RSS Feed (xml)
1. Bibliographic Information:
Lawrence, I. (2002). The lightkeeper’s daughter. New York, New York: Delacorte Press.
246 pages
ISBN: 0-385-72925-1
2. Plot Summary
When Elizabeth “Squid” McCrae returns with her three year old daughter, Tatiana, to her home on the remote Lizzie Island, off the coast of British Columbia, her feelings about her family resurface. There, Squid, her mother and her father, reminisce about Squid’s childhood, especially the death of her brother, Alistair. Squid’s parents, Murray and Hannah, have lived on the island since their marriage. Murray is the light keeper on Lizzie Island. Murray and Hannah, themselves are going through issues other than the grief of their son. Murray is becoming more isolated and depressed and does not understand Squid’s departure from the island. Hannah, is still grieving for her son, but is starting to feel confined on the island. Squid blames her parents for her brother’s death, feeling that their independent, yet rural and isolated parenting skewed their view of reality and how the outside world worked. However, when Squid uncovers Alastair’s journals she begins to rethink her impact upon Alastair’s life as well as the causes of his death.
3. Critical Evaluation:
Told in third person, the reader witnesses Squid’s growth from a free-spirit clinging to her independence to the woman she has become when she returns. Through Squid, Iain Lawrence paints an interesting picture of life in British Columbia as well as personal struggles with being a single teen parent, coming to terms with your parent’s identity and parenting styles, as well as the process of grieving. Although Squid is not always a likeable character, on the contrary, she is very much a flawed character; the reader is able to relate to her decisions and actions, especially when one remembers that she is only seventeen. We understand her resentment towards her parents, her desire to live a more cosmopolitan life, and her need to find herself. We also see how her interpretations of her memories are in fact a coping mechanism for the loss of her brother. The setting also provides the reader with information about Squid’s thoughts and aspirations. In such a rural, cold, and desolate lifestyle, it is not hard to see how Squid can feel abandoned despite her closeness to her brother. Ultimately, The Lightkeeper’s Daughter, forces the reader to make stark comparisons between the characters and him or herself.
4. Reader’s Annotation:
Squid is reluctantly returning home after three years away. While reading her dead brother’s journals, Squid begins to question the events leading up to his death.
5. Information about the Author:
Iain Lawrence lives in the Gulf Islands in Canada. He has written nonfiction books about his travels on the Canadian coastline as well as five other young adult novels.
6. Genre:
Realistic Fiction
7. Curriculum Ties:
I think that this book could be used to describe the environment around British Columbia however it would most likely be used as an outside reading book. Therefore, this book could possibly be used for a Geography or English class.
8. Booktalking Ideas
-How reliable are memories?
-Describe what you think happened to Alistair.
9. Reading Level/Interest Age
Because this novel has so many thematic elements I would recommend this novel for older teens aged 16-18.
10. Challenge Issues:
This novel embodies what Cole in Young Adult Literature in the 21st Century described as traditional aspect of realistic fiction showing themes which include teenage sexuality and dysfunctional family relationships (119, 135). Although the use of sex in this novel is not graphic, it does result in teenage pregnancy and parenting. Furthermore, the roles of Squid’s parents are not always seen in a positive light. If there is challenge issues refer to the American Library Association’s website:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm/
11. Why was it selected?
This was one of the novels selected for my LIBR 271A class, examining Canadian youth literature.
12. Citations
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
Cole, P. B. (2009). Young adult literature in the 21st century. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill.
Lawrence, I. (2002). The lightkeeper’s daughter. New York, New York: Delacorte Press.
Pictures from:
Random House Children’s Books. (2010). Iain Lawrence: books. Retrieved from http://www.randomhouse.com/features/iainlawrence/books.html
Lawrence, I. (2002). The lightkeeper’s daughter. New York, New York: Delacorte Press.
246 pages
ISBN: 0-385-72925-1
2. Plot Summary
When Elizabeth “Squid” McCrae returns with her three year old daughter, Tatiana, to her home on the remote Lizzie Island, off the coast of British Columbia, her feelings about her family resurface. There, Squid, her mother and her father, reminisce about Squid’s childhood, especially the death of her brother, Alistair. Squid’s parents, Murray and Hannah, have lived on the island since their marriage. Murray is the light keeper on Lizzie Island. Murray and Hannah, themselves are going through issues other than the grief of their son. Murray is becoming more isolated and depressed and does not understand Squid’s departure from the island. Hannah, is still grieving for her son, but is starting to feel confined on the island. Squid blames her parents for her brother’s death, feeling that their independent, yet rural and isolated parenting skewed their view of reality and how the outside world worked. However, when Squid uncovers Alastair’s journals she begins to rethink her impact upon Alastair’s life as well as the causes of his death.
3. Critical Evaluation:
Told in third person, the reader witnesses Squid’s growth from a free-spirit clinging to her independence to the woman she has become when she returns. Through Squid, Iain Lawrence paints an interesting picture of life in British Columbia as well as personal struggles with being a single teen parent, coming to terms with your parent’s identity and parenting styles, as well as the process of grieving. Although Squid is not always a likeable character, on the contrary, she is very much a flawed character; the reader is able to relate to her decisions and actions, especially when one remembers that she is only seventeen. We understand her resentment towards her parents, her desire to live a more cosmopolitan life, and her need to find herself. We also see how her interpretations of her memories are in fact a coping mechanism for the loss of her brother. The setting also provides the reader with information about Squid’s thoughts and aspirations. In such a rural, cold, and desolate lifestyle, it is not hard to see how Squid can feel abandoned despite her closeness to her brother. Ultimately, The Lightkeeper’s Daughter, forces the reader to make stark comparisons between the characters and him or herself.
4. Reader’s Annotation:
Squid is reluctantly returning home after three years away. While reading her dead brother’s journals, Squid begins to question the events leading up to his death.
5. Information about the Author:
Iain Lawrence lives in the Gulf Islands in Canada. He has written nonfiction books about his travels on the Canadian coastline as well as five other young adult novels.
6. Genre:
Realistic Fiction
7. Curriculum Ties:
I think that this book could be used to describe the environment around British Columbia however it would most likely be used as an outside reading book. Therefore, this book could possibly be used for a Geography or English class.
8. Booktalking Ideas
-How reliable are memories?
-Describe what you think happened to Alistair.
9. Reading Level/Interest Age
Because this novel has so many thematic elements I would recommend this novel for older teens aged 16-18.
10. Challenge Issues:
This novel embodies what Cole in Young Adult Literature in the 21st Century described as traditional aspect of realistic fiction showing themes which include teenage sexuality and dysfunctional family relationships (119, 135). Although the use of sex in this novel is not graphic, it does result in teenage pregnancy and parenting. Furthermore, the roles of Squid’s parents are not always seen in a positive light. If there is challenge issues refer to the American Library Association’s website:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm/
11. Why was it selected?
This was one of the novels selected for my LIBR 271A class, examining Canadian youth literature.
12. Citations
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
Cole, P. B. (2009). Young adult literature in the 21st century. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill.
Lawrence, I. (2002). The lightkeeper’s daughter. New York, New York: Delacorte Press.
Pictures from:
Random House Children’s Books. (2010). Iain Lawrence: books. Retrieved from http://www.randomhouse.com/features/iainlawrence/books.html
13. Awards
WINNER 2003 - Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading List
WINNER 2003 - ALA Best Books for Young Adults
No comments:
Post a Comment