The Stormy Adventure of Abbie Burgess, Lighthouse Keeper

by Peter Roop, Connie Roop, Zachary Trover (Illustrator)

Overview

Trapped by sea and storm . . . a girl must keep the lighthouse working. Matinicus Rock, Maine, 1856. Seventeen-year-old Abbie Burgess lives with her family on a tiny island off the coast of Maine. Her father, the lighthouse keeper, must clean and light the lighthouse lamps every day without fail. Otherwise ships could crash into rocks and sink. Abbie's father leaves to buy supplies, but a storm hitsbefore he can return. Can Abbie keep the lights burning until her father returns

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761361725
Publisher:	Graphic Universe
Publication date:	10/28/2010
Series:	History's Kid Heroes Series
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	GN370L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

Editorial Reviews

Abbie Burgess and her family lived on Matinicus Island, Maine; her father was the light house keeper, charged with keeping the light burning to warn ships about the dangerous rocks and reefs in the area. On January 19, 1856, Abbie's father left the island to sail to the mainland to get supplies and medicine for her sick mother. He left Abbie in charge of the lighthouse, promising her that he would be back by nightfall. Late that afternoon, a gale began to blow, and Abbie realized that her father would not be back to man the lighthouse that day. Or the next. In fact, for more than four weeks, Abbie singlehandedly kept the lighthouse lamp burning and her family safe from the storms that raged around Matinicus Island. The storm surge became so fierce that Abbie made her family and their chickens move to the safety of the lighthouse. When the seas were finally calm enough for Abbie's father to the return to the island, he found his family safe, although most of the buildings on the island had been demolished by wind and water. Abbie never let the light of the lighthouse go out. This graphic novel is part of a series of biographies of young heroes in American history. The storyline is simple but compelling and well paced. The protagonist, Abbie, is refreshingly presented as strong, calm, and utterly unflappable in the face of adversity. The authors have included an afterword, offering a summary of the rest of Abbie's life as well as the honor she was given by the United States Coast Guard in 1997. A list of resources for further reading is also included. This is an excellent book for reluctant readers who like their history with an element of excitement. Recommended for readers ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Lauri Berkenkamp

Children's Literature - Lauri Berkenkamp