Book Review: A Vision of Hope

Reviewed by Jadidsa Perez

Ascending over ashes: A story of addiction, redemption, and the blazing desire for reformation

Categorizing people is a form of prejudice. Our race, gender, and even name can evoke unfair perceptions from others, often before having a conversation with them. People who deal with substance abuse or other forms of addiction understand this deeply; before they are anything else, they are simply an “addict.”

That scarlet letter can brand them as criminals rather than human beings in need of proper care and treatment. To best understand the complex and oftentimes vexing challenges with rehabilitation, an unfiltered, comprehensive book like A Vision of Hope is a fantastic first step.

Andrew Drasen lays everything out unabashedly in this moving memoir, from his triumphs in sobriety to the worst moments of his life. This book is more than just a depiction of what the fight with addiction looks like; it’s also a journey about familial love, deep self-reflection, and the value of music. True to its title, A Vision of Hope, this memoir will educate and inspire readers to be more than what they’re labeled.

Drasen leaves nothing to the imagination. Every small detail, from the grades he got in a chemistry class in high school to his more recent ruminations on life while incarcerated, are all included with personal detail. Investment in Drasen’s story is easy with such fearless recollection as this.

One standout chapter focuses on a burglary he and his friends committed on the house of Ms. Corkie, or at least that’s what theycalled her. She was a random woman, just a person who clearly wasn’t home in a neighborhood nearby. In this chapter, Andrew details how he and two other friends broke into Ms. Corkie’s home and stole valuable items without ever getting caught. There’s sincerity and honesty in how much guilt he has over the situation, understanding how he and his friends must have destroyed her feeling of safety. There’s no justification or excuse, just a realistic retelling of the events. It’s unflinching, placing the reader in the role of jury and judge: do we see a troublemaker, a kid desperately shouting for help, or both?

On top of its brutal honesty, beautiful moments of reflection, and inspirational messaging, A Vision of Hope also shines in its tone delivery. Andrew comes off as friendly and conversational, even when going over some particularly heavy topics. It helps ease the reader into difficult situations without completely removing the seriousness. The reading experience feels like a heart to heart told over a bonfire rather than a distant recollection of a life gone-by. It’s a powerful experience to humanize Andrew like this, to make him feel real so we can feel that the other people, all around us, are real too.

This inspirational book does exactly what it sets out to do. Not only do readers get closer to the realness of addiction and recovery, but writers will revel in Drasen’s effective delivery and personal storytelling.

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