Promises Are for Keeping is the sequel to Term Paper. This first novel uses the same device of first-person narration by the main character, Nicki DeBonis.

In this book, Nicki's family, including her father and a maternal aunt, is explored in order to give the reader of better sense of Nicki's anger and confusion in dealing with adults. This first book provides a better sense of who Nicki is and enables the reader to understand the motivations behind her actions in Promises Are for Keeping.