Lily's Promise

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. (May)

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