Your child has a dream to do something great.
Some want to be football players, or stars on a stage. Maybe he dreams of visiting Europe, driving a hot rod, being an astronaut, riding a horse, writing a book, or helping others. Keep him dreaming of doing great things by sharing the new book “Serafina’s Promise” by Ann E. Burg.
Eleven-year-old Serafina had a secret that she thought about while carrying water four times a day, emptying chamber pots, sweeping the floor, gathering wood, and piling charcoal. Her secret kept her mind busy while her hands were working.
She wanted to be a doctor ever since the physician Antoinette Solaine took care of her baby brother, Pierre. And though Pierre died, Serafina saw that being a healer was something special. Her papa even said she had a gift for it.
But she knew that she needed an education, and that was very expensive. Her mom said that there was no money for a uniform or shoes and, besides, she needed Serafina at home, because she was about to have another baby, and there were things she couldn’t do.
So Serafina spent her days doing chores and turning her secret over in her head. Serafina knew that she needed to speak to papa, who would talk to her mom about school. A trip to the city for Flag Day seemed like a good chance to ask.
And ask she did, on their way to Port-au-Prince. Papa listened — Serafina loved that about him — and though she wasn’t sure what would happen, he smiled when she promised to find ways to earn her own money for school. It would take the rest of the summer, but once the new baby arrived, Serafina was sure she’d have time to do it.
And then the ground began to shake.
Page through “Serafina’s Promise,” and you might think there’s not much here. Indeed, the pages are largely empty and the words are spare, but don’t let that fool you: young readers won’t be able to help but be affected by this powerful little tale.
In a matter-of-fact manner befitting her optimistic young character, author Burg portrays Haiti’s poverty and problems without making the story one of weepy drama. In the end, those bare pages packed a huge punch, and I think kids will like that a lot.
Meant for children ages 10 to 14, I think a slightly younger good reader will find this a nice challenge. For her, or for any child who wants a quick, enjoyable novel, “Serafina’s Promise” will be a dream.
“Serafina’s Promise,” by Ann E. Burg [304 pages, 2013, $16.99].
Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading since she was 3 years old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill with two dogs and 12,000 books.
