Twelfth Grade Hopes and Fears (American High School #4) by Bruce Ingram is an engaging story that will take readers back to their high school days as it chronicles the lives of four friends, Luke, Elly, Marcus, and Mia during their final and fourth year of high school. Apart from their choice of subjects and classes, the book takes readers through the usual high school scenes of date nights, Christmas, Valentine's Day weekend, tests, Prom night, and graduation. The four of them are eager to pass and yet at the same time sad at the very thought of losing each other.

Twelfth Grade Hopes and Fears perfectly captures the journey of high school students, how each one of the characters, though friends, has a different outlook and how they perceive the situations and experiences they encounter in class, at home, and outside. The book will make students realize struggles are going to happen, bad things are going to occur, dreams might get interrupted, and how important it is not to be discouraged when things do not work out as planned and to continue following their dreams. The characters are well portrayed, making them real and relatable to readers. I enjoyed the character portrayal of the four students, Luke, Marcus, Elly, and Mia. Bruce Ingram has made them real, relatable, and memorable and they are all so unique and different in their own way. It is a good book for light reading and high school students will enjoy the story of these four friends, their high school life, and how they coped with all the happenings in their lives.

Twelfth Grade Hopes and Fears: American High School is a work of fiction in the social issues and interpersonal drama sub-genres, and was penned by author Bruce Ingram. Written as the fourth and final book of the American High School series, we find the four central characters - Elly, Marcus, Mia, and Luke - at the last hurdles that will see them leave high school and head out into the big wide world. As college looms and the troubles of the past begin to settle, new challenges and fears are on the horizon. Are they truly ready for what waits beyond the safety of the regime of an American high school? What results is an emotive farewell, but one that seems hopeful and heartbreaking at the same time.

Author Bruce Ingram presents a realistic and dedicated viewpoint for young adult readers on twelfth-grade life, and also a nostalgic look back for older readers who will surely remember the stresses of such a time. I found Mia’s journey particularly moving as hers was a story that really reflected my own. I believe readers will find that all four of the central figures are penned with emotional intelligence and feature realistic qualities that they can relate to on different levels. The experiences that they go through and refer to are not graphic but are certainly not censored and discuss real issues and difficulties which prove that the world is not all roses. Overall, I would highly recommend Twelfth Grade Hopes and Fears for fans of the existing series and beyond.