Book Review: Promises by Carolyn Frank

I've learned in my life to be very careful when I make promises. We've all heard the expression "Don't make promises you can't keep" - it's very wise advice. After I became a mother, it took on even more meaning because children are so literal, and their hearts get broken so easily. You can say, "I promise we'll go to the park," and then a thunderstorm hits and you can't take them - it makes perfect sense to you why the promise had to be broken, and yet to them, it's a betrayal of trust.

Other things absolutely should be promised.

I promise I'll always love you.

I promise I'll always take care of you.

I promise you'll always be the most important thing in my life.

I promise I will always try to do better.

These are the kinds of promises we should be making to our loved ones, promises that we absolutely intend to keep and will keep at all costs.

Promises is a new historical fiction novel by Carolyn Twede Frank, and centers around a twelve-year-old girl named Hattie who is moving with her family to the small town of Tropic down in the Bryce Canyon area. The descriptions of the landscape are so vivid, I took a moment to Google as I read, and it's an amazing place. Take a second and do that - it's a feast for the eyes.

Hattie doesn't want to move to a new town. She was very comfortable in her old home with her old friends, and relocating makes her feel insecure. She's already a timid girl and doesn't like that about herself - she wishes she could be more brave, say the things she wants to say, stick up for herself when it really matters. Coming to a new town gives her plenty of opportunities to test her wings and grow into the young woman she's supposed to be as she faces peer pressure and some real danger. In the end, she proves herself a heroine, as we knew she was all along.

This book would be enjoyed by readers ages 10 through adult - there are elements that will appeal to everyone along that spectrum.

There are a lot of fun things going on in conjunction with this book's release. First off, enter to win a full-sized puppet stage and puppets, value of $290 by participating in Carolyn’s blog tour giveaway. Check out her website or blog for more details.


Second, here's the trailer for the book:





In addition, be sure to check out the book tour for Cindy Hogan - she's releasing a new book right now too, and her tour has a lot of great stuff going on as well!