The Light Keeper

Ten-year-old Shmuel lives with his parents and five sisters in an early 20th century Russian shtetl. They are poor, often go hungry, and each family member does their best to contribute to the family. Shmuel does errands, but he is often paid very little. When electric streetlights are installed in the village square, everyone is excited. Fascinated, Shmuel pays close attention to the details of this modern convenience and is rewarded with the job of light keeper, charged with climbing the tall poles to change the light bulbs whenever needed.

Based on accounts from Baslaw’s father’s childhood, the authors detail some of the hardships and privations of shtetl life. Some readers will understand that this is a Jewish community although no mention of that is made except in the authors’ appended note. The telling is smooth, reads well aloud, and focuses the narrative on Shmuel’s overcoming his fear of heights so that he can perform his new job. Priestley’s digital art privileges sepia tones that help to anchor the story within its time frame. Her details of clothing and dress, household items, and village architecture are nicely rendered as are the facial expressions on Shmuel in particular. Many spreads are dark, emphasizing candlelight’s ineffectiveness as a source of illumination. The Light Keeper makes a good choice for history or invention units.