The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry
by Anna Rose Johnson (Author)
Lucy, a spirited French-Ojibwe orphan, is sent to the stormy waters of Lake Superior to live with a mysterious family of lighthouse-keepers—and, she hopes, to find the legendary necklace her father spent his life seeking…
Selena Lucy Landry (named for a ship, as every sailor’s child should be) has been frightened of the water ever since she lost her father at sea. But with no one else to care for her, she’s sent to foster with the Martins—a large Anishinaabe family living on a lighthouse in the middle of stormy Lake Superior.
The Martin family is big, hard-working, and close, and Lucy—who has always been a dreamer—struggles to fit in. Can she go one day without ruining the laundry or forgetting the sweeping? Will she ever be less afraid of the lake?
Although life at the lighthouse isn’t what Lucy hoped for, it is beautiful—ships come and go, waves pound the rocks—and it has one major advantage: It’s near the site of a famous shipwreck, a shipwreck that went down with a treasure her father wanted more than anything. If Lucy can find that treasure—a priceless ruby necklace—won’t it be like having Papa back again, just a little bit?
But someone else is hunting for the treasure, too. And as the lighthouse company becomes increasingly skeptical that the Martins can juggle Lucy and their duties, Lucy and the Martin children will need to find the necklace quickly—or they may not have a home at all.
The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry is a timelessly sweet tale of found family from rising Ojibwe voice Anna Rose Johnson, author of NPR Best Book of the Year The Star That Always Stays. Perfect for fans of L.M. Montgomery and Karina Yan Glaser!
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Kirkus
A heartwarming tale of belonging and learning that life’s treasures aren’t always shiny.
Publishers Weekly
When French and Ojibwe 11-year-old Selena Lucy Landry's guardian dies, she's placed in the care of the Martins, a large Ojibwe family, in this uplifting tale by Johnson (The Star That Always Stays), a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Already apprehensive about the move, Lucy feels further anxious and isolated when she learns that the family inhabits a lighthouse on a small island in the middle of Lake Superior. Even as she copes with grief, Lucy tries hard to fit in with the six Martin children, regaling them with fanciful, sometimes true, stories. After she recounts the tale of a nearby capsized boat that carried a ruby necklace, her pseudo-siblings gently rib her about the epic's validity, prompting Lucy to set out in search of the necklace, certain that obtaining it for the Martins is her only way to gain acceptance. In this tender, wholesome book about family, Johnson acknowledges the importance of kindness and patience, especially in matters of grief and settling into new places and situations. Third-person passages deftly detail Lucy's tumultuous emotions and winningly balance the mystery of the shipwreck; Anishinaabe text throughout emphasizes how culture and environmental preservation shape the Martin family's values. Ages 8-12. Agent: Jessica Schmeidler, Golden Wheat Literary. (Mar.)
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
School Library Journal
Gr 3-7--Selena Lucy Landry (Lucy, for short) is full of imagination, wonder, and a taste for adventure--with one exception. After losing her father in a shipwreck, she has an overwhelming fear of the sea. This proves particularly difficult when she is sent to live with the Martins, a large Anishinaabe family of lighthouse keepers on a tiny island in Lake Superior. She arrives desperate to be loved but can never seem to say or do the right thing. Soon, however, a window of opportunity appears. The Martins live close to Mermaid's Corner, the site of a shipwreck her father often told her about. Can she find the ship's treasure that her father longed to discover? Will seeking it bring her closer to the Martin family, or is Lucy destined to not only be an orphan, but an outcast forever? Lucy has an enchantment reminiscent of Anne Shirley's, but Johnson adds so much depth to the 19th-century orphan story by weaving it with the girl's self-discovery as she connects more deeply with her Ojibwe heritage through her newfound foster family. There is also a nod to homeschooling as the Martins live far from school, and take pride in having their mother as a teacher. VERDICT Fans of L.M. Montgomery seeking diverse characters will rejoice at this heart-warming, feel-good adventure, as will families looking for books representing home learners.--Amira Walker
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Review quotes
"Spunky, precocious, and especially talented in elaborate storytelling, Lucy is surely kin with Montgomery's Anne, and the cozy tone and mild excitement make it an easy readalike for fans of those books."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Beautiful and wonderfully unique ... An endearing portrait of an orphaned girl finding her courage, heritage, and family."—L.M. Elliott, New York Times bestselling author of Storm Dog and Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves
"Beautifully celebrates the gift of found family, and the discovery of courage within yourself." —Kate Albus, author of A Place to Hang the Moon
"Lucy Landry is a charming and fanciful heroine reminiscent of Anne Shirley, who reminds us that even in dark times, we can be a light for others."—Alyssa Colman, author of Bank Street Best Book of the Year The Gilded Girl
"This heartfelt tale reminded me of Anne of Green Gables and A Little Princess in the best ways."—Amy Lynn Green, author of The Blackout Book Club
"A tender book about family and courage and finding true treasure, Lucy Landry gives all the cozy, nostalgic vibes of 'vintage kidlit' from the fresh perspective of an Indigenous heroine." —Caroline Starr Rose, author of May B.
"A shining tale of fear and courage! Anna Rose Johnson packs a lot into this slim story, and the results are truly luminous."—Chris Abouzeid, owner of Belmont Books
"Anna Rose Johnson has created a wonderful protagonist in Lucy, who alternates between shy self-doubt and telling fanciful stories about herself and her parents to boost herself up."—Melissa Dassori, author of J.R. Silver Writes Her World
"Heartwarming, wholesome, gripping, family-focused, historically accurate in time and sensibility, with a great resolution." —Kaela Noel, author of Coo
JUV039020 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Adolescence
JUV016000 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | General
JUV011040 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Native American
Orphans
Foster home care
Ojibwa Indians
Heirlooms
Lighthouse keepers
Novels
