Day, Christine. I Can Make This Promise. 2020. 272pgs. Heartdrum, $18.99 (9780062871992) Recommended Grade Levels 4-6.
When Edie finds a box in the attic with letters signed, “Love Edith” and sees herself reflected in the photos she finds, this is the catalyst that begins her journey of reconnection with her indigenous heritage. Edie’s mother was adopted by a white couple leaving her without answers to her Indigenous heritage. Young readers will empathize with the impact child removal from Indigenous communities has generations later in Edie’s life as she seeks to find healing and embrace her culture. Calling on personal experience, Day demonstrates a developmentally appropriate approach to explaining hard history to readers.
Perspectives: There is a long history of family separation and forced adoption of children from marginalized groups. This history is often swept over and only recently are the stories of children removed from their indigenous communities coming to the surface. This book is almost unexpected and unassuming in how Day addresses these consequences through a child’s eyes.
Practice: This is a match for an independent reading book or tool to explain this often untold story that many indigenous communities can relate to while not containing overwhelming content. There is care for the reader with a softness to the story while holding loss.
Buy it for an independent reading book!
Reviewed by María Valiente
The Adoptee Bookshelf 