Serafina's Promise

by Ann E. Burg

  Non mwen se (NON mwen say) — My name is

  Ou dwe bon (oo DWAY bon) — Be good

  Ou dwe brav (oo DWAY brav) — Be brave

  Ou se zanmi mwen (oo say zan-MEE mwen) — You’re my friend

  Pa bwè vit (pa BWEH veet) — Drink slowly

  Pa pèdi tan (pa pehz-DEE ton) — Don’t dawdle

  Petit mwen (pee-TEET mwen) — My child

  Prese (pray-SAY) — Hurry

  Se lafendimonn (say la-fen-dee-MOAN) — It’s the end of the world

  Se pè mwen pè sèlman (say peh MWEN peh sel-MON) — I am only afraid

  Solèy la klere (so-LEH-y la kleh-RAY) — The sun shines

  Swiv mwen (sweev mwen) — Follow me

  Tim tim (teem teem) No literal translation … simply a playful invitation to guess a riddle

  Wi (wee) — Yes

  Youn tranbleman tè (yoon tron-blay-MON teh) — An earthquake

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I gratefully acknowledge all those whose support and encouragement helped create this book.

  Thank you to the librarians at Starr Library in Rhinebeck, New York, and at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York, who made sure I received my research material in a timely manner. Thanks to Pierre and Terry Leroy from the Haitian People’s Support Project, a not-for-profit organization supporting the people of Haiti since 1990. Despite their busy schedules, Pierre and Terry welcomed me into their home and introduced me to Professor Denize Lauture. Professor Lauture was an invaluable resource in helping me understand and appreciate the subtleties of Haitian language and culture. My respect for Professor Lauture and for the people of his beloved country is enormous. Mèsi anpil!

  Thank you to my agent, Jodi Reamer, for her continued advice, and to Emellia Zamani from Scholastic, who always answers my questions promptly and cheerfully. Thanks also to my copy editor, Monique Vescia, and book designer, Marijka Kostiw. My heartfelt thanks to Sean Qualls (from my beloved Brooklyn) for his sensitive and creative cover art. You truly captured the heart of Serafina’s Promise! Deepest gratitude to my wonderful editor, Tracy Mack, who consistently challenges my characters and keeps them from wandering too far from their paths. I am so lucky to work with you!

  As always, I am most grateful for my family. Thanks to SB, my faithful walking and writing companion, and to Marc, Celia, and Alex—who remind me every day that nothing is stronger than love.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ANN E. BURG taught middle-school English for ten years before becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Rhinebeck, New York, with her family. You can learn more about her at www.annburg.com.

  Copyright © 2013 by Ann E. Burg

  All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920. SCHOLASTIC, SCHOLASTIC PRESS, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.

  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA AVAILABLE

  First edition, October 2013

  Cover art © 2013 by Sean Qualls / Cover design by Marijka Kostiw

  e-ISBN 978-0-545-54994-3

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., Attention: Permissions Department, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.