Promises to the Dead

Written by Mary Downing Hahn

A boy's promise to a dying woman leads him on a perilous journey against the law.

4.0 Goodreads · 963 ratings

202 pages· 49,222 words· Est. 5.5 hour read· 850L

$7.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Jesse's simple quest for a turtle turns into a life-altering mission when he promises a dying woman to deliver her son, Perry, to safety. As the nation teeters on the brink of civil war, Jesse must navigate a treacherous path, defying the law and his upbringing. With danger at every turn, can Jesse and Perry find refuge, or will their journey end in peril? This gripping tale of courage and conviction explores the true meaning of doing what's right, even when the world stands against you.

From the publisher

When Jesse went down to the marsh on that fateful day, he expected to find a turtle for terrapin soup. Instead, he comes across a dying slave woman who makes Jesse promise he’ll take her young son, Perry, to a relative in Baltimore. Aiding and abetting a slave is against the law, and it also goes against everything Jesse has been taught to believe. But he can’t break a promise to the dead, and, more important, he has to follow what he knows in his heart to be right. The journey is more treacherous than Jesse ever imagined. At the crossroads of a country about to plunge into civil war, danger lurks around every corner. Will these boys on the run ever find a safe haven? Includes an author’s note.

At a glance