Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

Author: Gary D. Schmidt

Publishing:  Random House Children’s Books

Number of Pages: Paperback—217 pages

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Reading Level:  Ages 9-12

Summary: This book is about a boy named Turner who moves to Maine with his mom and his dad, who was to be the towns new Reverend.  Turner seems to have an awfully hard time fitting in in the new town.  He can’t do anything right it seems, he can’t even hit a baseball because he is use to the “normal” way that they played in his hometown.  Turner gets into trouble with another boy his age named Willis after he makes fun of him for not being able to play baseball.  He gets into trouble with the neighbors, especially Mrs. Cobb, who accuses Turner of throwing rocks at her fence.  After this happens his dad forces him to go play the organ for her everyday for the rest of the summer.  Later he is forced to read to her.  The only person that Turner finds friendship in is Lizzie Bright, an African American who lives on the island near by.  This, when found out, becomes a forbidden friendship although he continues seeing her.  The town leaders are trying to figure out a way to get rid of the people on the island because they claim that they do not own the land and that the people of their town are forced to pay for all of their expenses.  One time when Lizzie and Turner are playing and exploring together, Lizzie falls and hurts her head and Turner takes her to get help.  Since he is not use to boats he gets taken out by the current (during this time he is able to look into the eye of a whale), luckily he is found and Lizzie is taken by her grandfather to get help.  Mrs. Cobb dies and leaves her house, surprisingly, to Turner.  Turner tries to offer it to Lizzie and others but she says that the town will not accept them there.  Eventually the town people get what they want and the people on the island are forced off of it.  Lizzie is taken to an insane asylum along with some other people that were on the island—Lizzie only lasts 10 days there and then she passes away.  Turner’s father dies after he is pushed off a cliff by the town sheriff.  In the end, Turner and his mother are still not accepted by the town because of their differences.  Turner talks to Willis about the whales.

My Reaction to the Book:  I thought that this was a decent book.  I liked it quite a lot but it had a sad ending, so that’s what I didn’t like about it.

Potential Problems:  There is the problem of racism in this book, also there is some talk of death, and then in the end, Lizzie dies. 

Recommendations:  I think I would recommend this book to some people, but not everyone, because it is sad, but it also teaches a lot and is good to be aware of.