Beaded Hope

February 15, 2010
Inspired by the real-life charity Beaded Hope, Liggetts novel portrays three Ohio women at pivotal points in their lives who journey to South Africa on a mission trip. Gabby, the child services director for Graceview Church, is reeling from a miscarriage that spells the end of her hopes for having a child. After her rebellious teenage stepdaughter, Katie, is in a minor car accident, Heidi is stunned to learn that Katie is pregnant. Icy newswoman Cassandra sees an opportunity to revive her flagging career when she reads about the mission to South Africa in the Graceview newsletter. Gabby, Heidi, Katie, and Cassandra travel together to Mamelodi, South Africa, to meet with a woman named Jaleela, who has an idea she believes can help her community: making beautiful beaded jewelry that can be sold in America. The American women agree to help, and all of them, even, to her own surprise, Cassandra, are surprised to discover just how much theyre inspired by Jaleela, who is battling AIDS while raising two children. A heartwarming read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)