Broken Promises

Teens

synopsis

Synopsis

2022 SFWC YA Fiction Writing Contest Winner

"Young Sparrow's dilemma had me wondering how she was going to make her way through such a tension-filled situation. I could almost see her growing up, finding unexpected allies, and using her mama's native skills as she faced the political firestorm of the 1840s in California." —Stephanie Foster, author of Take Action: Fighting for Women & Girls

In 1844, fifteen-year-old Sparrow fears what dilemmas her grown-up life will encounter. Sparrow's mother is from the Chumash nation whose territory borders the Pacific. Her father is an American trapper and trader sent by his government to explore the rich California land owned by Mexico.

Sparrow's difficulties are compounded when she learns her father also has an American wife and daughter. Then, she overhears him making plans to overthrow the Mexican Governor of Alta California and acquire the Mexican lands for the United States.

Sparrow's tribal family and indigenous customs are threatened. She must decide if she will keep her father's secret and lose her homeland, or warn her mother and the Mexican authorities but suffer the loss of her father's love.

bio

Author Biography

Dr. Perez Ferguson is a cross-cultural educator and consultant. Her fiction brings to life the voices of California inhabitants living 200 years ago. She has twice won the Best YA Fiction Award from the San Francisco Writers Conference, 2021 and 2022.

Regarding Broken Promises:

"The tightly wound plot flows effortlessly from one moment to the next.... readers will find themselves inspired by the future Sparrow creates for herself and those around her." — Kirkus Reviews

Her non-fiction promotes the voices of under-represented communities in the twenty-first century. This earned her the 2014 Lacayo Lifetime Achievement Award from the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. She is an Advisor and Former Chair for the InterAmerican Foundation and a former Visiting Lecturer for the Council for Independent Colleges. She enjoys living and writing on the Pacific coast.

website

Author Insight

The Stranger

In this excerpt from Broken Promises, our teenaged protagonist, Sparrow, learns to keep her eyes and ears open. Being a spy for the good guys is not easy. Sparrow overlooked her closest ally, and then she learned exactly what she needed by paying attention this stranger. Finally, it dawned on her, just how much was at stake. The Mission Bells Trilogy features diverse characters in history whose point of view is often overlooked. Real history is full of intrigue, setbacks, and reversals. Glossy, hero-centered, history leaves out the confusion and complexity in everyday life. I welcome you to join the characters in Broken Promises, Golden Secrets, and Twisted Cross. anitaperezferguson.com

Book Excerpt

Broken Promises

Sparrow wished to be a spy, not a fool. Hiding below, she needed to gather new information for Salvador. She doubted Clara would try to collect any intelligence to help the Mexican governor. Clara was dancing.

“Take a blanket, miss,” the launch pilot said, taking pity on Sparrow. “Look up, you can see the gunpowder barrels.” He pointed out the portholes in the lower deck. “Six big guns on each side. Big guns like those could shoot a cannonball way up to the governor’s house, I imagine.”

Sparrow had taken no notice of this man all day, yet now, it was clear he could provide valuable information. “Is that so? Tell me more.” She listened intently to this fellow, who claimed he’d once been on a big Spanish warship, shared many other things. She committed the information to memory to report to Salvador. At last, she had solid information to share about the governor’s enemies.

She looked up at the ship in alarm when it occurred to her the Americans might even use the party to attempt their overthrow of the Mexican governor.

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Anita Perez Ferguson

Broken Promises

Synopsis

Author Biography

Author Insight

The Stranger

Book Excerpt

Broken Promises

Comment on this Bubble