The Lights Go on Again [Hardcover]

Kit Pearson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

With the end of World War II, Gavin and Norah, who had been sent to Canada for safety, must return to England after a five-year absence, and Gavin is faced with the difficult choice of leaving his beloved Canadian family and his best friends.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-This is the third installment in the lives of two British children who were evacuated to Canada during World War II. In The Sky Is Falling (1990) and Looking at the Moon (1992, both Viking), readers were introduced to Gavin and Norah, and followed them through their first few years in Toronto. In The Lights Go on Again, the war ends, and the young people make plans to return to their homeland. The conflict arises out of Gavin's reluctance to leave, especially after his parents' sudden death during a bombing. He truly feels like a Canadian boy, and he has almost no memory of his home. Pearson successfully captures the mood of the war era without sacrificing the youthful point of view of the protagonist. Historical details, like collecting stamps for war bonds and paper drives, are unobtrusive. The characters, even distant relatives and school chums, are multidimensional and seem to come to life on the page. Still, it seems that the novel never gets off the ground. No genuine dramatic tension is created until near the end, when Gavin announces his desire to stay in Canada and be adopted by the elderly woman he calls Aunt Florence rather than leave with his sister. That issue is resolved very quickly. He goes back to war-torn Great Britian, and to what is left of his family and their bombed-out home. The potential to engage young readers with wonderful historical fiction is in these pages, but it has slipped through Pearson's fingers.
Lucinda Lockwood, Thomas Haney Secondary School, Maple Ridge, BC
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. It's 1945. Ten-year-old Gavin and his older sister, Norah, have lived in Toronto for five years as English war guests of an elderly Canadian lady and her daughter, who have grown to love the children. In this sequel to The Sky Is Falling and Looking at the Moon, the war is drawing to a close when the children's parents are killed in an air raid. Unlike Norah, Gavin cannot remember his parents and feels no grief. When their grandfather comes to take them back to England, Gavin must decide where his heart lies and where his home will be. Pearson portrays the characters' strengths, flaws, and emotions with honesty and finesse. While those who have read the first two novels in the series will find this more immediately involving, the book stands on its own as a convincing portrayal of characters and events as well as of a particular time and place. Carolyn Phelan

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile; 1St Edition edition (May 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670849197
• ISBN-13: 978-0670849192
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,133,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really good, February 6, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lights Go on Again (Hardcover)

This book is just as good as the first two(The sky is falling and Looking at the moon). Kit Pearson sets just the right moods for them. Like when Norah was sad when a certain part happened and Gavin was so confused. I like the way on how she focused on Gavin instead of Norah. Gavin is much more imaginative, shy and cowardy than Norah ever was. I'd give this book 10/5 stars because it was so well wrought. A very satisfying end to a great series!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best book ever, June 2, 2000

By 

Josh brydges (Calgary,Alberta,Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lights Go on Again (Hardcover)

I recently read the "Guests of War" trilogy which has all the books("The sky is falling","Looking at the moon" and "The lights go on again" all of which are awesome incredible super duper books). My personal favorite was this one. I believe that these books are 15 times better than Harry Potter wich is awesome too. I would enjoy it if Kit Pearson would write one or two more books. One about the lights go on again but in Norahs perspective and also what happens when they grow up, like if Gavin moves to Canada,what happens between Gavin and Eleanor, if John and Norah get married, what happens when Andrew tells them that he's going to take acting, and whether the cousins(Janet, Flo and Clare)keep in touch with Norah. If I were Roger Ebert I would give it 1000 thumbs up way up. I would recomend it to anyone and evryone. They should read it no matter what! Thank you

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another well written book by Kit pearson, June 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lights Go on Again (Hardcover)

The Lights Go On Again By Kit Pearson was on of the most heart touching books I've ever read. It was a very realistic but sad way to end Norah and Gavin's story.