BubbleStream

Anita Perez Ferguson

a book bubble about

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

Confusing Truths

Students and teachers are surprised that Broken Promises reveals long-forgotten facts in the history of early California. A professional reviewer can alert readers to the surprising truths hidden in a novel. Kirkus Reviews posted this about Broken Promises: "...when Sparrow finds her estranged White father implicated in an American plot to wrest Alta California from the Mexican governor’s control, she finds her future, loyalties, and perception of herself cast into doubt." Have you ever paused to reconsider a decision? The truth of history, family, and life itself, can get complicated the more we learn. Join me in the Mission Bells Trilogy to unravel the mysteries of the Old West and the choices that young teens made to survive. https://anitaperezferguson.com

Book Excerpt

Broken Promises

“Your papa and I have serious things to discuss,” Señora Tenorio told the girls, waving her hands to shoo them away.

“We have information. She wants to help.” Josefina stared at her father’s guns before her mama folded the tablecloth up to cover them. “Tell them what you learned today.”

Sparrow ignored the guns and the instructions to leave the room. “I went to the American ship with Clara. I saw how many men and guns they have. We’ve got to stop them,” Sparrow shared, considering herself a grown-up and very much a part of this adventure.

“You are just children,” Señora Tenorio scolded the girls. “Clara shared all of that with us already. She should not have taken you.”

This information surprised Sparrow. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth hung open.

“Do you expect you are the only one who is trying to shield the governor?” Señora Tenorio asked. “Clara is doing her part to stop this rebellion.”

Sparrow was dumbfounded to learn that Clara was not a rebel herself. She had done a convincing job, making everyone think she cared only for pretty dresses, decorations, and important guests. Maybe there was more that Sparrow did not see.

Buy

	Amazon
	Barnes&Noble
	GooglePlay
	IndieBound
	Kobo

Share
Follow Unfollow
Comment
x
Comment on this Bubble

Your comment and a link to this bubble will also appear in your Facebook feed.

Anita Perez Ferguson

Broken Promises

Synopsis

Author Biography

Author Insight

Confusing Truths

Book Excerpt

Broken Promises

Comment on this Bubble