Lizzie Bright And The Buckminster Boy

CHAPTERS 1-2

Reading Check

1. Baseball (Chapter 1)

2. A pistol/gun (Chapter 1)

3. That Turner “wasn’t very bright” (Chapter 2)

4. Lizzie’s grandfather shows the Phippsburg men the graves of previous generations of Malaga families. (Chapter 2)

5. Lizzie’s grandfather is supposed to convey to Malaga families that it is time to move on. (Chapter 2)

Short Answer

1. Turner has just moved with his family to Phippsburg, Maine, from Boston, Massachusetts. He misses his life in Boston; Turner is teased frequently in his new home, and even games seem strange and new as the boys play baseball differently in the Territories. (Chapter 1)

2. Lizzie is a 13-year-old Black girl living on Malaga Island, just across the inlet from Phippsburg, Maine. She loves the island and has determined she would not trade it for anywhere else. (Chapter 1)

3. As the men taunt Lizzie, they remark on how the town of Phippsburg would benefit financially from an increase in tourism with a resort on Malaga Island; however, the shanties, where Lizzie lives, would have to be removed first. (Chapter 2)

4. As punishment for throwing stones on Mrs. Cobb’s property, Turner is forced to read to the old woman every day for the entirety of summer. On his first afternoon reading to Mrs. Cobb, Turner goes outside to take some fresh air when Mrs. Cobb is asleep. A boy begins to taunt him. The two boys briefly fight, leaving Turner bloody, and when he washes off his clothes in Mrs. Cobb’s house, she discovers him naked. (Chapter 2)

5. Lizzie uses the phrase “The Change” to refer to her grandfather who transforms from his frail and quiet self into a strong and louder presence when talking about God and important matters. When the men from Phippsburg visit her grandfather informing him that he and the other residents must leave their land by the fall season, Lizzie expects “The Change” to happen, but instead her grandfather remains calm and eventually acquiesces to the men’s demands. (Chapter 2)

CHAPTERS 3-5

Reading Check

1. His white shirt (Chapter 3)

2. His baseball swing (Chapter 3)

3. To hit the opponent “[f]irst to the nose, then to the eye” (Chapter 4)

4. A “prop” (Chapter 4)

Short Answer

1. Lizzie sees Turner practicing his baseball swing near the sea. When she calls out to him, he misses the swing and the rock he was using as a ball hits him in the nose and causes him to start bleeding. Lizzie immediately comes to his aid, and the two begin to chat while Lizzie helps him improve his baseball swing. At the end of their first encounter, Turner determines that he likes her. (Chapter 3)

2. After being scolded for the umpteenth time on his behavior in the town, Turner has two important realizations: first, that his father actually believes what he says, and second, that Turner himself believes in his father’s words. While reflecting on this new idea, Turner is surprised to hear his mother defend his actions to his father. (Chapter 3)

3. Lizzie invites Turner to her home on Malaga Island, where he meets her grandfather and other members of the community. He enjoys his time immensely, feeling accepted and loved; however, these feelings are complicated by a later conversation with the men of the town, who scold Turner for going with Lizzie and use his excursion as proof of the dangers of the Black community on Malaga Island. (Chapter 4)

4. One day, Lizzie falls while climbing, hits her head on a rock, and becomes quite dizzy, forcing Turner to row Lizzie back to the island. Unfortunately, the sea is turbulent, and he is unable to bring Lizzie back in a timely manner. While struggling with the boat, he sees whales and tries to communicate with one. He is finally able to dock closer to Phippsburg, where the community is waiting for him. Mr. Stonecrop is particularly displeased that Turner is engaging in such poor activities. Turner’s father is more sympathetic than Turner expects him to be. (Chapter 5)

CHAPTERS 6-8

Reading Check

1. The fall of Jericho (Chapter 6)

2. The organ (Chapter 6)

3. At high tide (Chapter 7)

4. Reverend Buckminster believes that Turner should learn at home from him. (Chapter 7)

5. To understand from the importance of different perspectives (Chapter 7)

6. Paint the shutters on Mrs. Hurd’s house yellow again (Chapter 8)

Short Answer

1. Mrs. Hurd reveals to Turner that she does not attend church on Sundays because religion is internal. Turner contrasts this statement with his father’s beliefs, which are strict and uniform regarding the importance of externally showing religious faith. (Chapter 6)

2. After Turner hopes the wind will bring Lizzie to him, she visits his house at night. The two friends talk about their motivations for seeing each other. Despite the rumors in the town, Lizzie clarifies that she was not using Turner, and that Turner was visiting her because he really liked her as a friend. (Chapter 6)

3. Turner invites Lizzie to come hear him play the organ at Mrs. Cobb’s house. At first Mrs. Cobb is shocked with her presence, but after several songs, she is soothed by the music and invites Lizzie to come back when he plays. (Chapter 7)

4. After seeing that Mrs. Hurd’s shutters had been painted the standard green like the rest of the community, Turner learns from his father that she was sent to a psychiatric hospital. Turner is disheartened by the news. His mother indicates her disapproval that such actions were taken with financial motivations in mind. (Chapter 7)

5. After Lizzie is absent from Mrs. Cobb’s several times, Mrs. Cobb admits that she liked Lizzie and that Turner should not always be the minister’s son in his actions. This inspires Turner to visit Lizzie, where he spends the afternoon with her and her grandfather. (Part 8)

CHAPTERS 9-10

Reading Check

1. An “old family disease” (Chapter 9)

2. Turner tells Lizzie his plan won’t make a difference. (Chapter 10)

Short Answer

1. Mr. Stonecrop reveals to Turner’s father that Mrs. Cobb left her house to Turner. Mr. Stonecrop emphasizes that the town’s future as a tourism hub should be considered by Turner and his father; however, Turner resolves to turn the house over to Lizzie. (Chapter 9)

2. The first moment is when Turner’s father stands up for Turner when Mr. Stonecrop announces the plan to sell Mrs. Cobb’s house to the city. The second moment is when Turner’s father finds Turner at Mrs. Cobb’s house and defends him against Sheriff Elwell. Both events are related to the house and show his changing perspective regarding his son and regarding his views on race in the community. (Chapter 10)

3. Willis shares with Turner that something important will happen that evening. Turner assumes it is regarding Mrs. Cobb’s house; however, he realizes that Willis was referring to forcibly removing Lizzie and the rest of the Malaga Island residents to a psychiatric hospital. (Chapter 10)

CHAPTER 11-AFTERWORD

Reading Check

1. To dig up the graves on Malaga Island (Chapter 11)

2. Reverend Buckminster lost his job as the town pastor and the family needs a home. (Chapter 11)

3. A whale (Chapter 12)

Short Answer

1. After falling from the cliffs during the altercation with Sheriff Elwell, Reverend Buckminster does not recover from his injuries and passes away. Much to the chagrin of the church and many townspeople, Turner says at his father’s funeral that by defending the people of Malaga Island, his father was doing God’s work on Earth. (Chapter 11)

2. Turner asks Mr. Newton to take him to the psychiatric hospital where Lizzie was being kept. Upon arrival, Turner and Mr. Newton learn that Lizzie died 10 days after arriving at the Home. (Chapter 11)

3. In February, Mr. Stonecrop offers to buy Mrs. Cobb’s house for more than the market price; however, Turner declines. By May, Mr. Stonecrop has left town due to his shipyard’s failings; he abandons the projects he promised to start as a way of revitalizing the town, leaving many people in the community confused and angry. (Chapter 12)