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Kirsten's Promise (American Girl: Short Stories #28) by Janet Beeler Shaw

 

Summary (from the publisher): Kirsten's Promise is a powerful story about Kirsten's encounter with a little boy, Ezra, who's living out of an overturned wagon. Thinking that his mother will soon return, Kirsten promises not to tell anyone about the boy or the wagon. But as the days pass and the weather grows colder, Kirsten has to decide whether she can better help the boy by keeping her promise to him or breaking it.

After reading the story, girls can read about wagon trains like the one that Ezra and his mother planned to join and can make a flower crown like those made by children traveling across the prairie in the 1850s.

Review: In this short story, Kirsten finds a young boy alone with an overturned wagon who says he is waiting on his mother. He makes Kirsten promise that she won't tell anyone. But as days pass and the weather grows colder and the boy remains alone, Kirsten must decide whether to keep her promise or seek help to keep him safe. 

I never knew the American Girl short story collection existed growing up and was excited to get to read more stories about Kirsten and her life. This book lives up to the spirit and character in the original six books and the same author has written these as well. I liked the dilemma between keeping your word and doing what is right to keep someone safe. This felt like a great lesson for young readers. 

This was yet another very gruesome book for young readers that features death. Kirsten's new friend Ezra is a very pitiful figure who has witnessed horrific things in his short life. Of course, this story is very historically accurate, as many people did lose their lives traveling west, but it is still shocking to encounter in a book for young children. Also, I was very disappointed to read in the summary that "after reading the story, girls can read"...There is absolutely no reason boys can't read and enjoy this book as well! 

I did note that an additional illustrator is credited in this book beyond the original Kirsten illustrator, Renee Graef. Although the images are done in the same style as Graef's art, I noticed the difference and didn't like the artwork in these quite as well. 

I thought this would feel very brief, but it felt like a decent length story. I loved that it still included illustrations and does also include a historical overview at the end with some real history and photographs from the time period that helps explain the background behind the story just read. 

Stars: 4

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