Hope and Other Punch Lines

Abbi has been the hope of all who survived 9/11 because she is the face behind the famous picture. Captured on her birthday, holding a red balloon, and fleeing with others from the falling towers, she became Baby Hope, the symbol for a new beginning. She has taken a job two towns over as a camp counselor to try to be just Abbi for once. Noah, who quickly but quietly recognizes her, hopes to use Abbi to track down the other people in the picture, especially one he suspects is not actually missing these many years. Through their work together as camp counselors and as reluctant journalists, they learn more about the history behind the picture and each other.

Like the Titanic and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, there is a fascination with horrendous historical events like 9/11 that lend themselves to a greater understanding through literature. Buxbaum has done that with this story of two kids who were unavoidably changed by the events of just one day. The Easter Egg will delight readers who have read her previous book, Tell Me Three Things. The budding romance, diverse cast of characters, and underlying stories with friends and family make for a richly enjoyable reading experience.