Historical Fiction Novel

Schmidt, Gary D. 2004. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN: 9780618439294

Plot Summary:

Moving to Phippsburg, a small town in Maine, could be difficult for any 12 year old boy and it was for Turner Buckminster. Also hard for Turner was being the son of a minister. Most of the people in town had something to say about how Turner played baseball, what he wore (or didn’t wear), and where he went, but mostly they talked about who he chose to befriend. Malaga Island, a small island neighboring the town of Phippsburg, was home to Lizzie Griffin and other folks with dark skin who the people of Phippsburg desperately wanted to leave so they could use the island for tourism. One day while seeking the peacefulness of the ocean, Lizzie and Turner meet and begin a wonderful friendship that because of the differences in their skin color, really starts to give people something to talk about. When Turner finds that his friend is in need of a home because the townspeople are making all colored people leave, he uses the courage that he has been building to make a stand that may end up costing him more than he could have imagined.

Critical Analysis:

Rather than give an account the events of this story, Gary Schmidt pulls the reader into the story so much so that readers picture what is happening and become a part of the events. The events are the story, the two are masterly intertwined.

The story of the racism and removal of people living on Malaga Island is true. Schmidt accurately depicts the reasons for the cleansing of Malaga Island, racism and tourism, and how the people of Phippsburg went about it by forcing people to leave, burning their homes, and even digging up their graves. Schmidt is also careful to include accurate landmarks in the setting such as the First Congregational Church, the Pownal asylum, and the beaches.

Schmidt’s depiction of the characters reflects the views and close-minded attitudes of the times (the early 1900’s). Readers will fall in love with Turner Buckminster, a boy who must find himself and muster up the courage to take a stand for his beliefs. There is a lot of emphasis on character development in this story and it is completely necessary to enable readers to actually feel the events that unfold. Readers will be surprised at how they feel about the characters and what happens to them within the events of this story. The themes of morals, attitudes, relationships, and courage will indeed spark depth of conversation.

Awards and Reviews:

Newberry Honor Book

ALA Printz Award

“Schmidt weaves that history into a powerful tale of friendship and coming-of-age, adding a lyrical sense of the coastal landscape. Characters are drawn without reverence in this haunting combination of fact and fiction that has a powerful and tragic climax.”--Booklist

“With fully developed, memorable characters and a fascinating, little-known piece of history, this novel will leave a powerful impression on readers.”-- School Library Journal

Connections:

*Read another Gary Schmidt book such as Okay for Now or The Wednesday Wars

*Design a book jacket

*Write a diary entry from the perspective of Lizzie or Turner about a major event in the story such as being next to a whale, building a friendship, or visiting Miss Cobb’s house.