I Can Make This Promise

Edie is twelve and curious. Her mom is Native, and her dad is white. While she knows quite a bit about her dad’s ancestors, the only information she knows about her mom’s family is that she was adopted from an orphanage. Edie really wants to know where she comes from, but the adults in her life avoid her questions. When she finds an old photo in the attic of someone who looks exactly like her, Edie is determined to learn more — even if the truth is painful. This novel tells a bittersweet story that shines a light on some challenging elements of Pacific Northwest history.

Author: Christine Day
Year of Publishing: 2019
Number of Pages: 288

Please select book type and language before adding to your book bag.

Reviews

Angela Graves (verified owner) – May 3, 2023

Well written book, very easy read.
koalajoe1 (verified owner) – June 15, 2023

This book is well written and explores Edie’s perspective in the first person point of view.

This story explores the theme of heartbreak as Edie unearths some painful truths surrounding her familial and cultural past, as well as the challenges and growing pains of friendships at this age. In spite of these challenges, she is also able to come to peace as she discovers who her true friends are, how to discern the qualities that make true friends and have conversations and interactions that brings her closer to her own family.

Parts of this story are based on the author’s own life and some historical events that have occurred involving Native people. She did a great job bringing these ideas and issues to life in a way that is very relatable.
Mia Mueller (verified owner) – July 28, 2023

Wonderful and easy to read book that subtly talks about some microaggression related to race and ethnicity.
Savanna Rilatos (verified owner) – August 5, 2023

This book is INCREDIBLE thank you so much!
mdoran (verified owner) – August 17, 2023

Easy to read! Enjoyable.
Savanna Rilatos (verified owner) – August 21, 2023

beautifully written book, we’re native so it’s very special to us
Craig Jacobson (verified owner) – August 23, 2023

Powerful, painful, and moving with echoes of the Pacific Northwest!
Savanna Rilatos (verified owner) – September 3, 2023

SO good! Can’t recommend enough
Savanna Rilatos (verified owner) – September 3, 2023

Such an easy read. Would recommend through & through
nunnj (verified owner) – September 8, 2023

Read with my daughter! We loved it!
Jillbaker (verified owner) – September 12, 2023

Beautiful. In all the ways.
Amber (verified owner) – September 15, 2023

This is a great story to build empathy and understanding in your child! Provokes conversation about fairness and helps children not take what came easy to them for granted.
rileyannb13 (verified owner) – September 16, 2023

Loved this book. I added it to my classroom library
ttmartin76 (verified owner) – September 20, 2023

Great story and easy to read.
white24 (verified owner) – October 1, 2023

The book is written in journal format from the main characters point of view. It is beautifully told about a child and their desire to feel connected to a piece of them that is missing.
EmilyH1989 (verified owner) – October 9, 2023

Love this book.
M Bartel (verified owner) – October 11, 2023

I Can Make This Promise was a wonderful, easy-to-read book that explored transracial adoption topics and the power of culture and relationships in finding oneself and how we tell our own stories.
Elise Arnold (verified owner) – October 14, 2023

Fiction is a good way to approach this topic. It invites the reader into a different cultural perspective in a easy to read way.
hwarner18 (verified owner) – November 2, 2023

Was a great read and mentions some discrimination that many people might feel and it is a good read for younger students to be introduced to the topics and becoming aware of different ethnicities and culture.
jessiemichaelson (verified owner) – November 7, 2023

My daughter enjoyed reading this book. It was well-written and enjoyable for multiple ages.
italianrn (verified owner) – November 11, 2023

A young girl searching for answers about her heritage and the origin & truth about her name. It’s a young adult book but a great read for adults too.
Hannah & Alexa Perez (verified owner) – November 20, 2023

Enjoyable book learning how to explore ones roots and culture.
JoAnna Lamb (verified owner) – November 24, 2023

Very well written. If you know the Seattle area and some Seattle history, you will certainly appreciate this young lady’s story.
Liliann Monsive (verified owner) – January 21, 2024

Very enjoyable! Great read!
accessdenied (verified owner) – February 9, 2024

Personally, I love to reade. This book explores how a curious girl finds the truth
Sarah Bright (verified owner) – March 8, 2024

I loved this book.
JenniferKalez (verified owner) – March 17, 2024

I really enjoyed this read — even as a 42-year-old reading YA. I even cried. It’s an important story for people of all backgrounds about belonging, heritage, and shameful U.S. history that we need to understand so we are sure to never repeat it. Highly recommend!
jrcervantes (verified owner) – March 25, 2024

“what a powerful book” – 14 year old niece.
alicia deaderick (verified owner) – April 1, 2024

I love this story! It does a great job talking about difficult topics.
Nancy Griffith (verified owner) – April 6, 2024

As an adult I enjoyed this book, though it was a little more than the 9 year old wanted to focus on. Loved the message and love having an option to read something that isn’t white centered.
Jamie (verified owner) – April 11, 2024

Easy and catching novel.. fun read foing to for sure have my daughter read also
MCalvert123 (verified owner) – April 19, 2024

A wonderful story about Edie, a girl who uncovers her family’s secrets and learns about her own Native American heritage. A great book for young readers 8-12.