Emmy Keeps a Promise

by Madye Lee Chastain

Sisters Emmy and Arabel go to make their fortune in 19th century New York City. Arabel will teach at a private school for young ladies where Emmy will be a student. However, Emmy's aunt has given her the responsibility of finding a young man for Arabel! Handsome Captain Andy seems a likely candidate but Arabel swears she is devoted to her career.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Madye Lee Chastain was a children's book author and illustrator who wrote 17 children's books from 1945-1964, most of them for Harcourt, and she illustrated children's books written by other authors as well as her own. She studied at Oglethorpe University, but dropped out of the University to attend the Art School of High Museum in Atlanta. She later studied at Grand Central Art School in New York, and at Columbia University. She died in December 1989, in Boulder, Colorado.

Reviews

[Brianna Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming, pleasant read. It's a children's book, but also interesting for an adult. This was a book I loved when I was probably around 11 or so. I read it more than once. It's set in 1850's New York. Emmy is 11 and her sister Arabel is 19. They live in New York State, in a small town. The two girls are very close. They were orphaned when Emmy was around four, and raised by kind Aunt Hannah and Uncle Ben. Arabel wants to teach in New York City, to earn enough to pay back her aunt and uncle for the money they invested in her education, even though they don't want the money back. Shortly before Emmy and Arabel board the train for NYC, Aunt Hannah asks Emmy to promise her that she'll try to find Arabel a husband. If an eligible bachelor appears in their lives, she wants Emmy to push things along. Aunt Hannah doesn't understand why Arabel wants a career instead of marriage. So off the two sisters go, on their adventure. The book really brings 1850's New York City to life, seeing it through Emmy's eyes. Emmy and Arabel find clean, inexpensive lodgings in an attic room. Emmy starts going to the school Arabel teaches at, and becomes friends with Lissa, a girl from a wealthy family. Emmy and Arabel are given tickets to go to see Jenny Lind perform, and Lissa's grandfather escorts them in a carriage. There are also many invitations to tea. But Arabel has a thing about paying people back and returning hospitality and favors, and instead of being as happy about their interactions with Lissa's family as Emmy is, Arabel is stressed because they can't return all the favors. And then, Lissa's handsome, brave, charming cousin "Captain Andy" returns home from sea! Of course, the two girls want to see Arabel and Andy become a couple. Will Emmy be able to keep her promise? The title sort of gives it away! "Clams" also have a very important role in this book. :) I wish this book wasn't out of print. Maybe it's considered too old-fashioned these days, I don't know. There are used copies available though. Anyone who enjoys well-written children's books with memorable characters should enjoy this.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was on the third shelf in the back of the school library. It was bound in purple and I loved it. I checked it out every month. More than anything in the whole wide world, I wanted someone to rescue me like someone rescued the feisty Emmy. Sadly, the book's conclusion only reinforced the pipe dreams all too familiar to a child of a compulsive gambler. Just strike it rich ... sigh.

It took me months to find this book. I just knew it was purple and about two sisters. Now I own a copy of my very own and it is something I will treasure for the rest of my life.

[CLM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this wonderful book were still in print for a new generation to discover! For those who like school stories, orphan stories, sister stories, romances, or stories about old New York, this is a gem.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Constance for your persistence. You’d mentioned this book so many times and I’m so glad that I finally read it.

This is a very well written book, and the author illustrated it also, and the black and white ink drawings add to its enjoyment. It’s very old fashioned in some respects, yet the two sisters are resourceful and independent, and I felt relieved by the ending, as I was happy to see that these characters stayed true to themselves.

It was written in the 1950s (so sorry I missed reading this when I was young) and it’s about 2 sisters in 1850s New York. The descriptions given of the New York at that time are wonderfully vivid.

If I’d read this as a kid I’d have desperately wanted a sister even more than I already did.

There is a terrific show of humor, especially about the ever-present clams.

This was written when the only meaning of the word gay was still merry, carefree, lighthearted; I can always tell when a book is a classic when I see this.

I am sad that more readers do not seem to know of this book. At least very few have rated in on Goodreads. I am now interested in reading other books by this author; I’ve put two others on my to-read shelf.

[Laurie Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in junior high school and never forgot it. I wrote about it on AAR many years ago and one of my reviewers, Colleen McMahon, found me a copy on eBay. I cherish this gift tremendously and strongly recommend readers do their best to find this one. Before Colleen found me the book, I'd already contacted my junior high school to try and buy their copy, which they no longer had, and had settled on reading it again via interlibrary loan.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book when I was in third grade, in 1978, through a scholastic book sale at my school. It was my favorite childhood book and I still occasionally read it. I love the two strong female characters, their dignity and their principles. Young feminists, though the book is never preachy. I wish it was more widely known and read.

[Aunt Mennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, by far, one of my all time favorite books! I cannot tell you how much I adore this book of two sisters that have been orphaned and raised by their aunt and uncle in upstate New York in the 1850's. They move to New York City to repay their family, and so the eldest can teach in a girl's boarding school, and the younger can attend. The aunt asks the younger girl, Emmy, to find a suitable husband for Arabel, her beautiful and talented, but stubborn, older sister. A charming story that links Emmy to Lissa, the heroine of other Chastain books. Lissa's grandfather, old Mr. Spenlow, is the owner of a shipping company that his grandson works as a ship's captain. Dashing Captain Andy seems a perfect match for Arabel, but she will not hear of it; she is determined to pay back her aunt and uncle. The descriptions of their lives are so vivid, I can see, smell, and hear the sounds of New York City. I lost my original copy, and spent almost $200 to replace it-this is how much I love to read this book. I wish more people these days would read stories as engaging as this one-a must have!

[Julie Oswalt]

This book ignited my love for reading and was the first book i re-read multiple times - without being "assigned" it as a school project.requirement.

it's a definite "good read" for young girls. It was the start of a lifeling love affair with the library!

[Danielle Rush]

I discovered this book in Mrs. McFrye's sixth grade class, and loved it.

[Kathi Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book as a child read it over and over. I wonder if I will like it now?

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my lifelong favorites.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming quick children's read! The storyline is cute and I loved the humorous references to clams throughout the book. Super sweet!