Caribbean Princess

By Beverley Byer

Nine-year-old Savannah(Savi)Paris and her family recently migrated to America. Her father, a senior government minister, was exiled from the caribbean island, Imaune. Uprooted from a life of privilege, family and friends, Savi is devastated. She finds her new environment, new classmates, new life demeaning. Her arrogance puts her in jeopardy with classmate, Jerrell Thomas. He becomes responsible for her stolen heirloom. When the heirloom is found and returned by the same children she dislikes, Savi finds herself willing to give them-at least-achance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 6, 2003
• ISBN: 9781477180044

Book preview

Copyright © 2002 by Beverley Byer. 15363-BYER

Library of Congress #: 2002093704

ISBN #: Softcover 1-4010-5915-5

EBook 978-1-4771-8004-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. This book was printed in the United States of America.

Book Designer: Rick Contreras Art Director: Mike Nardone

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

I would like to thank my mom, Dola Byer, for her eventual understanding and support; my niece, Janelle Byer, for just being; and, those who helped me bring this book to fruition: Simone Watson, Symia James, Schanta Wright, Daniel Nelson, Jr. (my illustrator).

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CHAPTER ONE

The doors of the bright orange school bus opened and as usual everyone except Savi-Savannah Paris rushed to their seat.

Why do we have to wait all the time? her friend, Deena Winston whined. I’m not going to run with those hooligans and mess up my expensive coat. Besides, it’s not ladylike. She headed for the row of empty seats at the front.

All aboard! sang Mrs. Avrel, the bus driver who resembled a favorite aunt, the one that always brings you presents.

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Savi glanced back at the children as the loud conversations and giggling began. You see, that’s another reason why I wait to get these seats. As soon as Mrs. Avrel starts driving, they start acting stupid.

Deena turned around. Looks like they’re having fun to me.

They could have fun without getting so loud. She put her book bag and lunch-box on the floor beside her then smoothed the pleats of her peach coat. That’s why they’re so dumb. They fool around too much. Did you see LaRhonda today? She couldn’t even say the multiples of nine when Mr. Samuels asked her. She only knew up to nine times eight.

Multiplication tables are hard.

Not for me and besides, that’s not the only thing LaRhonda doesn’t know. She can’t speak proper English; her friends neither. They’re always saying things like ‘ain’t ‘ and ‘yo’ and ‘you was.’ That’s stupid. They’re all stupid. This country is stupid.

"You sound like my mother. Everyday she tells my father, ‘I hate it here! I hate it here! I hate it here! I hate living in the projects with these loud, wild people. We were better off