At the center of the story is Evie, a budding cryptozoologist (someone who searches for and studies animals whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, think Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster. Her world revolves around the study of those creatures, and when her best friend from camp suddenly becomes her enemy, Evie is sure she’s been replaced by a golem (clay figure brought to life by magic).

Evie has a big heart, and the fact that she blames her former friend’s behavior on a creature makes her more endearing. She’s an offbeat character that’s sure to resonate with readers.

As an adult, it was pretty easy to see that things weren’t going to work out for Evie the way she hoped. But I don’t think young readers will mind. I think many kids wish they had the freedom to be different rather than follow the social norms.

Author Leah Stecher understands her audience, writing for them with warm confidence and an understanding of how hard growing up can be.

A Field Guide to Broken Promises is a strong contemporary middle-grade novel that celebrates imagination and being true to yourself.

ARC read: OMG Evie has my whole heart! She feels terrible for messing up her father's cryptid research on a lake monster mission (honestly Dad get it together!), but things are looking up when her family is finally set to stop moving and settle down in Southern California. And then something even better happens, well almost! Evie's best friend from camp Dara goes to her new school. Only she pretends not to know Evie. And Dad doesn't actually move with the family like he said he would. And everything that could go wrong does. What is a monster-loving girl to do? Decide that her friend has been replaced by a golem and investigate until she can prove it. As you can imagine things go even more wrong for Evie as she tried to find her footing in middle school. From being treated like a weirdo, to parents breaking one promise after another, to missing out on the friends right in front of you because you're desperate to regain one who rejected you, this stories tackles lots of issues that so many middle schoolers are facing with care, humor, and heart. I absolutely adored the ending where Evie found her voice in standing up to her Dad (this freaking guy!) and something monstrous that I won't spoil :)

A FIELD GUIDE TO BROKEN PROMISES is clever, and funny, and heartbreaking in all the very best ways! Filled with crytids, friendship drama, and the crushing weight of trying to be perfect, it's the absolute perfect MG novel!