The Promise will effortlessly appeal to YA audiences, with room for a smidge of crossover into the (new) adult category.
At its heart lies a story many a reader will likely relate to – a teenager’s journey of self-discovery and identification. A confusing and complex time in one’s young life, without your world upending in a sea of family tragedy and secrets. Which is exactly where protagonist Mika Lavigne unexpectedly finds herself.
A typical teenager on the cusp of adulthood, Mika is a driven high schooler with a passion for science, maths, gaming, and all things Willow Parker. If figuring out her sexuality and feelings weren’t trouble enough, school bullies make sure to remind Mika of her place in the food chain; there’s no way Willow would be interested in her, even if Willow was gay, right? But as Mika’s life unravels, she needs those closest to her more than ever, especially if she’s to hold into who she really is.
The Promise is jam packed with complex themes that are highly relevant to a young or even potentially older audience. It’s an entertaining and emotive read, and is a book which I would have absolutely loved to have access to as a young adult myself. Modern and engaging, The Promise doesn’t shy away from tackling some tough issues in an appropriate manner. And whilst Mika’s responses to happenings can sometimes come across as brash or immature, it’s a genuine reminder of what it can be like to be Mika’s age – dealing with more than most will ever have to in a lifetime.
Mika is a character who still has a lot of life left to experience, but she also has a story in the here and now that needs to be heard and shared. Mika’s Aunt Val is a patient vessel for her niece’s self-discovery, and I think many readers will adore the steadfast qualities Aunt Val embodies even in the midst of her own troubles.
Through Mika and her Aunt (plus their wider network of family and friends), the author navigates readers through an arduous path constructed with the stones of sudden grief, family secrets and unrest, racism, bullying, homophobia, and conversion therapy. Juxtaposed against these however, is a core of care, understanding, and love. Showcased in self-sacrifices, accepting friendships, found family, and a beautiful reminder that family is who and what you make it.
Despite the copious moving parts and themes, the author does an excellent job maintaining the flow of the story. But, sometimes less is more, and there is a section where Mika and other characters cross the border from America into Canada. This scene clearly prompts what takes place next, but I couldn’t grasp why the group needed to cross into Canada in the first place. It is the only part of the story that didn’t add any real value and I felt it was somewhat unneeded as aspects of what takes place in Canada would have still made sense elsewhere. That said I do love that the author gives readers two whole chapters at the end which are set fourteen years later. It ties each characters’ storyline up with a nice thoughtful bow, and it’s something I appreciate wholeheartedly in as comprehensive stories as this one.
In the end The Promise is a glowing YA novel. One that I know I’ll want to re-read because there is so much relevant content to dive into, again, and again.
I received an ARC of this book from Butterworth Books, in exchange for an honest review.
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