Hope Was Here is a novel by Joan Bauer about a girl named Hope Yancey who lives with her aunt and works at a diner. After moving to Mulhoney, Wisconsin, Hope and her aunt begin to work at the "Welcome Stairways" and their boss, G. G. begins a political campaign against the corrupt incumbent mayor. With his employees' help, G. T. wins the campaign, introduces reforms and adopts Hope but soon dies of leukemia. The novel delivers a strong moral message of perseverance, hope and courage.