Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

Set in 1912 and centered on a historical event, the moving and compelling coming-of-age story of Turner, a white minister's son who discovers joy through his friendship with a black girl, Lizzie, and finds his own strength and voice after painful losses transform his life. In this powerful and moving novel, Turner Buckminster, a preacher's son newly arrived in in Phippsburg, Maine, meets Lizzie Bright Griffin, a strong, spirited black girl from Malaga Island, a nearby island community founded by former slaves. All of Phippsburg, especially Turner's repressive father, disapproves of their friendship, but Turner ignores them; Lizzie is the wisest, most knowledgeable person he ever met. On top of knowing everything, she can row a boat and pitch a baseball like a champ. The town's move to turn the island into a tourist attraction destroys the powerless community, a historical event that occurred in 1912. It is the catalyst for a wave of personal losses that shakes Turner's world but leaves him whole. With a new introduction by the author and author's note. AGES: 10 to 12 AUTHOR: Gary D. Schmidt is the best-selling author of Pay Attention, Carter Jones; Orbiting Jupiter; the Newbery Honor and Printz Honor book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy; the Newbery Honor book The Wednesday Wars; and Okay for Now. He is a professor of English at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Winner of School Library Journal Best Book (United States). Winner of Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award (Vermont) (United States). Winner of Michael L. Printz Honor Book (United States). Winner of ALA Notable Children’s Book (United States). Winner of New York Public Library's “One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing” (United States). Winner of Michael L. Printz Award (United States). Winner of Newbery Honor Book (United States). Winner of Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice (United States). Winner of Book Links Lasting Connection (United States).

“"Gloriously figurative language...brilliantly evokes both time and place...both beautiful and emotionally honest, both funny and piercingly sad." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "A powerful tale of friendship and coming-of-age...haunting combination of fact and fiction has a powerful and tragic climax." -- Booklist (starred review) "An evocative novel...with fully developed, memorable characters...fascinating, little-known piece of history...will leave a powerful impression on readers." -- School Library Journal (starred review) "Schmidt fictionalizes a true event... vividly realized...fully credible...subtly drawn." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Historical incident ignites a rich novel...a drama that examines the best and worst of humanity." -- Horn Book Magazine”

"Gloriously figurative language...brilliantly evokes both time and place...both beautiful and emotionally honest, both funny and piercingly sad."— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"A powerful tale of friendship and coming-of-age...haunting combination of fact and fiction has a powerful and tragic climax."— Booklist (starred review)"An evocative novel...with fully developed, memorable characters...fascinating, little-known piece of history...will leave a powerful impression on readers." — School Library Journal (starred review)"Schmidt fictionalizes a true event... vividly realized...fully credible...subtly drawn."— Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books"Historical incident ignites a rich novel...a drama that examines the best and worst of humanity." — Horn Book Magazine

Gary D. Schmidt is the bestselling author of The Labors of Hercules Beal; Just Like That; National Book Award finalist Okay for Now; Pay Attention, Carter Jones; Orbiting Jupiter; the Newbery Honor and Printz Honor Book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy; and the Newbery Honor Book The Wednesday Wars. He is also contributor to and co-editor of the acclaimed short story collection A Little Bit Super, co-edited by Leah Henderson. He lives in rural Michigan.

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