Lily's Promise

Description

From National Book Award-winning author Kathryn Erskine comes a heartfelt, poignant novel that tackles grief, change, and the struggle to let your voice be heard. Perfect for fans of Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Erin Entrada Kelly, and Ali Benjamin. Shy, eleven-year-old Lily made her dad an important promise before he passed away-that she would "Strive for Five" and speak her mind at least five times. But speaking up one time, let alone five, is easier said than done. It'll be even harder now that Lily must attend public school for the first time. Fortunately, she meets curling-obsessed Hobart and quiet Dunya at the beginning of sixth grade. Their kindness gives Lily hope that life without Dad might just be bearable. But when Lily and her friends are bullied by Ryan and his mean clique, she quickly discovers the true meaning of friendship and speaking out. Despite the anxiety she feels, Lily knows she needs to stand up for herself and others. And she'll use the tools her dad gave her to not only keep her final promise but bring her whole school together. Following Lily's journey and the snarky, insightful, and humorous commentary from Libro, the actual book, who guides readers through this thoughtful tale, makes Lily's Promise a strong title for social emotional learning.

As a resident of Virginia, Kathryn Erskine was devastated by the 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Kathryn was driven to understand how community and family - particularly families with special-needs children - dealt with this violent event, and how our lives might be different if we understood each other better. In writing Mockingbird and telling the story of Caitlin, a young girl with Asperger's syndrome, she walked into the fragile world herself, and like Caitlin, offers us something "good and strong and beautiful". Kathryn was a lawyer for fifteen years before turning to her first love: writing. She lives in Virginia, USA, with her husband, two children, and her dog, Maxine. Author location: Virginia, USA

"Erskine aptly conveys Lily's inner struggle between her reserved demeanor and her desire to stand up to bullying. The metafiction appearance between chapters of 'Libro,' the voice of the physical book, adds humor and draws attention to the literary craft. Even the quietest readers will cheer." - Kirkus Reviews "A well-told tale, with a clear understanding of bullying and empathy for all involved." - Booklist "Erskine effectively captures Lily's struggles to find her voice. A touching novel that will leave readers cheering for Lily's quiet victories." - Publishers Weekly "Curious kids who love books will enjoy joining this welcoming group of friends as they learn about the world we share." - School Library Journal