A boy reluctantly agrees to spend two weeks at a remote island lighthouse after being assured they would be relieved of duty before Christmas, so he would be home for the holiday. But it was a lie, and he spends Christmas in the lighthouse with his aunt.
Sentimental Christmas claptrap. How this rather boring, treacly short story received a Newbery Honor Book award is quite beyond me. ( )

Ronnie's uncle was a lighthouse keeper for many years, so when the current keeper comes to Aunt Martha with a request for her to watch the lighthouse for just a couple weeks, he's happy to go along. But his feelings change when transportation fails to return on the appointed day, or after, and they are marooned on the lighthouse rock.

Good story with emotional depth. ( )

Originally published in The Horn Book as The light at Christmas. ( )

This is a nice harmless story about a mother and her son who spend Christmas vacation as substitute lighthouse keepers on an isolated island. Characterization is fairly flat, and don't really stand out. There are some Newberys that I can read multiple times, and still enjoy rereading it later. This one sits on my shelf, and doesn't really compel me to reread it.

This story explores the ideas of commitment and forgiveness and exemplifies the true meaning of Christmas as that of unselfish giving and appreciation. An accurate depiction of life on the coast (US) in the beginning/middle of the 20th century. Reading response: Imagine being Ronnie. How would you occupy yourself? Compare to digital age.