Promise the Night

Young Beryl Markham dreams of training as a murani — a warrior — like the boys of the neighboring Nandi tribe in her Kenyan home. Her friend Kibii's father agrees to teach her to track and to hunt with a spear. But as she grows towards womanhood, the Nandi become less willing to welcome a white girl, and her father starts setting his sights on transforming her into a proper British lady. The gap may be too big for her to achieve her original dream, but perhaps she can take a step towards and equally exciting and adventurous life of her own — thanks to a pilot's license.

Immediately compelling and action-packed, this carefully researched work of historical fiction introduces young readers to the childhood of the famous yet elusive Beryl Markham, the first person to fly solo from England to North America. As in her debut novel, Prisoners in the Palace, MacColl propels readers into a multilayered story with an unforgettable heroine and evocative language that brings the backdrop of colonial British East Africa to life. A fascinating read for anyone with a thirst for adventure.

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