for Better Things has it all: fabulous storytelling, an emotional impact that lingers long after you turn the last page, and a setting that immerses you. I haven't read such a powerful, moving story since I read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school. This book will change how you look at the world we live in. Highly recommended!"
Colleen Coble, USAToday bestselling author of the Rock Harbor series and The View from Rainshadow Bay
"A timely exploration of race in America, We Hope for Better Things is an exercise of empathy that will shape many a soul. Erin Bartels navigates this sensitive topic with compassion as she shifts her readers back and forth between past and present, nudging us to examine the secrets we keep, the grudges we hold, and the prejudices we may help create even without intention."
Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Perennials
"It's not easy to weave three time periods into a cohesive narrative, each with its own story and intriguing characters. Erin Bartels has accomplished the difficult. She's woven together black and white silk threads into a braid so well crafted that a reader will carry forward the braid of love and separation, race and reconciliation, long after the last page is read. I applaud her courage, her authenticity, her beautiful turn of phrase, the freshness of her imagery, and the depth of her story that speaks to a contemporary world where understanding is often absent. We Hope for Better Things is a remarkable debut novel that every reader will see was written by a skilled writer telling a story of her heart."
Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of Everything She Didn't Say
"Erin Bartels's We Hope for Better Things shares the joys and sorrows of three women from different generations. Beginning with the turmoil of the Civil War through the race riots of the sixties to modern day, the story peels away excuses and pretensions to reveal the personal tragedies of prejudice. A roller coaster of emotions awaits as you share the lives of these women and hope along with them for better things."
Ann H. Gabhart, bestselling author of River to Redemption
"Storytelling at its finest. Erin Bartels delivers a riveting story of forbidden love, family bonds, racial injustice, and the power of forgiveness. Spanning multiple generations, We Hope for Better Things is a timely, sobering, moving account of how far we've come . . . and how much distance remains to be covered. A compulsively readable, incredibly powerful novel."
Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Life Lis
"There is the Detroit we think we know, and there is the Detroit full of stories that are never brought to the forefront. With We Hope for Better Things, Erin Bartels brings full circle an understanding of contemporary Detroit firmly rooted in the past, with enthralling characters and acute attention to detail. It's a must not just for Detroit lovers but also for those who need to understand that Detroit history is also American history."
Aaron Foley, city of Detroit's chief storyteller and editor of The Detroit Neighborhood Guidebook
The Author
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Matthew Mitchell Photo Erin Bartels
Erin Bartels writes character-driven fiction for curious people. Her readers know to expect that each of her novels will tell a unique story about fallible characters so tangible that it's hard to believe they are not real people. Whether urban, rural, or...
Continue reading about Erin Bartels
Reviews
"In this powerful first novel . . . Bartels successfully weaves American history into a deeply moving story of heartbreak, long-held secrets, and the bonds of family."
Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"A forbidden interracial marriage, an escaped slave, an expectant mother waiting for her Union soldier to return--all of these stories are deftly told by Bartels, as she explores the hard realities of racism and its many faces during various eras of American history. . . .Compelling characters make this winning debut also appealing for fans of general historical fiction."
Library Journal
"Bartels' debut tells the story of three Balsam women, each of a different era, told against the backdrop of racism and violence in America. . . . will appeal to fans of faith-based women's-fiction authors like Colleen Coble."
Booklist
"An incredible debut novel that tackles a subject that has been sensitive for centuries."
Write-Read-Life
"Bartels is not afraid to tackle adversity, and does so gracefully and poetically."
Hope by the Book
"This book is one of the best books I have read in the past 12 months. It pulled me in from the very beginning and held my attention the entire way through. Bartels knows how to create engaging characters and then spin a compelling tale that keeps you turning the pages. . . . Although this is her first novel, one can tell that Erin Bartels is an accomplished writer from the first few pages. Her prose is beautiful without getting too literary; the perfect balance of a gentle elegance while not being overly flowery."
Bookworm Banquet
"A brave, noble, heart-lifting, soul-grabbing portrait of the deep and enduring pain racism has inflicted on individuals, marriages, families, and society. . . . One of the singularly impressive and important Michigan novels to be published this year."
Michigan in Books
"This book is a journey through time filled with emotions: pain, loss, hope, and love. I loved it and you will too."
Fresh Fiction
"Emotional, potent, and thought-provoking."
Compass Book Ratings