Molly's Promise
- Publisher
- Orca Book Publishers
- Initial publish date
- Apr 2013
- Category
- Music, Friendship, Parents
- Recommended Age
- 9 to 12
- Recommended Grade
- 4 to 7
- Recommended Reading age
- 9 to 12
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781459802773
- Publish Date
- Apr 2013
- List Price
- $7.95
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781459802797
- Publish Date
- Apr 2013
- List Price
- $9.99
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
When Molly learns a talent competition is coming to town, her friend Murphy (A Different Game, Murphy and Mousetrap) becomes her manager. Molly is certain she is a good singer—she has been singing in her head for as long as she can remember. She doesn't sing out loud because of a promise she made to herself. Years ago, Molly vowed that her mom would be the first one to hear her sing. The only problem is, Molly knows nothing about her mom, who left when Molly was a baby. With the talent competition only weeks away, she has to decide whether to break her promise to herself and let her voice out into the world, or wait for her mother's uncertain return before singing for anyone else.
About the author
Awards
- Nominated, Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Awards - Diamond Willow
Editorial Reviews
"An accessible, easy-to-read text with surprising depth...Deals quietly with issues like race, class, various kinds of sickness, and how families differ. The novel should generate lots of conversation in a class or reading group...A smart selection for anyone who has ever struggled with a secret or worried about being different. It's also an inspiring story of a girl who's learning to get along despite difficult circumstances. Many readers will identify with and enjoy Molly's story."
Resource Links
"An elementary school audience [will be able to] relate to Molly's struggles...Recommended."
CM Magazine
"In this small book with a lot of story packed into it, readers will enjoy the high drama...[and] relate to Molly’s uncertainty as she tries something completely new."
School Library Journal
Librarian Reviews
Molly's Promise
Insecure grade seven student Molly does not feel she fits in at Riverside Middle School but when a talent competition is announced, Molly is challenged to face her struggles around a promise she made concerning her long-absent mother. She and her enthusiastic best friend, Murphy, live on a First Nation’s reserve and it’s her close-knit, extended “reserve family” that encourage, cajole and support Molly to reveal her secret vocal talent for the competition. Th e inner joy she feels by finally singing and expressing herself in public is only matched by re-uniting with her mother and resolving her promise. Th is easy-to-read story offers rich discussion topics such as bullying, secrets, friendship, competition, diverse families and race relations.Olsen is an award-winning author of two other Orca Young Readers books, A Different Game and Murphy and Mousetrap, about Molly’s best friend, Murphy.
Source: The Association of Book Publishers of BC. Canadian Aboriginal Books for Schools. 2013-2014.
Molly's Promise
Insecure grade seven student Molly does not feel she fits in at Riverside Middle School but when a talent competition is announced, Molly is challenged to face her struggles around a promise she made concerning her long-absent mother. She and her enthusiastic best friend, Murphy, live on a First Nation’s reserve and it’s her close-knit, extended “reserve family” that encourage, cajole and support Molly to reveal her secret vocal talent for the competition. The inner joy she feels by finally singing and expressing herself in public is only matched by re-uniting with her mother and resolving her promise. This easy-to-read story offers rich discussion topics such as bullying, secrets, friendship, competition, diverse families and race relations.Olsen is an award-winning author of two other short Orca Young Readers books, A Different Game and Murphy and Mousetrap, about Molly’s best friend, Murphy.
Source: The Association of Book Publishers of BC. BC Books for BC Schools. 2013-2014.
