Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt

Bibliography:

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

Plot Summary:

Reverend Buckminster uprooted his wife and son, Turner from Boston in order to move to Phippsburg, Maine. Turner was not happy about the move at all, especially because he was having such a hard time in the small town of Phippsburg. He wasn't able to hit a baseball pitched in Maine. He couldn't make himself jump off a cliff into the ocean. He was busted by angry Mrs. Cobb for accidentally hitting her fence with the rock he threw. It seemed like he couldn't do anything right and everyone hated him. Everyone with the exception of Lizzie Bright Griffin. He met her on the beach. She lived on Malaga Island with her Grandaddy, Preacher Griffin. The problem was that the townspeople of Phippsburg wanted to clear Malaga Island off to make it look inviting for tourists.

Critical Analysis:

The Buckminster family moved from Boston to Phippsburg, Maine in 1912. The setting is important to the real story of what happened at Malaga Island. The main characters are memorable and honor the true story. The imagery helps readers imagine the beach, the shore and the seabreeze.

Turner was a caring boy that felt all alone, yet somehow always watched. The people of Phippsburg kept their eye on everything he did because he was the minister's son. Lizzie Bright Griffin was an intelligent, fun, adventurous and kind young lady. She and most of the people living on Malaga Island were African Americans. The white people of Phippsburg wanted them gone. They felt tourists would not come to Maine if they were there on the island. Racism at its worst. The leader that wanted them gone was Mr. Stonecrop. He was a racist snake in the grass. Deacon Hurd and Sheriff Elwell were working together with Mr. Stonecrop to remove the people of Malaga Island. They were also both very cruel. They did not care who they would hurt to get what they wanted.

Turner was in trouble for various reasons.  As a punishment, Turner was forced to read books and play the organ for Mrs. Cobb. Mrs. Cobb grew to really like Turner. He was there two to three times a week. Mrs. Hurd, Willis' grandmother, lived across the street from Mrs. Cobb. Mrs. Hurd was a sweet, funny, and friendly woman.

Turner met Lizzie on the beach and became fast friends. Lizzie didn't judge Turner. She made him happy. The Phippsburg people did not like them being friends. They made his father forbid them from seeing each other. His father was a follower at first. He finally opened his eyes when he realized his son was trying to help those in need.

Mrs. Cobb became very fond of Turner and allowed him to have Lizzie over when he played the organ. They all grew closer. When Mrs. Cobb died, she left the house to Turner. Mr. Stonecrop was furious about this decision. He wanted the city to sell the house for funds to build a hotel.

Deacon Hurd sent his own mother to the insane asylum to sell her house for the hotel. In the climax, these awful men sent the rest of the people that did not move from Malaga Island to the insane asylum as well. Lizzie died a few days after arriving at the asylum.

Turner's father died after trying to protect his son from the Sheriff. Turner and his mother were all alone in a town that hated them. However, karma took care of them. They lost the shipyard business. Mr. Stonecrop left with all the money. Deacon Hurd was broke. Turner and his mom helped them out anyway.

The theme of this novel is based off the true story of the greedy and racist people of Phippsburg destroying Malaga Island. They sent eight people to the insane asylum known as, Pownal. They all quickly died after being committed. One of the eight was a little girl. She had no name on record, so Gary D. Schmidt gave her a name.

This is one of the saddest stories I have ever read. It hurts more to know this really happened to actual human beings. Gary D. Schmidt put together, happiness, sorrow, humor, fiction and history to  seamlessly tell Lizzie's story. This is why her name is before Buckminster Boy in the title.

The destruction of the island was kept a secret for a long time. The whole world knows now.

"I Have Some Friends Before Me Gone."


Review Excerpts:

2005 Newbery Honor Book

From BookList: "Characters are drawn without reverence in this haunting combination of fact and fiction that has a powerful and tragic climax."

From Kirkus Reviews: "There can be no happy ending to this story, but the telling is both beautiful and emotionally honest, both funny and piercingly sad."

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


Connections:

Check out the facts about Malaga Island here:

• Day, Holman. "The Quer Folk of the Maine Coast." Harper's Monthly Magazine. September 1909, pp 521-530
• Dubrule, Deborah. "Evicted: How the State of Maine Destroyed a 'Different' Island Community," Island Journal, Vol. 16
• Records of the Maine Home for the Feeble Minded, Maine State Archives, Augusta, Maine.

Use these sources to research more about Malaga Island. Use these sources to compare facts with Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy.

Gather more books from Gary D. Schmidt to read such as:

• Schmidt, Gary D. Wednesday Wars. ISBN 9780547237602
• Schmidt, Gary D. Okay for Now. ISBN 9780547152608
• Schmidt, Gary D. Orbiting Jupiter. ISBN 978054446229
• Schmidt, Gary D. Trouble. ISBN 9780618927661

Use these books for an Author's Spotlight. Use these books to talk about adolescent struggles while learning history.