Lizzie and The Lost Baby
"Is it ever right to keep something that doesn't belong to you?" That's the question that haunts ten-year-old Lizzie as she adjusts to life as an evacuee in the remote Yorkshire valley of Swainedale. To answer the question, Lizzie must grapple with her own conscience as she deals with the intolerance and prejudices of her hosts.
Set at the beginning of World War II, LIZZIE AND THE LOST BABY explores the dangerous relationship between Lizzie, a World War II evacuee, and Elijah, a gypsy, after Lizzie discovers an abandoned baby in a field near her new home. The story is told from the dual perspectives of Lizzie and Elijah and deals with themes of abandonment, guilt, shame and prejudice.
Cover art by Becca Stadtlander.
Resources
Teachers and Parents. Download a classroom guide for Lizzie and the Lost Baby.
Purchase Lizzie and The Lost Baby from your local independent book shop, such as The Red Balloon, St. Paul, Mn. Or from online sites such as Amazon (www.amazon.com), IndieBound (www.indiebound.org), Barnes and Noble (www.bn.com), Books-A-Million (www.booksamillion.com), Powell's (www.powells.com).
Praise for Lizzie and The Lost Baby
Publishers Weekly: "Blackford’s debut is an atmospheric, emotion-filled journey for worried Elijah (who unwillingly left his baby sister under a tree) and sympathetic Lizzie ..." "Blackford alludes throughout to The Secret Garden, Lizzie’s favorite book, and this promising novel has a similar setting and thought-provoking plot written in simple but affecting language." Read the full review here.
BookPage: "Blackford draws on her love of rural Yorkshire in her warmhearted debut novel for young readers." "This is a well-told story of two young people making difficult choices on their own."
Booklist, October 2015. "Blackford portrays even minor characters deftly and often shows the reasons behind their actions. The third-person narrative sometimes switches from Lizzie’s point of view to Elijah’s, giving readers a more balanced account of events and an insider’s view of the Roma camp. A satisfying chapter book with a well-realized historical setting and a stout-hearted heroine."
"Blackford's straight-to-the-heart prose brings a Yorkshire village and its inhabitants lovingly to life in this sweet and tender story. It's impossible not to be smitten with Lizzie, who finds not only a lost baby, but courage, friendship, justice, and a way forward in her new life." Margi Preus, New York Times best-selling author and Newbery Honor Winner of Heart of a Samurai.
"The kind of book I would have gulped down as a kid. With beautiful language and cultural and emotional complexity, Blackford brings us two characters who, when failed by adults, must navigate their own moral pathways. Love this book!" Pat Schmatz, author of Bluefish and Lizard Radio.
"Empowering ... Blackford masterfully brings this era to life in this simple yet compelling story. A delightful read!" Mary Casanova, author of The Kipfish Code.
"Familiar and inviting, Lizzie and The Lost Baby is the sort of book that feels like a friend." Caroline Starr Rose, author of May B and Blue Birds.
"Inspiring and unfailingly honest. Written in authentic language and poetic prose, Ms. Blackford's gripping story is one that young readers everywhere will long remember." Eileen Beha, author of The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-sea.
Set at the beginning of World War II, LIZZIE AND THE LOST BABY explores the dangerous relationship between Lizzie, a World War II evacuee, and Elijah, a gypsy, after Lizzie discovers an abandoned baby in a field near her new home. The story is told from the dual perspectives of Lizzie and Elijah and deals with themes of abandonment, guilt, shame and prejudice.
Cover art by Becca Stadtlander.
Resources
Teachers and Parents. Download a classroom guide for Lizzie and the Lost Baby.
Purchase Lizzie and The Lost Baby from your local independent book shop, such as The Red Balloon, St. Paul, Mn. Or from online sites such as Amazon (www.amazon.com), IndieBound (www.indiebound.org), Barnes and Noble (www.bn.com), Books-A-Million (www.booksamillion.com), Powell's (www.powells.com).
- View a slideshow of photographs taken in Rosedale, Yorkshire (the model for Swainedale).
- View a slideshow of photographs of gypsy wagons and horses.
- View a slideshow of photographs of the cottage where I imagine Lizzie lived.
Praise for Lizzie and The Lost Baby
Publishers Weekly: "Blackford’s debut is an atmospheric, emotion-filled journey for worried Elijah (who unwillingly left his baby sister under a tree) and sympathetic Lizzie ..." "Blackford alludes throughout to The Secret Garden, Lizzie’s favorite book, and this promising novel has a similar setting and thought-provoking plot written in simple but affecting language." Read the full review here.
BookPage: "Blackford draws on her love of rural Yorkshire in her warmhearted debut novel for young readers." "This is a well-told story of two young people making difficult choices on their own."
Booklist, October 2015. "Blackford portrays even minor characters deftly and often shows the reasons behind their actions. The third-person narrative sometimes switches from Lizzie’s point of view to Elijah’s, giving readers a more balanced account of events and an insider’s view of the Roma camp. A satisfying chapter book with a well-realized historical setting and a stout-hearted heroine."
"Blackford's straight-to-the-heart prose brings a Yorkshire village and its inhabitants lovingly to life in this sweet and tender story. It's impossible not to be smitten with Lizzie, who finds not only a lost baby, but courage, friendship, justice, and a way forward in her new life." Margi Preus, New York Times best-selling author and Newbery Honor Winner of Heart of a Samurai.
"The kind of book I would have gulped down as a kid. With beautiful language and cultural and emotional complexity, Blackford brings us two characters who, when failed by adults, must navigate their own moral pathways. Love this book!" Pat Schmatz, author of Bluefish and Lizard Radio.
"Empowering ... Blackford masterfully brings this era to life in this simple yet compelling story. A delightful read!" Mary Casanova, author of The Kipfish Code.
"Familiar and inviting, Lizzie and The Lost Baby is the sort of book that feels like a friend." Caroline Starr Rose, author of May B and Blue Birds.
"Inspiring and unfailingly honest. Written in authentic language and poetic prose, Ms. Blackford's gripping story is one that young readers everywhere will long remember." Eileen Beha, author of The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-sea.