{Review} I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day

Page Count: 272

Published On: October 1, 2019

Published By: HarperCollins

Genre(s): Children's, Middle Grade, Realistic

Source: Hardback provided by the publisher
Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

In her debut middle grade novel—inspired by her family’s history—Christine Day tells the story of a girl who uncovers her family’s secrets—and finds her own Native American identity.

All her life, Edie has known that her mom was adopted by a white couple. So, no matter how curious she might be about her Native American heritage, Edie is sure her family doesn’t have any answers.

Until the day when she and her friends discover a box hidden in the attic—a box full of letters signed “Love, Edith,” and photos of a woman who looks just like her.

Suddenly, Edie has a flurry of new questions about this woman who shares her name. Could she belong to the Native family that Edie never knew about? But if her mom and dad have kept this secret from her all her life, how can she trust them to tell her the truth now?

~~~

Hey, guys!

This book was gifted to me by the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review.

I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day follows young Edith (Edie) and her journey to self-acceptance, discovering her heritage and background, and coming to terms with the changes in her life. Edie has grown up knowing that she was half-Native American; however, she really doesn't have a connection to her NA roots. Because of her mother's adoption, she only really knows about her father's side of the family and her mother's adopted family. Until the beginning of the novel, she doesn't really think she'll ever get answers about her mysterious Native American side. 

One day, Edie and her friends discover a box full of letters and memorabilia from a woman that looks just like her -- a woman named Edith. This then leads Edie to question everything her parents have ever told her. Who is this Edith? Is her mother keeping her Native American family and heritage from her?


This book had a lot of promise, but unfortunately, I really didn't enjoy it as much as I would have anticipated. The writing was quite choppy, the characters were boring and lacked a depth that I would have hoped for in a shorter novel, and the relationships were half-baked. Not only that, but the pacing in the story was just extremely slow. The beginning and the end of the book were the best parts, but I felt like nothing really happened in the middle. There were a few scenes in there that I felt could have been cut. They slowed the pace and didn't add anything to the story. There was also a minor conflict between two of the characters that I felt like could have been handled much neater. There is a better way to handle a friendship breaking up than making one party the bad guy and leaving it at that. 

However, there were some really great discussions, really wonderful representation, and a really powerful overall message. The ending of the book was really its redeeming part. I wish that this story had been much longer. I honestly think that it could have been a novelette or short story. 270~ pages was just too long for me. 

I'm sort of glad that I didn't DNF this book, but full transparency, I wanted to during the entirety of the middle. 

Overall, this wasn't my favorite story, but I think that it will resonate with a lot of people and it will be really important for so many people. I'm excited to see this book on the shelves of so many younger readers. 

Thank you, HarperCollins for sending me this little book!

Happy reading!
Olivia
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{Review} Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #1) by Jessica Townsend

Page Count: 465

Published On: October 31, 2017

Published By: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre(s): Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure 

Source: paperback - personally purchased

Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository 

My Rating: 5 stars 

Goodreads synopsis:

A cursed girl escapes death and finds herself in a magical world - but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination

Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.

But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.

It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart - an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests - or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.

~~~

Content/Trigger Warnings: abusive parental figures and abandonment

Hey, guys!

I purchased this book at the insistence of my friends: Brooke, Mariana, Becky, and Alice. This lovely book has circulated bookstagram, book twitter, booktube, and the book community and taken it by storm since its publication in 2017. Let me tell you, guys, I'm pretty much kicking myself for waiting so long to read this book. It has to be one of my new favorites of 2019 and I'm so excited to continue reading more of Townsend's books in the future.

The Trials of Morrigan Crow follows Morrigan as she comes upon her eleventh birthday, the last birthday that she will experience before her foretold death on her twelfth birthday. Morrigan is a cursed child, a child who brings mayhem and destruction wherever she goes -- and she can't control it. Because she was born on Eventide, she is deemed one of the unluckiest children in the Republic. She's to blame for any bad occurrence in her area and she is doomed to die on Eventide when she turns twelve years old. On the day of her eleventh birthday, however, a mysterious man named Juniper North appears and takes her away to the land of Nevermoor, escaping her cursed death and the horrible things that follow her. Juniper has chosen Morrigan to be his candidate for the Wundrous Society. To join the society, she must complete a series of trials against many other hopeful children with extraordinary talents. To stay in Nevermoor, Morrigan must beat them in the trials and confront the terrible things that she left behind in her home town.

This book was so well crafted and magical. If you enjoy elements from Harry Potter (JK Rowling), Furthermore and Whichwood (Tahereh Mafi), The Land of Stories series (Chris Colfer), and the Sisters Grimm series (Michael Buckley) -- you will definitely enjoy this story!

This was a lovely testament to finding your true family (or found family). It truly warmed my heart to read Morrigan's story and journey to finding a loving family. I think this book could really help children realize that even if they feel like their blood family doesn't love an appreciate them, there is someone out there that does love them. The universe has a way of connecting the unloved with those who love them. This book is a testament to that. 

This book also shows kids, readers, etc. that you are more than you think you are and that you can do anything you set your heart to do. Throughout the story, Morrigan's insecurities caused her to doubt herself and the trials that she went through during her first 11 years really knocked her down. But when she finally was pushed into a nurturing and caring environment, she saw that with encouragement and love and kindness, she is more than what her family and her old town made her out to be. You are not born evil. The things that you encounter and shape you cause you to go along that path. Just like in Christian mythology, the Bible shows that humanity was not evil upon creation. Man's actions caused him to go down the path of damnation. Therefore Man and his ancestors are no longer perfect in the sight of God. I'm not sure why I added this religious crash course to evil, but I guess that happened. 

While reading this book, I experienced feelings of absolute joy. I don't think I've enjoyed a middle-grade story like this since I first read Harry Potter. I wish this had been published when I was 11. I cannot wait to share this with my 11-year-old sister. This story is so beautiful, whimsical, and fantastical. It is a truly wonderful story for all ages. I cannot wait to read the second book in the series and I hope that there are more and more.

I definitely recommend this book! Please please please read it and let me know what you think of it in the comments!

Happy reading,

Olivia

~Liv the Book Nerd~
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