Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Sep 2013
304 pages
Genre: Poetry & Novels in Verse
Publication Information
A luminous novel in verse from the author of the Jefferson Cup award winner All The Broken Pieces.
Serafina has a secret dream.
She wants to go to school and become a doctor with her best friend, Julie Marie.
But in their rural village outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti, many obstacles stand in Serafina's way - little money, never-ending chores, and Manman's worries.
More powerful even than all of these are the heavy rains and the shaking earth that test Serafina's resolve in ways she never dreamed.
At once heartbreaking and hopeful, this exquisitely crafted story will leave a lasting impression on your heart.
"Starred Review. The spirit of the text's celebration of the power of determination, family, friendship and love is ably captured in Sean Quall's delightful cover art. Lilting, lyrical and full of hope." - Kirkus
"In the midst of natural disasters and poverty, an unschooled eleven-year-old girl dreams of becoming a doctor." - Children's Literature
"While Serafina's circumstances differ dramatically from those of most readers, her conflicting emotions about family dynamics and friendship, and her struggle to assert her aspirations, will resonate with many. Ages 10-14." - Publishers Weekly
This information about Serafina's Promise was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Ann Burg's debut novel, All The Broken Pieces, was named a Jefferson Cup award winner and an IRA Notable Book for a Global Society, among its many honors. Burg worked as an English teacher for ten years before becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Rhinebeck, New York, with her family. You can visit her online at www.annburg.com
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