Promise Song (NY City Library's 1998 Books for the Age of Ten Se) [Paperback]

Linda Holeman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 29, 1997 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: NY City Library's 1998 Books for the Age of Ten Se

The year is 1900 and orphaned 14-year-old Rosetta and her beloved younger sister Flora sail from England as “home girls.” They are sent to Canada so that they can have a chance at family life. Their dreams are shattered when Flora is adopted, but Rosetta is deemed to be too old. She is to become a farm worker, far from Flora’s new home.

Rosetta’s only dream is to find her sister. But slowly and against her will, she is drawn into the lives of the strange couple with whom she has been placed. It is soon clear to her that their home is full of fear and sorrow.

As her relationship develops with the farmer’s wife, Rosetta learns that true sisterhood can take many forms. The support the two young women offer one another makes each one stronger until they find a way to follow their dreams.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9. Holeman's offering is full of the suffering and hard work of frontier life. Rosetta and her sister, Flora, once lived lives of ease, but the death of their parents has left them in an English orphanage. Sent to Canada, the girls anticipate being adopted by a loving family, but the younger Flora is rapidly grabbed up, and the older girl is sent to an isolated farm. Albert and Runa need Rosetta's labor and make it clear that she is under contract to earn her keep. There's more melodrama here than required, but as time passes the main characters become less cardboard. Runa is suffering from the deaths of her babies, and while Albert's gruffness and cold heart never disappear, readers do get glimpses of a softness and humanity that he himself thinks of as weakness. A harrowing depiction of an attack on Rosetta's virtue by a hired hand may cause concern, but the author carefully makes the threat obvious without graphically depicting it, and Rosetta is able to protect herself and escape. Although not as good as Luanne Armstrong's Annie (Orca, 1995), this novel will engage readers, especially those who enjoy shedding a few tears over obvious injustices. Rosetta's pluck and determination make her an admirable heroine, and the story is exciting. Maybe not a "read it and weep," but a likely "read it and sniffle."?Carol A. Edwards, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. In 1900, 14-year-old Rosetta and her younger sister, Flora, arrive in Halifax, Nova Scotia, part of a group of English orphans hoping to make new lives in Canada. Although Rosetta has promised they will stay together, a farm family adopts Flora and the melancholy Thomases secure Rosetta's services as an indentured servant. Rosetta tries to find her sister until Mr. Thomas confiscates all her money, making it impossible for the two to correspond. Eventually, Rosetta and the timid Mrs. Thomas establish a tentative bond that enables both to break away and follow their dreams. The theme and setting make this title a likely choice for fans of Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables books. Although Rosetta's experiences are darker than Anne's, both girls exhibit a spirited determination that allows them to succeed, despite the cards life has dealt them. Kay Weisman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Tundra Books; First Thus edition (March 29, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887763871
• ISBN-13: 978-0887763878
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,110,005 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Canada
  • #77 in Books > Children's Books > History > Canada

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hardships, love, and promises., December 14, 1999

By 

Kirstin (Warrensburg, Missouri, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Promise Song (NY City Library's 1998 Books for the Age of Ten Se) (Paperback)

Rosetta and her younger sister, Flora, were sent to Canada from an English orphanage. They dreamed of a loving family, but when this does not happen Rosetta endures cruelty, love, hatred, and happiness to get back what is left of her family. This book makes me appreciate my family, even when I am mad at them. It also shows me that being an orphan does not let you do whatever you want and that others will try to stop you from reaching your goal.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read book, October 25, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Promise Song (NY City Library's 1998 Books for the Age of Ten Se) (Paperback)

Linda Holeman has done it again with this young adult book. With the story of Rosetta she brings you back in time to an era when children were used and not enjoyed. You feel for Rosetta and urge her on in the hope of finding her sister who was unceremoniously delivered to a new family leaving Rosetta crying in the street. A book well written and savoured.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well done, March 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Promise Song (School & Library Binding)

This is an absolutely wonderful book. It is historically acurate, interesting and very well written. Reading the trials and hardships Rosetta must go through to find her adopted sister that she loves so much makes you never want to put this book down. I loved this book, for more reasons than one! It's twists in the plot give it definition and color. Go out and get this book, it is definately worth it!