Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie (On My Own History) [Hardcover]

Peter Roop (Author), Connie Roop (Author), Peter E. Hanson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1987 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: On My Own History

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.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 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.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (April 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876142757
• ISBN-13: 978-0876142752
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,306,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Example of Children's Historical Fiction, July 21, 2002

By 

"aleschman" (Evergreen Park, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie (1st Avenue) (Paperback)

Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie is a well-written piece of historical fiction based on Abbie Burgess' own accounts and other historical sources. This information is provided in the note by the authors at the beginning of the book. All incidences appear to be very representative of the life of the time depicted. Abbie's character is developed well. The reader is able to see that Abbie is a strong young girl who does not want to let her family, especially her father, down. She faces the conflict of person vs. self and also person vs. nature is evident in the book. The theme evident in the book is bravery and strength. Abbie had to be brave to keep the lights lit. She needed the strength to overcome her fears and to live up to her father's expectations. The illustrations were beautiful watercolors that set the mood of the story.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book demonstrating heroines, May 24, 2007

By 

TBD (Warrenton, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie (Paperback)

Found this book recommended in

Great Books for Girls: More Than 600 Books to Inspire Today's Girls and Tomorrow's Women

This story is about a real girl who rises to meet a challenge that would frighten any adult. My kindergartner now holds this book near/dear as she sees it as a model of courage/bravery to aspire to. Even more exciting is that this story is based upon a real event in a real girl's life.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Learning Tool, March 24, 2007

By 

theboombody (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie (1st Avenue) (Paperback)

This book gives you an idea of what it was like to operate a lighthouse in the mid 1800's. Sure doesn't sound fun. In that sense the book is very educational, and it give hero status to a deserving individual that most people have never heard of. The only real flaw it has is in the format of its printing. I can't tell where one paragraph starts and another ends, so if I were trying to narrate this thing I would have a hard time knowing where to stop and start as far as the vocal intonation goes. I also think the introduction gives away the whole story on the first page, so it should really be put at the end of the book.