Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
Gary D. Schmidt
Yearling (April 25, 2006)
SPOILER ALERT: The following review contains plot points that you may not want to know about before reading the book.
In short: This is a novel rich in characterization and language and is a good catalyst for discussion on the consequences of ideas, especially as it relates to the idea of Darwinian evolution.
Thirteen year old Turner Buckminster, the stiff minister’s son, is new to the Maine way of life.
“Turner Buckminster had lived in Phippsburg, Maine, for almost six whole hours. He didn’t know how much longer he could stand it.”
He has a hard time keeping his starched, white shirt clean; hitting a baseball; and generally adjusting to being the new kid. He soon finds himself atoning for his “wrongdoing” with a summer’s worth of hymn playing on the organ of the unpleasant Mrs. Cobb. He longs to set out for the “Territories” (set in 1912, this is the still largely unsettled west of the United States of America) and be freed from his bondage.
“…where being a minister’s son wouldn’t matter worth a…well, worth a darn.”
Turner soon meets Lizzie Bright, who lives on Mataga Island, a poor community founded by former slaves. As their friendship grows they encounter racism, hypocrisy and injustice which changes their lives forever.
Based on the true story of the Malaga Island community this novel is rich in characterizations and language. Lizzie, Turner and his father are well drawn characters that linger in your memory. However, and this is one of my main concerns, many of the other characters, especially the nominal “Christians” and deacons of the church, are stereotypical and villainous in a way so common to portraits of religious people in today’s novels. Turner’s father is a “straw man” at first but does eventually evolve into a complicated and heartfelt character. This evolution, however, leads me to my final concern.
“Turner”, he said, “books can be fire, you know.”
“Fire?”
“Fire. Books can ignite fires in your mind, because they carry ideas for kindling, and art for matches.” He handed the book to Turner.
“The Origin of Species”, he read aloud. “Is this fire?”…
“It is a conflagration”, he said.
Turner looked steadily at him. “Should a minister’s son be reading this?”
“Who better?”, said his father.
The sentiment about books is so very true, especially in this novel. Charles Darwin, and his book, are set up as saviors for Turner. Darwin’s idea frees Turner from his “bondage” and pushes him toward the “Territories” in his spiritual and intellectual life.
“And, it wasn’t long before he knew that what he was reading was fire, all right. It was almost like lighting out for the Territories.”
This novel is thus its own “fire-starter” for good conversation about the consequences of ideas, specifically Darwinian evolution. Absent follow-up however the implicit endorsement of said idea leaves young readers open to misunderstanding.
Gary D. Schmidt
Yearling (April 25, 2006)
SPOILER ALERT: The following review contains plot points that you may not want to know about before reading the book.
In short: This is a novel rich in characterization and language and is a good catalyst for discussion on the consequences of ideas, especially as it relates to the idea of Darwinian evolution.
Thirteen year old Turner Buckminster, the stiff minister’s son, is new to the Maine way of life.
“Turner Buckminster had lived in Phippsburg, Maine, for almost six whole hours. He didn’t know how much longer he could stand it.”
He has a hard time keeping his starched, white shirt clean; hitting a baseball; and generally adjusting to being the new kid. He soon finds himself atoning for his “wrongdoing” with a summer’s worth of hymn playing on the organ of the unpleasant Mrs. Cobb. He longs to set out for the “Territories” (set in 1912, this is the still largely unsettled west of the United States of America) and be freed from his bondage.
“…where being a minister’s son wouldn’t matter worth a…well, worth a darn.”
Turner soon meets Lizzie Bright, who lives on Mataga Island, a poor community founded by former slaves. As their friendship grows they encounter racism, hypocrisy and injustice which changes their lives forever.
Based on the true story of the Malaga Island community this novel is rich in characterizations and language. Lizzie, Turner and his father are well drawn characters that linger in your memory. However, and this is one of my main concerns, many of the other characters, especially the nominal “Christians” and deacons of the church, are stereotypical and villainous in a way so common to portraits of religious people in today’s novels. Turner’s father is a “straw man” at first but does eventually evolve into a complicated and heartfelt character. This evolution, however, leads me to my final concern.
“Turner”, he said, “books can be fire, you know.”
“Fire?”
“Fire. Books can ignite fires in your mind, because they carry ideas for kindling, and art for matches.” He handed the book to Turner.
“The Origin of Species”, he read aloud. “Is this fire?”…
“It is a conflagration”, he said.
Turner looked steadily at him. “Should a minister’s son be reading this?”
“Who better?”, said his father.
The sentiment about books is so very true, especially in this novel. Charles Darwin, and his book, are set up as saviors for Turner. Darwin’s idea frees Turner from his “bondage” and pushes him toward the “Territories” in his spiritual and intellectual life.
“And, it wasn’t long before he knew that what he was reading was fire, all right. It was almost like lighting out for the Territories.”
This novel is thus its own “fire-starter” for good conversation about the consequences of ideas, specifically Darwinian evolution. Absent follow-up however the implicit endorsement of said idea leaves young readers open to misunderstanding.
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