Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie Book

In the winter of 1856, a storm delays the lighthouse keeper's return to an island off the coast of Maine, and his daughter Abbie must keep the lights burning by herself.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3 Based on a true story of an 1856 storm off the coast of Maine, Abbie's tale is one of endurance and bravery. When her father, the lighthouse keeper, sails off for supplies, he leaves Abbie in charge of lighting the oil lamps in the twin towers of their lighthouse and making sure that they don't go out. When a huge storm hits, preventing her father from returning for four weeks, Abbie keeps those lamps burning, getting up several times each night to climb the towers to check them, scraping ice from the windows so the lights can be seen at sea. In the course of the storm, she also rescues her chickens from a huge wave, thus saving the family's only source of food. The Roops allow the natural drama of Abbie's story to emerge in simple sentences that are sometimes cut up awkwardly, but for the most part they are clear and compelling. An author's note gives the interesting historical basis of the story, but the tale stands alone as an exciting account of a young girl's courage. The vivid watercolor paintings are highly effective in detailing Abbie's job as well as creating atmosphere. All in all, one of the best historical beginning-to-readsa refreshing cold blast of salty real life.