Lily's Promise

April 5, 2021
In alternating chapters, Erskine (The Incredible Magic of Being) follows the third-person telling of a sixth grade new kid and the meta first-person commentary of Libro—the book itself. When intellectually curious, formerly homeschooled Lily, cued as white, starts at a new school following her father’s death, the shy girl attempts to honor a promise she made to him: to move out of her comfort zone. As Lily adjusts to life with her immigration lawyer mother and labradoodle Skippy, she also navigates the transition to school, bullies, and lunchtime cliques, gradually collecting friends: outspoken white neighbor and curling enthusiast Hobart (“Awkward is my middle name”) and contemplative, multilingual Dunya, who’s from Iraq. Erskine effectively captures Lily’s struggles to find her voice, escalating her conflict with entitled bully Ryan, in opposition to whom the friends start a kindness letter-writing campaign, stand up for each other and others, and launch a slate of candidates for student council. The inclusion of Libro’s meta voice can sometimes interrupt the action, but it effectively provides humor while offering insight into storytelling. A touching novel that will leave readers cheering for Lily’s quiet victories. Ages 8–12.

March 15, 2021
While finding her own voice, a shy sixth grader speaks up for bullied students. Grieving the death of her father, Lily must adjust from home-schooling to enrolling in a public elementary school as well. Instantly befriended by Hobart, a gregarious boy who interjects his love for the sport of curling whenever he can, Lily sees that he's bullied by wealthy classmate Ryan, who also targets her. The quiet, observant tween also can't help but notice that Skylar (a boy presumably living in poverty because he wears the same clothes and has little to eat at lunch) and Dunya (a refugee from Iraq) are more of Ryan's victims. Erskine aptly conveys Lily's inner struggle between her reserved demeanor and her desire to stand up to bullying. Motivating Lily is her deathbed promise to her father to find ways to speak up and make her voice heard. With increasing self-esteem, Lily, along with Hobart, Skylar, and Dunya, not only finds ways to address bullying, but to spark kindness and respect throughout their school. Although the effect can be heavy-handed, the metafiction appearance between chapters of "Libro," the voice of the physical book, adds humor and draws attention to the literary craft. As Lily takes the biggest chance yet, an open ending lets readers envision her success. With the exception of Dunya, Lily and most of her peers present as White. Even the quietest readers will cheer. (Fiction. 8-12)

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April 15, 2021
Grades 4-7 Eleven-year-old Lily is overwhelmed by grief--her dear father is recently deceased, and she is attending school after a lifetime of homeschooling. She has always been challenged by shyness, but the new environment might break her. Enter a cast of characters who confront or support her in her social situations: Ryan, the class bully; Hobart, a small but mighty friend and advocate; and Dunya, the embodiment of kindness. Her father's challenge to her while alive was to "Strive for Five" (opportunities to speak up daily), and Lily works hard to make him proud, pushing herself throughout the book as situations build and twist to a satisfying resolution. Erskine stretches the characters, creating situations that allow them to grow, come to terms with their weaknesses, and shine. Alternating chapters are narrated by Libro--literally the book, itself--and add humor to the story; however, at moments they intrude on the flow of the narrative, breaking tension. A well-told tale for middle-school students, with a clear understanding of bullying and empathy for all involved.

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May 1, 2021

Gr 3-7-After an idyllic childhood of homeschooling, Lily must start public school as a sixth grader after the death of her beloved father. Lily is grieving and overwhelmed by the noise, pace, and bullies of public school. But she quickly finds a friend in the exuberant Hobart, and in time they expand their friendship circle to include other classmates, such as such as Dunya, a recent immigrant. Lily and her friends learn compassion and confidence through their growing bond. This book introduces many mature themes in child-appropriate ways. Erskine explores significant topics, such as the treatment of immigrants in the United Sates, as well as lighter ones, such as how litter is harmful for dogs. These tidbits generally fit with the characters' voice and development as well as the story line, but sometimes feel a bit forced. Narrative chapters alternate with meta-observations by the book itself. The character of the book comments on the children and plot, referring to the author as "the Imaginer" and weighing in on literary themes. Lily is cued as white. VERDICT The story structure may be confusing to less experienced readers, but curious kids who love books will enjoy joining this welcoming group of friends as they learn about the world we share.-Amelia Jenkins, Juneau P.L., AK

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