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The Light at Tern Rock
Ronnie and his aunt are tending the Tern Rock lighthouse while the keeper takes a vacation. Ronnie loves living in the lighthouse, and looks forward to telling his family about it at Christmas. But will lighthouse keeper Byron Flagg return in time for Ronnie and Aunt Martha to make it home for Christmas? A Newbery Honor Book.
62 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1951
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About the author
Julia L. Sauer
9 books13 followersBorn in Rochester, NY, Sauer was a librarian and writer who attended the University of Rochester and the NY State Library School. She worked at the Rochester Public Library for 37 years, but her occasional vacation home in Nova Scotia gave her the setting for both Fog Magic and The Light at Tern Rock.
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December 3, 2024
So yes and indeed, Julia L. Sauer's 1951 The Light at Tern Rock (which won her a 1952 Newbery Honour designation), this story really does manage to remind me exceedingly sweetly and also very much pleasurably of some of L.M. Montgomery's sea and lighthouse themed short stories (with Sauer's pen featuring not only an engaging and inspiring narrative, but also and for me most essentially, importantly, a delightfully esoteric but still wonderfully realistic evocation of the ocean, a tenderly caressing sense of geographic place, which shows itself in The Light at Tern Rock as both an homage to the magic and also to the call of sea itself, to the wildness and possible dangers of the ocean and also to the lighthouse keepers, whose ever so important job it is to maintain these bastions of especially nighttime safety and protection, for without lighthouses, the ocean, but especially the rocky shorelines of the East Coast of much of Atlantic North America could easily become a danger, a possible, probable graveyard for sailors).
And while Julia L. Sauer's general plot line of The Light at Tern Rock is pretty well predictable right from the onset of the story so to speak, in so far that we as readers do realise (and even very well know for a fact) that Byron Flagg shall indeed renege on his promise and will thus not arrive back at Tern Rock on December 15th in order to again take over the lighthouse duties from Aunt Martha and Ronnie (as there is just something about how he is described by Sauer that says "beware" and "heads up" to me), after having read that Christmas letter of apology and explanation, I for one, do very much and in fact feel as young Ronnie does, namely that for one, Christmas is everywhere because it is something that is spiritual and in one's heart (and for me personally, that Christmas also does not really have to be specifically Christian either, being simply a celebration of peace on earth, of love, light and life itself) and also for two, that even though Byron Flagg had reneged on his promise to get Aunt Martha and Ronnie off of Tern Rock before Christmas, he both deserves pity and also happiness, a happy and family filled Christmas, which he has seemingly never really had a chance to experience. And although I still find Byron Flagg rather majorly annoying and off-putting as a character in The Light at Tern Rock, after having read that letter, I do indeed feel sorry for him, I do indeed feel for him and his loneliness, although truth be told, I still would still of course have preferred him to have simply asked Aunt Martha whether she might stay at the lighthouse over Christmas (albeit I do kind of understand in a grudging manner why he choses not to do this, why Byron Flagg would chose to act with subterfuge and sneakiness).
Four shining stars for The Light at Tern Rock (and I also have to say that while Georges Schreiber's accompanying illustrations are a nicely constructed, visually and aesthetically engaging, pleasing decorative trim, I certainly did not all that much pay attention to them whilst reading, as for me, the text of The Light at Tern Rock, Julia L. Sauer's narrative, has been pretty much everything, delightful, heartfelt, descriptive and sweet). And I especially have had to smile in appreciation at Aunt Martha's reaction to Ronnie categorically claiming in righteous indignation that he will never break a promise made (namely that if he does indeed manage to do this, Ronnie will indeed be in eternal debt to Byron Flagg, because yes, it is easy to break promises, and much of The Light at Tern Rock also shows just how much Ronnie still needs to learn).
And while Julia L. Sauer's general plot line of The Light at Tern Rock is pretty well predictable right from the onset of the story so to speak, in so far that we as readers do realise (and even very well know for a fact) that Byron Flagg shall indeed renege on his promise and will thus not arrive back at Tern Rock on December 15th in order to again take over the lighthouse duties from Aunt Martha and Ronnie (as there is just something about how he is described by Sauer that says "beware" and "heads up" to me), after having read that Christmas letter of apology and explanation, I for one, do very much and in fact feel as young Ronnie does, namely that for one, Christmas is everywhere because it is something that is spiritual and in one's heart (and for me personally, that Christmas also does not really have to be specifically Christian either, being simply a celebration of peace on earth, of love, light and life itself) and also for two, that even though Byron Flagg had reneged on his promise to get Aunt Martha and Ronnie off of Tern Rock before Christmas, he both deserves pity and also happiness, a happy and family filled Christmas, which he has seemingly never really had a chance to experience. And although I still find Byron Flagg rather majorly annoying and off-putting as a character in The Light at Tern Rock, after having read that letter, I do indeed feel sorry for him, I do indeed feel for him and his loneliness, although truth be told, I still would still of course have preferred him to have simply asked Aunt Martha whether she might stay at the lighthouse over Christmas (albeit I do kind of understand in a grudging manner why he choses not to do this, why Byron Flagg would chose to act with subterfuge and sneakiness).
Four shining stars for The Light at Tern Rock (and I also have to say that while Georges Schreiber's accompanying illustrations are a nicely constructed, visually and aesthetically engaging, pleasing decorative trim, I certainly did not all that much pay attention to them whilst reading, as for me, the text of The Light at Tern Rock, Julia L. Sauer's narrative, has been pretty much everything, delightful, heartfelt, descriptive and sweet). And I especially have had to smile in appreciation at Aunt Martha's reaction to Ronnie categorically claiming in righteous indignation that he will never break a promise made (namely that if he does indeed manage to do this, Ronnie will indeed be in eternal debt to Byron Flagg, because yes, it is easy to break promises, and much of The Light at Tern Rock also shows just how much Ronnie still needs to learn).
December 8, 2011
My mother took care of Mrs. Sauer before her death and as a gift she gave her the three books she wrote, autographed. After my mother moved she passed these books onto me because she knew I enjoyed reading them growing up. It was a treat to re-read them now as an adult.
October 21, 2010
While reading a Newbery Award winner or Honor book, there is always a tendency to judge it and decide if it is worthy of the award. This is a quick read and a sweet Christmas story, but I couldn't see why it would win a Newbery honor until towards the end:
The lamp chamber always gave Ronnie a strange feeling. You reached it breathless from the long climb, but at the top step something else took over. The sea piling up to the horizon, the expanse of sky, the bold swooping and circling of the gulls lifted you somehow. You felt light as air, as though you had only to lay a finger gently on a gull's claw to go off and up. But tonight there was something more. The whole chamber was diffused with color, a dull green and gold from the glow still lingering in the western sky. It gave everything a gentle radiance of its own.
Such beautiful writing that conveys not only the unique setting, but a wonderful mood and feeling. Very nice.
The lamp chamber always gave Ronnie a strange feeling. You reached it breathless from the long climb, but at the top step something else took over. The sea piling up to the horizon, the expanse of sky, the bold swooping and circling of the gulls lifted you somehow. You felt light as air, as though you had only to lay a finger gently on a gull's claw to go off and up. But tonight there was something more. The whole chamber was diffused with color, a dull green and gold from the glow still lingering in the western sky. It gave everything a gentle radiance of its own.
Such beautiful writing that conveys not only the unique setting, but a wonderful mood and feeling. Very nice.
December 14, 2020
Talk with me at length about underrated authors in the history of youth literature, and Julia Lina Sauer's name will come up. She only published three children's books, but two were Newbery Honors: Fog Magic (1944) and The Light at Tern Rock (1952). Ms. Sauer could fill a simple narrative with elegance, drawing out the wisdom like a maple tree's sap in winter, and The Light at Tern Rock exemplifies this. A few weeks before Christmas, Byron Flagg, the regular island watchman at Tern Rock Lighthouse, stops at Martha Morse's home for a visit. Martha lived on Tern Rock for fourteen years while her husband, Irvin, manned the lighthouse, and Mr. Flagg has a request: that she and her eleven-year-old nephew Ronnie take Flagg's place on the island for a few days prior to Christmas, so he can visit family. During her years there Martha grew to love Tern Rock, the rise and roar of the majestic sea on every side to the horizon, but she hesitates to pull Ronnie out of school. Mr. Flagg vows to relieve them no later than December 15, in plenty of time to prepare and enjoy Christmas at home, and Ronnie is excited at the thought of living on the island for two weeks. With mild reluctance, Martha agrees to Mr. Flagg's terms.
Ronnie is mesmerized by the high, rolling sea as the relief boat paddles them out to Tern Rock. Once he's on the island, the sensuous panorama threatens to overwhelm: moody green waves appear to have consumed every inch of the world. The scene must be terrifying in a storm, yet Ronnie and his aunt are responsible to man the lighthouse beam and prevent ships from crashing on the rocks. Martha understands Ronnie's cacophony of feelings, seeing these things for the first time, and she takes his mind off it by helping him settle in to their temporary home. They do housework, perform routine maintenance on the Light, and Ronnie dedicates a few hours daily to school assignments. The days are quiet but full of meaningful activity, and before Ronnie can think about it much, December 15 is here. Mr. Flagg should arrive before evening.
Nestled beside a tower window, Ronnie watches for the boat through binoculars, but Mr. Flagg doesn't show up that day. He couldn't have asked for clearer weather, so why did the lighthouse man neglect to come? Martha encourages Ronnie to let go his disappointment and be content to go home tomorrow, but that day, too, passes with no sign of Mr. Flagg. Soon it's December 23, and Ronnie simmers with fury. Mr. Flagg lied, saying they'd be home by Christmas; now they're stranded with no way to call for help except the emergency cannon, which Martha insists remain a last resort. Ronnie anticipates a miserable Christmas, with no special meal or even a single present, but Martha isn't ready to give up on the holiday. Even if Mr. Flagg deliberately lied, they can create a nice Christmas in spite of him. Innovation is the key to bringing yuletide cheer to Tern Rock, and Martha is determined to do it even if Ronnie wants to sulk over the traditional Christmas they're missing out on at home. Surrounded by the romance and mystery of the high seas, warm inside a lighthouse festooned with makeshift decorations, Ronnie may discover that Christmas spirit doesn't depend on ideal circumstances. With the right mindset, the holiday can be merry even if you're marooned on an island.
How should you react when life spoils your carefully laid plans? Unfortunate luck is bad enough, but it's worse when someone knowingly acts to harm you. Martha doesn't completely dismiss Ronnie's anger, but does emphasize the importance of not dwelling on what might have been. "(Y)ou get used to broken promises, Ronnie. Broken promises, along with good intentions that have gone wrong, just litter the highway all through your life. They're nothing to bother about much unless they're your own." When government leaders, acquaintances, and even friends or family go back on their word, the violation can inflict deep wounds, but the human heart is resilient. Whatever adversity is the order of the day, you have it in you to work around it and fulfill all your original expectations. There are endless excuses to surrender to crisis, but no one can forbid you from being creative or force you to feel discontented.
The Light at Tern Rock has memorable things to say about promises. Not every lie catches up with its teller in this lifetime, but mistruth isn't something to trifle with, Martha tells Ronnie. "A man who breaks a promise has a weak place in his net. Sometimes he'll get by with it, but sometime he'll lose the catch of a lifetime." Isolated lies may go unnoticed, but making a habit of deception will eventually cost you dearly. Ronnie is so incensed by Mr. Flagg's lie that he swears, "I'll never break a promise as long as I live!" Thoughtful person she is, Martha notes to herself, "If he can live up to that, he'll be in debt to Byron Flagg." Such a vow by a kid seems impossible to keep, but if the trauma of Mr. Flagg's duplicity spurs Ronnie to go through life and never break a promise, then this experience will have been a blessing for himself and everyone in his vicinity. Sometimes bad situations have unexpectedly good side effects.
I had doubts about The Light at Tern Rock early on. When Martha chides Ronnie for his sullenness, insisting he not let resentment ruin Christmas, I thought she might ultimately excuse Byron Flagg's dishonesty, but that doesn't turn out to be the case. She's just focused on having a happy Christmas, on not allowing an unsavory character to sabotage the once-a-year opportunity, an attitude we would do well in aspiring to beyond the holiday season. Belgian-born artist Georges Schreiber, who also illustrated one of Claire Huchet Bishop's Newbery Honor books (Pancakes-Paris, 1948) and was author-illustrator of a Caldecott Honoree (Bambino the Clown) that same year, provides breathtaking, haunting artwork for The Light at Tern Rock. Julia L. Sauer's descriptions of the sea are evocative, but the most vivid sensations in that regard are wrought by Georges Schreiber, who knew how to further a narrative through captivating illustrations. I'd strongly consider rating this book the full three stars, and I'm convinced Ms. Sauer isn't spoken of enough when praising great children's authors of the past. I hope my review contributes toward rectifying that.
Ronnie is mesmerized by the high, rolling sea as the relief boat paddles them out to Tern Rock. Once he's on the island, the sensuous panorama threatens to overwhelm: moody green waves appear to have consumed every inch of the world. The scene must be terrifying in a storm, yet Ronnie and his aunt are responsible to man the lighthouse beam and prevent ships from crashing on the rocks. Martha understands Ronnie's cacophony of feelings, seeing these things for the first time, and she takes his mind off it by helping him settle in to their temporary home. They do housework, perform routine maintenance on the Light, and Ronnie dedicates a few hours daily to school assignments. The days are quiet but full of meaningful activity, and before Ronnie can think about it much, December 15 is here. Mr. Flagg should arrive before evening.
Nestled beside a tower window, Ronnie watches for the boat through binoculars, but Mr. Flagg doesn't show up that day. He couldn't have asked for clearer weather, so why did the lighthouse man neglect to come? Martha encourages Ronnie to let go his disappointment and be content to go home tomorrow, but that day, too, passes with no sign of Mr. Flagg. Soon it's December 23, and Ronnie simmers with fury. Mr. Flagg lied, saying they'd be home by Christmas; now they're stranded with no way to call for help except the emergency cannon, which Martha insists remain a last resort. Ronnie anticipates a miserable Christmas, with no special meal or even a single present, but Martha isn't ready to give up on the holiday. Even if Mr. Flagg deliberately lied, they can create a nice Christmas in spite of him. Innovation is the key to bringing yuletide cheer to Tern Rock, and Martha is determined to do it even if Ronnie wants to sulk over the traditional Christmas they're missing out on at home. Surrounded by the romance and mystery of the high seas, warm inside a lighthouse festooned with makeshift decorations, Ronnie may discover that Christmas spirit doesn't depend on ideal circumstances. With the right mindset, the holiday can be merry even if you're marooned on an island.
How should you react when life spoils your carefully laid plans? Unfortunate luck is bad enough, but it's worse when someone knowingly acts to harm you. Martha doesn't completely dismiss Ronnie's anger, but does emphasize the importance of not dwelling on what might have been. "(Y)ou get used to broken promises, Ronnie. Broken promises, along with good intentions that have gone wrong, just litter the highway all through your life. They're nothing to bother about much unless they're your own." When government leaders, acquaintances, and even friends or family go back on their word, the violation can inflict deep wounds, but the human heart is resilient. Whatever adversity is the order of the day, you have it in you to work around it and fulfill all your original expectations. There are endless excuses to surrender to crisis, but no one can forbid you from being creative or force you to feel discontented.
The Light at Tern Rock has memorable things to say about promises. Not every lie catches up with its teller in this lifetime, but mistruth isn't something to trifle with, Martha tells Ronnie. "A man who breaks a promise has a weak place in his net. Sometimes he'll get by with it, but sometime he'll lose the catch of a lifetime." Isolated lies may go unnoticed, but making a habit of deception will eventually cost you dearly. Ronnie is so incensed by Mr. Flagg's lie that he swears, "I'll never break a promise as long as I live!" Thoughtful person she is, Martha notes to herself, "If he can live up to that, he'll be in debt to Byron Flagg." Such a vow by a kid seems impossible to keep, but if the trauma of Mr. Flagg's duplicity spurs Ronnie to go through life and never break a promise, then this experience will have been a blessing for himself and everyone in his vicinity. Sometimes bad situations have unexpectedly good side effects.
I had doubts about The Light at Tern Rock early on. When Martha chides Ronnie for his sullenness, insisting he not let resentment ruin Christmas, I thought she might ultimately excuse Byron Flagg's dishonesty, but that doesn't turn out to be the case. She's just focused on having a happy Christmas, on not allowing an unsavory character to sabotage the once-a-year opportunity, an attitude we would do well in aspiring to beyond the holiday season. Belgian-born artist Georges Schreiber, who also illustrated one of Claire Huchet Bishop's Newbery Honor books (Pancakes-Paris, 1948) and was author-illustrator of a Caldecott Honoree (Bambino the Clown) that same year, provides breathtaking, haunting artwork for The Light at Tern Rock. Julia L. Sauer's descriptions of the sea are evocative, but the most vivid sensations in that regard are wrought by Georges Schreiber, who knew how to further a narrative through captivating illustrations. I'd strongly consider rating this book the full three stars, and I'm convinced Ms. Sauer isn't spoken of enough when praising great children's authors of the past. I hope my review contributes toward rectifying that.
November 27, 2017
This was a nice short read about a boy and his aunt who stay at a lighthouse. We enjoyed the descriptions of the sea, sounds and feelings of being in and responsible for a lighthouse. We would have liked this to be a lot longer, we wanted more details of day to day lighthouse life, we thought this was a great idea for a story that could have been taken much further. We really didn't like the illustrations. This book was very different in style and content to Fog Magic, although it does have the common theme of the sea it didn't have the same magic for us that Fog Magic had.
August 19, 2012
I honeymooned on Prince Edward Island and Novia Scotia this summer, and when I ran across this little book in my wife’s classroom set and noticed the Canadian coastal setting, I read it just just for the connection to the place. I’m glad that I did.
The story concerns Ronnie and his aunt, who have been convinced by the regular keeper of Tern Lighthouse to tend it for several weeks. The keeper promises to return several days early so that Ronnie and his aunt can spend Christmas at home. But, of course, something is up, and when the keeper doesn’t arrive, they are stranded!
The book is short and largely eventless, and it would probably be dull except for two things. For one, the book teaches a wise lesson about the necessity to interpret people and actions with a charitable heart, and the lesson isn’t just preached in the novel but is portrayed and experienced. Second, the finale is just beautifully written. The final scene between Ronnie and his aunt, the gorgeous, gorgeous prose, and the well-orchestrated symbolism just convey such a strong sensation of compassion and warmth. This book took only about a half an hour to read, but it made a strong impression on me.
I will tell readers that the novel was written several decades ago and so features strong Christian imagery and allusion to the Christmas story and meaning. That’s not going to be for everyone, I’m sure, and some readers so inclined may want to avoid it. But it’s a phenomenally well-written little piece and, certainly for myself, a new favorite Christmas story.
The story concerns Ronnie and his aunt, who have been convinced by the regular keeper of Tern Lighthouse to tend it for several weeks. The keeper promises to return several days early so that Ronnie and his aunt can spend Christmas at home. But, of course, something is up, and when the keeper doesn’t arrive, they are stranded!
The book is short and largely eventless, and it would probably be dull except for two things. For one, the book teaches a wise lesson about the necessity to interpret people and actions with a charitable heart, and the lesson isn’t just preached in the novel but is portrayed and experienced. Second, the finale is just beautifully written. The final scene between Ronnie and his aunt, the gorgeous, gorgeous prose, and the well-orchestrated symbolism just convey such a strong sensation of compassion and warmth. This book took only about a half an hour to read, but it made a strong impression on me.
I will tell readers that the novel was written several decades ago and so features strong Christian imagery and allusion to the Christmas story and meaning. That’s not going to be for everyone, I’m sure, and some readers so inclined may want to avoid it. But it’s a phenomenally well-written little piece and, certainly for myself, a new favorite Christmas story.
November 9, 2012
Wow! They really don't write them this well anymore. If you want your children (especially if you're buying for boys!) or grandchildren (and your adult children) to learn to be kind, considerate, thoughtful, loving, tolerant, empathetic, forgiving, obedient, respectful, truthful, and see the true meaning of Christmas illustrated - as opposed to Hollywood's version of it - this is your book.
You know you're in heaven when the main adult character, Mrs. Martha Morse, says "...and children shouldn't be uprooted just to suit the convenience of their elders." Every page is full of great stuff.
Sauer's meditation on childhood, past and present in the context of salvation history - as culminating in the birth of a child, Jesus, is profound. Adults and teens will enjoy it, and the superb illustrations by Georges Schreiber.
The year this was honored, 1952, was a banner year. Eleanor Estes won for Ginger Pye and The New York Times,i/>,The Horn Book (which originally published it), and The Christian Science Monitor all gave it glowing reviews. It's a shame they're not writing books like this anymore - or is it that writers like Sauer cannot get published?
February 8, 2016
Since this book had a very prominent award, I always have the tendency to have very high standards before I read the first page. I really am expecting the book to absolutely blow me away; which this book does. There are many lessons that have the opportunity to be taught to young children and adults. I don't think this book really has an age group because any reader could benefit from reading this book. I love how this book is a Christmas story and throughout the book, the true meaning of Christmas is very real in this book. I also like how there are many morals that shine through the pages, such as: understanding, compassion, loving, caring, and kindness. These aspects of the book are great and I think they are well written throughout the book and are also easy to understand. Like I mentioned previously, I think every reader who has the chance to read this book can learn something of great value! I highly recommend taking your time to really read this great book!!
July 10, 2016
Really good for kids
January 14, 2017
I thought the descriptions of the sights and sounds on the lighthouse (especially toward the end), were especially magical. But I don't really care for the plot devices that brought them to that point. I guess my sense of justice is still a lot like Ronnie's.
March 23, 2016
It was like a Hallmark Christmas movie sans the romance (unless you count the romance of the sea). Short, sweet, and filled with the Christmas spirit.
June 7, 2021
This is a beautiful little book. I liked the story and characters. Not as predictable as I expected it to be.
October 23, 2017
Great, old-fashioned book with strong values. This would be a great read-aloud for grades 1-3, assuming that Christian content is appropriate for your audience.
They don't make them like this anymore- a large format, illustrated book made up of five short chapters. It's a bit like a Holling Clancy Holling format, except the chapters are more accessible.
The main character works a lighthouse with his aunt. That's the main plot. He learns the values of humility and a life of service. At the end, they celebrate Christmas by preparing themselves for the coming of the Christ child. Santa Claus is never mentioned.
I enjoyed Georges Schrieber's illustrations this time even more than in the similarly-formatted Pancakes-Paris. He combined expressive line work and detailed backgrounds to help tell the story and convey the characters' internal thoughts.
Recommended for young Christians.
They don't make them like this anymore- a large format, illustrated book made up of five short chapters. It's a bit like a Holling Clancy Holling format, except the chapters are more accessible.
The main character works a lighthouse with his aunt. That's the main plot. He learns the values of humility and a life of service. At the end, they celebrate Christmas by preparing themselves for the coming of the Christ child. Santa Claus is never mentioned.
I enjoyed Georges Schrieber's illustrations this time even more than in the similarly-formatted Pancakes-Paris. He combined expressive line work and detailed backgrounds to help tell the story and convey the characters' internal thoughts.
Recommended for young Christians.
July 27, 2017
Short, nice, interesting. I love the strong woman character. I love the ending.
January 4, 2020
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
MY THOUGHTS
I have been trying to read more Newbery books so when I saw this at a used book sale, I decided to stick it into my bag. This was a fairly quick read and I was pleasantly surprised that it was a Christmas book (being that I picked it up to read only a few days before Christmas!), but I overall was not impressed with it. This was not a bad book, but I felt like it was too moral heavy and less character-driven. Part of that is likely due to when this book was published. This book was published in 1951 and, let us be honest, books for children then were a lot different than they are now (and there was a big gap between children's books and adult fiction). They were a lot more focused on teaching a lesson. Of course, there are children's books from this time that are not like that, I do not mean to overgeneralize, but this book did not focus as much on the story as it did the message.
In this short book, a young boy named Ronnie (his age is unclear) is told by his aunt that they will be living at the Lighthouse for the first two weeks of December. The aunt knows how to manage a Lighthouse, which is why she is asked to man it while the Lighthouse keeper is gone. The Lighthouse keeper promises Ronnie that he will pick them up the fourteenth and no later, and that Ronnie will not have to spend his Christmas at the Lighthouse, but the closer they get to Christmas, the more Ronnie worries that the man will not keep his promise.
Now the main messages in this story are about promises, forgiveness, and making the best of a situation. These are good messages to have and I have no issues with these ideas themselves, but I did have a slight issue with how forgiveness was presented. Going into some spoilers here:
Anyway, this is getting to be a long review for such a short book! I will say that I am not in the age group this is meant for, so maybe I am overthinking things, but I have grown up and grown used to books that focus more on character growth without an overpowering message. There was character growth here, Ronnie certainly changes throughout the course of the book, but I never felt connected to the characters. I never even knew Ronnie’s age, what he is like before the start of the story, or why he is living with his aunt. You may argue that this is a short book, so of course that information would not be there, but I have read short books that gave me a connection to the characters and a better understanding of them. Recently I read another Newbery, Sarah Plain and Tall, and that is the same number of pages as this book, but I understood the characters more in that book.
IN CONCLUSION
This was a quick and easy read but I wish it was more character-driven rather than moral-driven. It does have some great messages, but the why forgiveness is presented was a little troubling. I do like that this was a Christmas story because I do not come across very many Christmas books in YA/MG, but overall I was not impressed with this Newbery book.
MY THOUGHTS
I have been trying to read more Newbery books so when I saw this at a used book sale, I decided to stick it into my bag. This was a fairly quick read and I was pleasantly surprised that it was a Christmas book (being that I picked it up to read only a few days before Christmas!), but I overall was not impressed with it. This was not a bad book, but I felt like it was too moral heavy and less character-driven. Part of that is likely due to when this book was published. This book was published in 1951 and, let us be honest, books for children then were a lot different than they are now (and there was a big gap between children's books and adult fiction). They were a lot more focused on teaching a lesson. Of course, there are children's books from this time that are not like that, I do not mean to overgeneralize, but this book did not focus as much on the story as it did the message.
In this short book, a young boy named Ronnie (his age is unclear) is told by his aunt that they will be living at the Lighthouse for the first two weeks of December. The aunt knows how to manage a Lighthouse, which is why she is asked to man it while the Lighthouse keeper is gone. The Lighthouse keeper promises Ronnie that he will pick them up the fourteenth and no later, and that Ronnie will not have to spend his Christmas at the Lighthouse, but the closer they get to Christmas, the more Ronnie worries that the man will not keep his promise.
Now the main messages in this story are about promises, forgiveness, and making the best of a situation. These are good messages to have and I have no issues with these ideas themselves, but I did have a slight issue with how forgiveness was presented. Going into some spoilers here:
Anyway, this is getting to be a long review for such a short book! I will say that I am not in the age group this is meant for, so maybe I am overthinking things, but I have grown up and grown used to books that focus more on character growth without an overpowering message. There was character growth here, Ronnie certainly changes throughout the course of the book, but I never felt connected to the characters. I never even knew Ronnie’s age, what he is like before the start of the story, or why he is living with his aunt. You may argue that this is a short book, so of course that information would not be there, but I have read short books that gave me a connection to the characters and a better understanding of them. Recently I read another Newbery, Sarah Plain and Tall, and that is the same number of pages as this book, but I understood the characters more in that book.
IN CONCLUSION
This was a quick and easy read but I wish it was more character-driven rather than moral-driven. It does have some great messages, but the why forgiveness is presented was a little troubling. I do like that this was a Christmas story because I do not come across very many Christmas books in YA/MG, but overall I was not impressed with this Newbery book.
May 27, 2017
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
The Light at Tern Rock is a very short novel by Julia L. Sauer which received the Newbery Honor in 1952. The story follows a young man and his aunt, who are asked to look after the lighthouse at Tern Rock while the lighthouse keeper takes a few days of leave. The keeper promises he will return by December 15, but when this date comes and goes, and more and more days pass, Ronnie realizes he will miss the Christmas festivities with his schoolmates and be stranded on the rock for the holiday instead.
I appreciate this book for its economy of language, its carefully presented moral, its unapologetic religious viewpoint, and its unexpectedly emotional ending. No one writes books like this anymore. For kids ages 8 and up, this is a much better lesson in the true meaning of the Christmas season than How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The story focuses not just on giving, but on forgiving, and on preparing oneself, wherever one happens to find himself, for the coming of Christ on his birthday. The story might seem slow to some kids, even with the low word count, but it would work nicely as a family read-aloud on Christmas Eve, or a component to a CCD or Sunday school lesson. Also see my review of The Birds' Christmas Carol for more inspirational Christmas reading.
The Light at Tern Rock is a very short novel by Julia L. Sauer which received the Newbery Honor in 1952. The story follows a young man and his aunt, who are asked to look after the lighthouse at Tern Rock while the lighthouse keeper takes a few days of leave. The keeper promises he will return by December 15, but when this date comes and goes, and more and more days pass, Ronnie realizes he will miss the Christmas festivities with his schoolmates and be stranded on the rock for the holiday instead.
I appreciate this book for its economy of language, its carefully presented moral, its unapologetic religious viewpoint, and its unexpectedly emotional ending. No one writes books like this anymore. For kids ages 8 and up, this is a much better lesson in the true meaning of the Christmas season than How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The story focuses not just on giving, but on forgiving, and on preparing oneself, wherever one happens to find himself, for the coming of Christ on his birthday. The story might seem slow to some kids, even with the low word count, but it would work nicely as a family read-aloud on Christmas Eve, or a component to a CCD or Sunday school lesson. Also see my review of The Birds' Christmas Carol for more inspirational Christmas reading.
June 1, 2017
Newbery Honor from 1951. good, solid book. boy and aunt go out to the lighthouse she had worked at to relieve the current lighthouse keeper. Promises to be back by dec.15, 18 at the latest so boy can be back to sing in the school Christmas play and hang out w/friends on Christmas. light house keeper breaks his word boy learns lesson that adults are liars. but his aunt still loves him.
think of Llama, Llama, Mad at Mamma on a light house w/humans instead of a shoparama w/critters.
think of Llama, Llama, Mad at Mamma on a light house w/humans instead of a shoparama w/critters.
September 26, 2012
The Light at Turn Rock is about a young boy and his grandmother who take over a light house for the original keeper at Christmas. A little slow for my 6 and 7 year old..but in the end provided a valuable Christmas lesson.
May 8, 2017
Quick, emotional, and sensory. I can almost feel the rumble of the crashing waves. Really satisfying to an introvert like me who has always dreamed of living in a light house. It's really, really short. (62 pages)
November 19, 2024
cute story about forgiveness and Christmas.
the tern rock lighthouse is now where i am going to spend the rest of my life. i love lighthouses now. all wooden and cozy. AND ALL YOU DO IS JUST READ AND TURN ON THE LIGHT???? HELLO? AND YOU GET PAID???? WHAT? does anyone know where one is???? IM LEAVING NOW BYE SEE YOU! I WANT ONE!!!!!! IM PUTTING IT ON MY CHRISTMAS LIST RIGHT NOW.
the tern rock lighthouse is now where i am going to spend the rest of my life. i love lighthouses now. all wooden and cozy. AND ALL YOU DO IS JUST READ AND TURN ON THE LIGHT???? HELLO? AND YOU GET PAID???? WHAT? does anyone know where one is???? IM LEAVING NOW BYE SEE YOU! I WANT ONE!!!!!! IM PUTTING IT ON MY CHRISTMAS LIST RIGHT NOW.
October 21, 2025
When Aunt Martha and her nephew are asked to take over the care and keeping of the nearby lighthouse they are assured they'll be off the rock before Christmas. When that doesn't happen they must make the best of the situation and adjust their expectations and make plans for a Christmas at the light house.
Originally published in 1952 this Newberry honor medal book is sure to delight. It's a very short chapter book. I read it in about fifteen minutes.
Originally published in 1952 this Newberry honor medal book is sure to delight. It's a very short chapter book. I read it in about fifteen minutes.
January 29, 2025
Very quick read but loved the story and the illustrations in it!
May 21, 2020
I am a sucker for Christmas stories! They bring out the best in me.
I like the fact that although Aunt Marthy and Ronnie felt terribly cheated about having to spend Christmas at Tern Rock because they had been lied to by Byron Flagg, the Lighthouse keeper, Aunt Marthy decides to have a beautiful Christmas.
Aunt Marthy, scrubbed an already clean house to perfection and then she baked a wonderful cake with the raisins and brown sugar left for them by Byron. She wore her best merino dress, she laid out the gifts also left for them by Byron Flagg.
When Ronnie and Aunt Marthy went to light the huge light of the Lighthouse, the entire sea was lit by a strange green light, with tiny snowflakes, it was beautiful and as beauty usually brings out the best in us, it did to Ronnie too.
They were completely alone in this huge expanse of this eerie beautiful sea and it was then that both of them realised that if the Child Jesus came over the sea, He would find everything ready and waiting for Him.
I like the fact that although Aunt Marthy and Ronnie felt terribly cheated about having to spend Christmas at Tern Rock because they had been lied to by Byron Flagg, the Lighthouse keeper, Aunt Marthy decides to have a beautiful Christmas.
Aunt Marthy, scrubbed an already clean house to perfection and then she baked a wonderful cake with the raisins and brown sugar left for them by Byron. She wore her best merino dress, she laid out the gifts also left for them by Byron Flagg.
When Ronnie and Aunt Marthy went to light the huge light of the Lighthouse, the entire sea was lit by a strange green light, with tiny snowflakes, it was beautiful and as beauty usually brings out the best in us, it did to Ronnie too.
They were completely alone in this huge expanse of this eerie beautiful sea and it was then that both of them realised that if the Child Jesus came over the sea, He would find everything ready and waiting for Him.
March 28, 2012
This book has been on my bookshelf ever since I was a little girl and I never even read it until couple of weeks ago. I finally decided to read all of my books that I owned before I can start borrowing the books from the library. I came across this book and started to read it. It took me about less than an half an hour to complete this book. I've rated it 2 stars because it does not really interest me at all due to several reasons, but I still finished it. This book is pretty educational for parents to teach their child on how not to assume the worse of a situation or person until they know for a fact. This book is based on morality issue and that should teach the children not to assume the worst until they know for a fact on why they did that.
*SPOILER ALERT* This man begged the lady to look after the light house for a few days and promised to be back before christmas. The lady brought along her nephew to the light house and teach him a few about the light house. Routine had set in for a couple of weeks until the day they were supposed to leave the rock to come home. This man had lied to them and never came back until after christmas, but for a very good reason. They had to spend christmas alone at the rock. The boy was very upset that he couldn't be home before christmas and assumed the worse of of this man as a liar. On christmas eve, they discovered a letter stating the real reason why he never came back because he never spent a christmas off the rock with his family. He wanted his chance, so in return for his misdemeanor, he provided gifts and meal for christmas day. The boy finally understood why this man did it so he forgave him and spend his Christmas day with his aunt in a very good mood.
Overall, this book is good for teaching a child about the purpose of this story and how it applies to real life.
*SPOILER ALERT* This man begged the lady to look after the light house for a few days and promised to be back before christmas. The lady brought along her nephew to the light house and teach him a few about the light house. Routine had set in for a couple of weeks until the day they were supposed to leave the rock to come home. This man had lied to them and never came back until after christmas, but for a very good reason. They had to spend christmas alone at the rock. The boy was very upset that he couldn't be home before christmas and assumed the worse of of this man as a liar. On christmas eve, they discovered a letter stating the real reason why he never came back because he never spent a christmas off the rock with his family. He wanted his chance, so in return for his misdemeanor, he provided gifts and meal for christmas day. The boy finally understood why this man did it so he forgave him and spend his Christmas day with his aunt in a very good mood.
Overall, this book is good for teaching a child about the purpose of this story and how it applies to real life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2025
4* - A little Christmas diamond.
November 16, 2008
This is an excellent book for the Christmas season. It is about a boy and his aunt who take care of a lighthouse during December. The story is a little predictable, but of course will give you the warm Christmas fuzzies anyway.
Even though it's a chapter book with a fairly difficult vocabulary (heliotrope, aghast, doldrums, etc.), it is quite short. I read it aloud to my son in less than a day.
Even though it's a chapter book with a fairly difficult vocabulary (heliotrope, aghast, doldrums, etc.), it is quite short. I read it aloud to my son in less than a day.
April 20, 2024
Even though I read this not at all close to Christmas, I did enjoy the illustrations, format and theme. I think it is more about themes of selfishness and self-pity rather than a strong Christmas theme. I enjoyed the tight resolution. This is classic 1950s literature. The themes seemed distinguished to this reader. If you are reading Newbery honor books- this is very short- less than 65 pages with several great full page illustrations. This title includes several examples of figurative language and excellent word choices to challenge advanced 2nd and 3rd grade readers. If you are a Christian homeschooler- add this to your December reading list. I was able to get it through a library loan.
July 21, 2021
Such a great book rich in character and the best things about being human. Want to reread.
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October 18, 2021Read at lunch to the boys. A short story with a big message.
December 6, 2022
Hadn't read this in over a decade, and now I'm wondering why. Predictable, but lovely messages and Christmas comfort all around. Plus: lighthouses! Will be reading aloud to my children this season.
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