Book Review - LIZZIE BRIGHT - TWU LS 5603 assignment

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Schmidt, Gary D.  2004.  LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY.  New York: 
            Clarion Books.  ISBN  9780618439294

PLOT SUMMARY

Turner Buckminster moves to Phippsburg, Maine in 1912 and becomes friends with Lizzie Bright, an African-American slave descendent, who lives on Malaga Island across from town.  The towns’ leaders and Turner’s father are against this friendship and want to relocate the people on Malaga Island in order to bring in tourism as a new economy for the town.  Turner and Lizzie are befriended by Mrs. Cobb, whose death brings an unexpected windfall to Turner and sets the stage for more racial strife.  Tragedy assaults the residents of Malaga Island and the Buckminster family; the town and a prominent family are financially compromised.  But, friendship and forgiveness wins out.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

Gary Schmidt has delicately described the racial and economic/poverty tensions of this community during the early 1900’s.  Until the actual removal and burning of the Malaga Island people, there were not any other incidents leading up to the catistrophic conflict.

The friendship between Turner and Lizzie is quite plausible, two outcasts that find solace with each others simple outlook on life.  The eventual friendship between Turner and Willis is also credible; they are drawn together because of the injustice to people they care for.

This incident apparently did not draw national attention, but was an import episode to the history of Phippsburg.  Interestingly, there was no economic improvement from all the destruction.  Today, communities encounter similar conflicts when older sections are targeted to undergo revitalization.

Schmidt includes some historical facts in an Author’s Note, but does not offer any resources or bibliographies.

AWARDS 

2004 – Lupine Award
2004 – Voice for Youth Advocates (VOYA) Top Shelf
2004 – Booklinks Lasting Connections Selection
2004 – Kirkus Editors’ Choice
2004 – NY Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading
2004 – School Library Journal Best Book of the
2005 – Michael L. Printz Award
2005 – Newbery Honor Book
2005 – ALA Best Book for Young Adults
2005 – ALA Notable Children’s Book
2005 – Thumbs Up! (MI) Honor Book
2005 – New York Times Bestseller
2005 – Kansas State Reading Circle Recommendation
2005 – Capitol Choices Selection
2005 – Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book
2005 – Disney Adventures Finalist
2006 – Young Hoosier Book Award (IN) Nominee
2007 – Volunteer State (TN) Book Award Master

REVIEWS 

LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTIONS:  “The friendships, which cross several generations, are believable and  moving…. This shameful incident is recounted with sensitivity and humor.”

BOOKLINKS:  “Based on Malaga's actual destruction in 1912, this complex historical novel is by turns funny and tragic, and Turner's earnest, memorable voice drives the story.”

HORN BOOK MAGAZINE:  “In 1911, Maine officials ejected the African-American, Native-American, and foreign-born residents from Malaga Island because they feared their presence would inhibit a projected tourist business. This historical incident ignites a rich novel… create a drama that examines the best and worst of humanity. Schmidt anchors this tragedy firmly within its historical setting, metaphorically connecting the natural surroundings with religion and society, revealing a place where appearances sometimes trump, and often mask, realities, but a place where one boy can see the eye of God in both the body of a whale and the soul of a man.”

KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Schmidt takes his time with his tale, spinning gloriously figurative language that brilliantly evokes both place and emotion. Turner himself is a wonderfully rich character, his moral and intellectual growth developing naturally from the boy the reader first meets. There can be no happy ending to this story, but the telling is both beautiful and emotionally honest, both funny and piercingly sad.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “From the sad and shameful actual destruction of an island community in 1912, Schmidt weaves an evocative novel.  Although the story is hauntingly sad, there is much humor, too. Schmidt's writing is infused with feeling and rich in imagery. With fully developed, memorable characters and a fascinating, little-known piece of history, this novel will leave a powerful impression on readers.”

BOOKLIST:  ‘The novel may be too long and detailed for some readers, with every plot strand and character accounted for. But the removal of the Mal-aga community really happened, and 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”

CONNECTIONS 

Here are a few of the over 200 similar books found at: http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/bookAlikeSearch.do?Ntk=TBW_BookAlike7_SI&workId=4179&gradeOffset=0

Nonfiction

Haskins, James.   GET ON BOARD: THE STORY OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
             ISBN 978-0590454193

Nelson, Marilyn.  CARVER: A LIFE IN POEMS.  ISBN 978-1886910539

Nelson, Marilyn.  A WREATH FOR EMMETT TILL.   Ill. by Philippe Lardy.  ISBN 978-
            0547076362

Oppenheim, Joanne  F.   DEAR MISS BREED: TRUE STORIES OF THE JAPANESE
            AMERICAN INCARCERATION   DURING WORLD WAR II AND A LIBRARIAN
            WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE.  ISBN 978-0439569927

Fiction

Holm, Anne.  I AM DAVID.  ISBN 978-0152051600

 Lerangis, Peter.  SMILER’S BONES.  ISBN 978-0439344852

Lessons

http://www.mcelmeel.com/curriculum/yalit/LizzieBright_by_Ruppel.pdf
Four writing lessons can be found here: persuasive letter, epilogue, compare/contrast two characters, and Hoffner’s “What Really Happened” chart

http://www.mrsoshouse.com/ext/lizbbuckboy.html

Use your online research skills to find resources to assist you in answering the following ten sets of questions. These questions cover geography, science, literature, social sciences, health, animal science, math, and more.

Extras:

·         Sarah Burke wrote a review of the novel. Do you agree with her or disagree with her? Why?

·         Write a biography of Lizzie Bright or Turner Buckminster - Use the resources at Biography Maker,
references in the book, and your imagination

·         Design a PowerPoint™ presentation of the story elements - adapt to this book

·         Making Book Trailers with Photo Story 3 free software and free tutorial

·         Conduct a debate. Role play the opposing sides of the development issues exposed in the story
or a current development issue in your community, region or state.

·         Make a GoogleLitTrip for the story

http://www.mrsoshouse.com/ext/inthuntlitmshs.html

·         Make a crossword puzzle with vocabulary words

·         Make a travel brochure for Malaga, Maine