The Puffin Keeper

From School Library Journal Gr 3-6-Tossed into each other's paths by a turbulent sea, a stout-hearted lighthouse keeper and a young boy make an indelible mark on each other's lives in this stirring tale. Benjamin Postlethwait lives a solitary life as the keeper of a lighthouse on Puffin Ixadsland off the coast of England. Despite being named for the birds who once inhabited it in droves, Puffin Island has not been home to puffins for many years. One stormy night, Ben heroically rescues a group of 30 seafarers, among them a young boy named Allen Williams. Taking shelter in the warmth of the lighthouse, the boy is enthralled by the keeper's paintings lining the walls. Upon the boy's departure, Ben gifts Allen one of his paintings, and with this gift, an artist is born. Allen and his mother continue on their journey to the mainland, where Allen's subsequent childhood years are rocky, buoyed only by his passion for art. At the conclusion of his schooling, Allen finds himself compelled to return to Puffin Island-and there his friendship with Ben is cemented in the rescue of a lone puffin. Thus begins many years of tutelage, friendship, and the return of puffins to Puffin Island. Morpurgo's narrative is propelled by small revelatory moments between characters: the gift of a painting, the rescue of a bird, a boy teaching an old man how to read. This work, while melancholy in parts, will certainly appeal to young readers, especially fans of historical fiction. Davies has a keen ability to render tempestuous and placid scenes with equal emotion. His digital illustrations' vintage, painterly quality perfectly suit the text. VERDICT Whether on land or at sea, this tale of lasting friendship delivers adventure and charm in spades. A welcome addition to most collections.-Sarah Simpsonα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle-Grade Historical Fiction of 2022 “[I]n this winning story of an enduring friendship . . . Morpugo’s spare, deeply felt prose, with undercurrents of the otherworldly . . . creates an irresistible momentum for this elegant story of the sea and a destiny fulfilled.” —STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly "A memorable story of the healing powers of art, nature, and human kindness." —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews "Delivers adventure and charm in spades." —STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal "Propelled by the sumptuous full-color art of Benji Davies, The Puffin Keeper is a page turner young readers can finish curled up on the couch over one stormy afternoon." — New York Times “Highly recommended, this novel provides a setting for numerous adventures for the young adult reader.” — Historical Novel Society "An old-fashioned story in the very best sense, The Puffin Keeper also has unquestionable value today." — Imaginary Elevators " The Puffin Keeper . . . is an interesting story generally well told and nicely illustrated." — CM: Canadian Review of Materials " The Puffin Keeper is an emotional tale of people and creatures who forge joyful bonds, endure storms and carry on . . . Davies' depictions of human characters are nicely expressive, and the puffins are both accurate and adorable." — BookPage “This is a grand adventure for young readers, boys and girls alike, but there are many moral lessons within like paying back someone who helped you.” — Story Monsters Ink MICHAEL MORPURGO is one of Britain's best-loved storymakers. He has written over 150 books loved by readers around the world. His best-known work, War Horse , was adapted into a multi-Oscar-nominated film by Steven Spielberg and into a widely acclaimed play by the National Theatre. In 2003, Michael became the third Children's Laureate, a position he helped to create with the poet Ted Hughes. With his wife, he set up the charity Farms for City Children, and for their pioneering work they were both awarded the MBE in 1999. In 2017, he was awarded a knighthood for services to literature and charity. BENJI DAVIES is an award-winning illustrator and author. Creator of the bestselling, acclaimed The Storm Whale , Grandad's Island and The Grotlyn , Benji's books have been co-editioned in over thirty-five languages and countries, gaining recognition worldwide. Benji is also the illustrator of the internationally successful Bizzy Bear board book series, which has topped three million sales globally. Read more