Abbie Against the Storm: The True Story of a Young Heroine and a Lighthouse

We picked this book up at the giftshop of a local lighthouse and I am SOOO glad. What a treasure! The illustrations are gorgeous, first of all... which will immediately draw you in. And the story is a perfect piece of history to share with children. I'm keeping this for our lighthouse studies this summer... I'm convinced that it's the best lighthouse story out there. Finally, maybe it's just because I'm pregnant right now, but the story was so well written and so moving, it brought tears to my eyes at the end. What a lovely example of father/daughter love and true courage... Enjoy this one; it's a treat!!!

Based on the true story of lighthouse heroine Abbie Burgess, Abbie Against the Storm is an inspiring story of courage complimented by beautiful artwork. When her family moves to Matinicus Rock Lighthouse in Maine, Abbie quickly becomes an invaluable assistant to her lighthouse keeper father. Abbie understands that keeping the beacon burning is a matter of life and death to sailors like her brother Ben. When the supply ship does not arrive as scheduled, Abbie's father must head to the mainland for much-needed supplies and food for his family. He leaves Abbie in charge of the lights, knowing that she will be able to keep them burning in his absence. As a violent storm threatens the area, Abbie's quick thinking and determination enable her to avert disaster. The young woman saves the family's hens just before the hen house is washed away. When the dangerous waves also claim the oil shed and fog bell, Abbie fears that the family's home will be destroyed next. After moving her family to the safety of the sturdy north tower, Abbie stays up all night to keep the lighthouse's beams shining through the storm. The family's supply of food dwindles, and Abbie worries that her father may not return before the family starves. Despite the intense cold, hunger pangs, and an uncertain future, Abbie tirelessly tends the light until her father returns. Farnsworth's vivid illustrations bring the daily duties of a 19th century lighthouse keeper to life. There is an especially striking illustration of Abbie polishing the lantern reflectors in the lighthouse tower. Abbie Against the Storm is an excellent book for lighthouse enthusiasts of all ages.

I chose the book because our family had stayed at a lighthouse in a big storm a couple of years ago. The wind was howling and the rain was coming down and it was very frightening to my kids. So, when I saw this book, I thought wow - this could be good. My daughter and I read this book together. I liked the story and the struggle that this young woman went through. The pictures were great! Later in the week I saw her play on the play structure pretending it was a lighthouse. Obviously it touched her imagination - the mark of a good book.

As a professor of Creative Drama and Children's Theatre at the University of New Mexico, I am always looking for books that students in our children's classes will enjoy acting out. ABBIE AGAINST THE STORM is a rich and exciting source of dramatic action and historical fact as well as being a lively and moving reading experience. Abbie is a magnificently brave teen-age girl who struggles against her own fear and self-doubt as well as struggling with the raging forces of nature. Vaughan paints wonderful word pictures with sound and visual imagery. Her use of words suggest how spoken language may have sounded in the mid-nineteenth century. Bill Farnsworth's gorgeous illustrations are equally dramatic and embody the strong spirit of Abby, the wildness of the sea, and the individuality of each character. This is a wonderful book for young readers. It will introduce them to a different era through the eyes of a woman who lived over a century ago. The epilogue that gives historical facts about the real Abby is an excellent addition to the story and makes it resonate with even more meaning.

Abbie is a young girl who actually lived in another century. Her lighthouse did not have electricity but only whaleoil lamps. This made her job of polishing mirrors so important. The book describes the storm so well that you can almost hear the wind howling. Her courage in fighting against the storm and saving her family and her chickens are things that my grandson will relate to. The pictures make even an old person love Abbie Burgess because they illustrate her bravery.