Family dysfunction is rampant in The Promise Girls! Sisters Joanie, Meg, and Avery were conceived and raised to be prodigies. According to Minerva, their mother, the girls are the children of carefully chosen sperm donors who were geniuses in their respective fields. Joanie was designated to be a talented pianist, Meg a gifted artist, and Avery a superb writer. The 2 older girls showed early signs of promise and Minerva became a minor celebrity after publishing a book detailing the experience of raising 3 prodigies. It all fell apart the day Joanie won a bronze medal (instead of gold) in a prestigious piano competition.
This novel raises some interesting questions regarding parental responsibility and the ethics of child-rearing. In today's society there is an obsession with raising "gifted" children, winning at all costs, and public achievement. It seems as if schools and sports focus on self-esteem rather than excellence so no one will "feel bad" about not being the best. At the same time, many parents focus on their child's superiority rather than on developing their strengths and their happiness. Minerva Promise took this obsession to a whole new level, taking on a sort of Dr. Frankenstein role in manipulating her daughters' lives and future careers. Of course, it all blows up in her face eventually.
As adults all 3 daughters have abandoned their "talents" and have little contact with their mother, but they are very close to one another after having been separated and in foster care after being removed from their mother's care. When a life-changing accident occurs each of them rethinks their lives and choices.
Although this is a work of fiction, it is a thought-provoking novel that should give all of us pause. When a child is born, whose life should they live and whose dreams should they strive to fulfill? I would highly recommend this novel.
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