Teton County Library Call Number: YA SCHMIDT
No rating

A fantastic read! This book takes place in Maine in the early 1900's when a young boy, Turner Buckminster, moves from Boston so his father can be the new town minister of Phippsburg. immediately, Turner feels like he will not fit in when his style of baseball difers from that of the local boys and his is afraid to jump off the cliffs into the icy ocean water. When he goes to spend some time alone on the beach, away from the mocking boys, and away from the critical eyes of town who have a pre-conceived notion of what a minister's son should dress and act like, he meets Lizzie Bright Griffin, and African American girl who lives on Malaga Island, just off the town's shores. the two become fast friends, united in their feelings of isolation, and Lizzie teaches Turner the Maine style of baseball, and eventually, how to row her boat (after an almost disasterous first attempt)

Along the way, however, the two have a grand adventures that result in injury to Lizzie, and punishment to Turner (He is banned by his father to visit Malaga Island - a place Turner has come to enjoy and finally feel comfortable in his hown skin, depsite racial and economic differences.) Turner and Lizzie also learn that the white townspeople have plans to push out all the residents of Malaga Island, to turn a profit for themselves by starting the tourism industry. Read the book to see what happens in this sometimes funny, sometimes sad adventure, based on the true story of Malaga Island. (complete with an author's note at the end) A realistic ending will be appreciated as sometimes this genre can tie things up a bit too neatly.