Bravo to Lisa Lewis Tyre in touching on a topic one don't see often in middle grade fiction in her sophomore novel, Hope in the Holler. I read the author's debut, Last in the Long Line of Rebels, and was thoroughly impressed. In Hope in the Holler, the message of going for one's dream despite circumstances that one have no control over displays itself perfectly. Set in a destitute town of an Appalachian country, Conley Hollow, a novel that brings to light what it means to work hard and what it means to not give up. As a middle grade novel, it's filled with keen knowledge and fun characters.  It's layered with poignant truth that highlights the good and the struggles of life, from grief to poverty to the evil of others. In all of that, the author's sophisticated writing style gives this novel such perceptive yet simple understanding that is just right for a younger age group, while providing heartfelt entertainment for an older audience. Don't miss this.