Product Details:
- Title: Promises
- Author: Carolyn Twede Frank
- Paperback: 212 pages
- Publisher: August Corp Press (March 24, 2012)
- Genre: Middle Grade/Historical Fiction
- ISBN-10: 0985251301
- ISBN-13: 978-0985251307
Book Description:
Hattie is barely twelve when her pa's business adventures
disrupt her family and move them to the new town of Tropic, Utah,
nestled in the shadows of old Ebenezer Bryce's Canyon. Her pa views the
town as opportunity. Hattie is hopelessly shy and views it with
apprehension; she dreads the task of making new friends. More than
anything else, Hattie wants to be like her father--not afraid of meeting
new people, talking to strangers, and standing up for herself. So it is
with trepidation that she accepts her pa's challenge and promises to
make new friends. Hattie forms more promises as she struggles to make
friends, finding companionship in places she wouldn't have expected and
learning that there is a difference between complaining and standing up
for one's self. Promises is a heartwarming story of friendship with a
touch of mystery and adventure set in the days before Bryce Canyon
became a national park. Drawn from the memoirs of early Utah settlers,
it is a realistic glimpse into the past and a delightful story for
readers ages eight to eighty.
My Review:
Promise, how is it defined? Here is how it is defined on the free online dictionary.
prom·ise (pr
m
s)
ms)
n.
1.
a. A declaration assuring that one will or will not do something; a vow.
b. Something promised.
2. Indication of something favorable to come; expectation: a promise of spring in the air.
3. Indication of future excellence or success: a player of great promise.
v. prom·ised, prom·is·ing, prom·is·es
v.tr.
1. To commit oneself by a promise to do or give; pledge: left but promised to return.
2. To afford a basis for expecting: thunderclouds that promise rain.
v.intr.
I have always been proud of the fact that when I promise I will do something, that I do indeed follow through. It wasn't until I was a mother that I had to think twice about using that phrase," I Promise I will..." . I recall telling my kids, "I promise I will play with you as soon as I'm done with the dishes/laundry/paying bills/ etc." I soon realized as I became busy with other things, I wasn't always able to follow through. Then my kids would come back, "But you promised!" It was at that time that I learned to re-phrase what I told my kids. I realized I was giving them a warped sense of what giving a promise meant. I didn't want my kids growing up thinking that making a promise and following through wasn't important. I also didn't want them to think that I didn't keep my promises. From that point on, I always made sure to say things like, "I will do my best to finish ________ and then we can go for a walk." I have also been very careful to follow through whenever I do make a promise to someone. Giving your word to someone should be a priority.
The book, Promises,by Carolyn Twede Frank, is about a young girl who makes many promises to her family and friends. As she goes on trying to fulfill these promises she finds that it is harder than she thought it would be. This story is set in 1898, Southern Utah. Here is the book trailer for Promises:
This is a great book trailer to give you a good flavor of what the book is about. Even though this is a middle grade/ya novel, I was thoroughly entertained and involved in the storyline. The mystery of Hattie trying to find out about the girl who had previously lived in her house, and left some belongings, kept the story moving forward.I also was moved by the family dynamics in this novel. Hattie belongs to such a wonderful and supportive family. But not everyone she comes in contact with, has a family like this. So Hattie is constantly challenged with making choices, keeping promises and also staying true to who she is. Hattie is a fabulous character that kids and adults will like. She is very timid, and it is quite fulfilling to see how she grows and changes over the course of the novel.
As a parent, I am always on a constant journey to find books that are clean, no bad language, and also well written. I am so happy to tell you this is a wonderful book that fits the bill of what I'm always looking for. Promises is based on an LDS family and some religion is discussed, but nothing preachy. I love the fact that the characters pray when they need help. So I highly recommend Promises to you and your children. This is such a wonderful story, which reminds me a lot of the "Little House" series.
If you want to read more reviews of Promises go to Carolyn's website here.Carolyn is also having a HUGE contest going on along with her blog tour. Please go here to read all of the details, how to enter and see what you could win.
Carolyn's blog tour partner, Cindy Hogan's book was reviewed, here, on my blog a week ago. Go and check out my review of Protected, a YA mystery/suspense.
1. To make a declaration assuring that something will or will not be done.
2. To afford a basis for expectation: an enterprise that promises well.
I have always been proud of the fact that when I promise I will do something, that I do indeed follow through. It wasn't until I was a mother that I had to think twice about using that phrase," I Promise I will..." . I recall telling my kids, "I promise I will play with you as soon as I'm done with the dishes/laundry/paying bills/ etc." I soon realized as I became busy with other things, I wasn't always able to follow through. Then my kids would come back, "But you promised!" It was at that time that I learned to re-phrase what I told my kids. I realized I was giving them a warped sense of what giving a promise meant. I didn't want my kids growing up thinking that making a promise and following through wasn't important. I also didn't want them to think that I didn't keep my promises. From that point on, I always made sure to say things like, "I will do my best to finish ________ and then we can go for a walk." I have also been very careful to follow through whenever I do make a promise to someone. Giving your word to someone should be a priority.
The book, Promises,by Carolyn Twede Frank, is about a young girl who makes many promises to her family and friends. As she goes on trying to fulfill these promises she finds that it is harder than she thought it would be. This story is set in 1898, Southern Utah. Here is the book trailer for Promises:
This is a great book trailer to give you a good flavor of what the book is about. Even though this is a middle grade/ya novel, I was thoroughly entertained and involved in the storyline. The mystery of Hattie trying to find out about the girl who had previously lived in her house, and left some belongings, kept the story moving forward.I also was moved by the family dynamics in this novel. Hattie belongs to such a wonderful and supportive family. But not everyone she comes in contact with, has a family like this. So Hattie is constantly challenged with making choices, keeping promises and also staying true to who she is. Hattie is a fabulous character that kids and adults will like. She is very timid, and it is quite fulfilling to see how she grows and changes over the course of the novel.
As a parent, I am always on a constant journey to find books that are clean, no bad language, and also well written. I am so happy to tell you this is a wonderful book that fits the bill of what I'm always looking for. Promises is based on an LDS family and some religion is discussed, but nothing preachy. I love the fact that the characters pray when they need help. So I highly recommend Promises to you and your children. This is such a wonderful story, which reminds me a lot of the "Little House" series.
If you want to read more reviews of Promises go to Carolyn's website here.Carolyn is also having a HUGE contest going on along with her blog tour. Please go here to read all of the details, how to enter and see what you could win.
Carolyn's blog tour partner, Cindy Hogan's book was reviewed, here, on my blog a week ago. Go and check out my review of Protected, a YA mystery/suspense.
About the Author:
Carolyn
Twede Frank grew up in Payson, Utah. Ever since elementary school she
loved to write. In junior high and high school she was on the newspaper
staff. Her senior year she even had her own column: Carolyn’s Corner.
While attending USU as a freshman, her journalism teacher—in an effort
to “prepare her for the real world of writing”—tore down her work to the
point that Carolyn gave up, dropped her minor of journalism, and
concentrated on her other love—biology. She graduated with a BS in
Horticulture and an MS in Botany and went on to start her own business
manufacturing puppets, (go figure), totally forgetting that she once had
a passion for writing. Four years ago, after marrying, raising five
kids, and growing her business to a point it was viable to sell, she
rediscovered her love of writing. She has since sold her manufacturing
business, retaining a small division of it that she can operate out of
her home, affording her more time to write. Carolyn now lives in
Kaysville, Utah. She writes YA/Middle grade historical and speculative
fiction.
***I received a review copy of Promises from the author. In no way did this influence the honest review that was given.***
Thanks so much for the awesome review.
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