News of Book Two: Becoming Piper Pan:

I’ve got another new character illustration! You met Midge in Book One: The Curse of the Neverland. She’s the bookworm who comes across as bossy. She’s clever, loyal, and during their adventures in the Neverland, she learns she is also brave.  Here’s her rendering, by Aisha Zaleha Latip.

My girl hero, Piper, in The Curse of the Neverland owes a special debt of gratitude to my friend Perrilee, who allowed me to christen Piper with a slightly modified version of her last name. (Piper Pizzinni) Even in book 2, Piper feels more at home as Piper Pizzinni, as she struggles to grow into her new identity: Piper Pan.

My book recommendation today is one for Perrilee: Promise by Judy Young.

In readerland, Perrilee is a big fan of Gary Paulsen, author of Hatchet, and other hugely popular outdoor survival adventure books for kids. Promise is not exactly of the same genre, but it is a story with gritty realism. Here’s the summary:

Eleven-year-old Kaden, a boy who lives with his grandmother outside the small town of Promise, learns, just when he is starting middle school, that the father he has never known was released from prison.

Here’s what I liked about Promise:

Kaden is a loner who makes a real friend for the first time. His best pal at the start of the book is a crow named Kubla. (Judy’s portrayal of Kubla is wonderful.) Kaden’s grandmother has made clear choices about how she wants to raise him, like living without certain modern conveniences (TV, cell phone). She enforces rules of behavior including responsibilities and communication requirements. She abhors wasted (idle) time, and she values honesty and integrity above all.

As Kaden faces the overwhelming reality of meeting and interacting with his father, the values his grandmother has instilled are tested. Gram has done a great job raising him—he proves able to discern right and wrong, and to stand up for his beliefs.

It’s a bittersweet story that stays with you long after you’ve read the final page.