Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

Schmidt, G. (2004). Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. New York: Clarion Books.

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, can be categorized as historical fiction as it takes place in Phippsburg Maine during 1912 where the governor of Main put the residents of Malaga Island in mental hospitals and destroyed their homes in efforts to take their island. In the story Turner Buckminster is the son of a minister and he feels he must live up to everyone else’s expectations. It doesn’t take him long to start hating his new town until he meets Lizzie Bright Griffin who lives on a poor nearby island community founded by former slaves. Their friendship raises eyebrows among the town elders and Turner is forbidden to see Lizzie. Soon Turner discovers the elders’ plans to force the people to leave Lizzie’s island to use it for their selfish plans. Despite the reaction from townsfolk and his father, Turner and Lizzie continue their friendship. This book has a beautiful theme of friendship against opposition that will capture the hearts of readers. I recommend this book to readers as young as grades 5 and higher. Educators can make use of this book because of its historical content and allow students the opportunity to analyze Turner’s actions and deliberate disobedience for the sake of keeping his friendship.