This book was beautiful and my children loved it too. I can't wait to see it in print and gift it to children who love the outdoors and picture books :)

Patsy is part of a Métis family who lived along the Magnetawan River in 1952, Her small town has never had electricity. Everyone in town is excited since their electricity will arrive soon. What will change about life in the small town once the electricity comes?

The author writes from her own experience. The character is her as a youngster. She shows us what sorts of activities everyone did before the electricity arrived. They had music, dancing, and other traditions. She loved to sit along the river and watch nature.

The book is illustrated with great drawings that show the world as it was in 1952. It's a good book for elementary school age students. They can try to imagine a world without electricity. There can be many lesson plans designed around this concept. It is a great conversation starter for your students.

Book Review: Lights along the River by Pat Lamondin Skene

Rating: 4 Stars

"Lights along the River" by Pat Lamondin Skene, with illustrations by Sabrina Gendron, is a heartwarming tale set in a small town along the Magnetawan River in 1952. The story follows Patsy Lamondin and her siblings as they eagerly anticipate the arrival of electricity in their town, a significant event that promises to bring about changes to their daily lives. As a Métis family with a deep connection to their land and traditions, the Lamondins' love for music, dancing, and nature shines through the pages.

Skene's narrative beautifully captures the essence of belonging and heritage, drawing readers into a world where the arrival of modernity collides with the timeless bonds of family and community. Through Patsy's perspective, we witness the blend of excitement and apprehension that comes with embracing progress while holding onto cherished traditions.

What sets "Lights along the River" apart is its authenticity, as it is based on the author's own life experiences. This personal touch adds a layer of depth and sincerity to the storytelling, making it resonate even more strongly with readers. The illustrations by Sabrina Gendron complement the narrative perfectly, bringing to life the beauty of the river and the warmth of the Lamondin family.

As a reader who appreciates stories set in Canada, "Lights along the River" held a special place in my heart. It not only celebrates the country's natural beauty but also pays homage to the rich cultural tapestry woven by its diverse inhabitants. Skene's storytelling evokes a sense of nostalgia and connection to the past, reminding us of the importance of preserving our roots even as we embrace change.

In conclusion, "Lights along the River" is a delightful read that offers a blend of history, tradition, and hope. It is a touching tribute to family, community, and the enduring spirit of belonging. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a poignant and uplifting story that captures the essence of Canadian life along its riverside communities.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This book hits close to home. Right in my own province. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the authors memories regarding electricity coming to her Ontario town in the 1950s. Crazy. Thank you for the story.

Lights Along the River by Pat Lamondin Skene is an awesome book! Lights Along the River tells the story of Patsy and the people of her town getting electricity for the first time in 1952, wondering how things would change. I love reading about what Patsy and those around her thought about how electricity. Some people hear about relatives getting electricity for the first time, but for me it was different seeing pictures like the ones drawn in Lights Along the River. I highly recommend Lights Along the River for any reading time. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.

This is a short story - well written and with really nice illustrations.
Its probably meant for children, however, I enjoyed reading it and it made me introspect on the choices i make on how i spend my time, the things i use and do in my everyday life.

The story, the characters and the changing of way of life were really relatable. I especially liked the family dynamics and the interactions of the siblings.

This is such a cosy, heartwarming little story. Besides, it's actually inspired by the author's own life, hence the genuine feeling you get from the book. Set in 1952, the book shows you the daily life of an ordinary family while it's about to be changed for the better by this new technology of electricity. The illustrations are really lovely.

This feels amateur to me, even if it's an intriguing story. It could have gone into more depth about the family's experiences over time with electricity entering their home, rather than a melancholy remark after the narrative about family time falling off in lieu of watching television. Also, there are references to the author's experience as half-Indigenous - but it does not add to the story.

First off, stunning illustrations. The illustrator did an amazing job of bringing the story to life visually. It's a sweet story about a family getting electricity for the first time. Kids will enjoy all the illustrations and learn about change being a positive rather than a bad thing. Kids can learn gratitude as well by reading this book. I suggest this book for elementary school-aged kids. An elementary school teacher might enjoy reading this to their students.

Love Always, Catherine

I received an advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Lights Along the River is a heartwarming and cosy story about Patsy, who experiences the first time electricity is connected to her small town on the Magnetawan River.

The story has a lovely sense of hope, and nervous anticipation, as Patsy reflects on what this new life with electricity might look like. It does a great job of exploring the way things change in our life, and the way we adapt.

The text was a little small, but otherwise this was a wholly enjoyable story. The illustrations were glowy and nostalgic, and the illustrator perfectly captured the emotions of the characters through their facial expressions.

It’s a great story to encourage kids to reflect on the idea that things we take for granted now were once new! The author shares her own experiences, and prompts readers at the end to think of the changes they might see in their lifetime. I think this would be great fun for kids to read with grandparents, who can share their own experience of change throughout their life.

Thank you Orca Book Publishers and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

This is a heartwarming story about a young girl growing up in a changing world. Lights Along the River has themes of love, friendship, and forgiveness. This story was optimistic and inspiring!

This picture book is historical fiction, but the author based it on her personal experiences from childhood. The remote part of Canada where she lived got electricity in 1952. This book explores what it was like to wait for that monumental change, and shows how electricity changed everyday life in both positive and negative ways.

The illustrations are beautiful and atmospheric, and they visually portray routine parts of life before electricity, such as pumping water. Also, even though the slice-of-life story feels somewhat meandering even at its short length, it's an interesting look into history with warm family vibes. The author also briefly ties in her part-indigenous heritage, although it's not a major part of the story.

This book will appeal to kids and adults who enjoy historical fiction, and it will be great in classroom and homeschool contexts. This will work well for young kids who are just learning about life prior to electricity, and it will also be a good fit as a discussion-starter with older kids, encouraging them to reflect on the pros and cons of technological change.

This was such a well done book. The story was told from the young girl's perspective about her family life before, and after, they got electricity to their town. Back when there were no screens to stare at, and families made their own fun together. It was very sweet, and the illustrations are so beautiful! Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC. I think kids will love this story.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review, thank you!

Lights along the River shows how electricity is introduced to a small Canadian town for the first time. Patsy - who is the author herself - and her siblings are excited to see what changes this will bring to their lives. We can also gain an insight into how they live without electricity. This helps the reader understand why this event is so important. A very pleasant little historical read for young children who, in today's world, may wonder if such a world ever existed. Patsy also mentions that even though the world around her is changing, she hopes to stay the same. The illustrations are very beautiful, it is worth paying attention to the small details in the drawings (e.g. how the rooms will be brighter after turning on the lights).

Lights Along the River is a delightful story about a small town getting electricity and the author's memory of it. The illustrations are beautiful and help tell the story. I would recommend this book for kids ages 5 and up.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

Through a beautiful story told with beautiful illustrations in a very middle grade style, we are immersed in the story of a family who is about to connect electricity in their small town. The story is an experience of the author herself, and in a few pages it is filled with the emotion and expectation of a little girl who sees before her how something will happen that can change the way her daily life and that of her acquaintances develops.

It is a nice reflection of a change that came to revolutionize the way of doing things and how people lived it at the time, besides being a good approach to a children's historical fiction for the smallest of the home.

#LightsalongtheRiver #NetGalley

Personal true stories are a great way to teach children about the world, and I am so glad the author shares this story of her small town finally receiving electricity in the 1950s. Gorgeous artwork brings this book to life with wonderful little details and lovely colors. Perfect for teachers and homeschoolers studying Canadian history or electricity. A worthwhile addition to any public or personal library.
*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from Orca Book Publishers and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is an interesting story that takes place in the 1950s in a small village in Canada. The story is a bit scattered, non-linear. I am not sure if children in today's time could relate to the story.

Thank you so much to Orca Book Publishers and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

This beautiful memoir tells the story of young Patsy, when her little town finally got electricity in 1952. I loved the way it was written it was so lovely, you could feel everything that Patsy was feeling as all the changes were happening around her.

I really enjoyed stepping into this girls life, seeing the happy life she lived. The way it’s written shares how much they loved where they lived how they were able to entertain themselves with what they had, and though excited for the electricity Patsy was still a little apprehensive over it.

I really enjoyed reading this story, I never realised how long it took for electricity to reach certain parts of the world, but I suppose it would have taken a while. So it was really wonderful seeing this wonderful town so excited that it was finally arriving and being put up to make their world a little brighter.

The illustrations within this book were absolutely beautiful to look at, you could spend ages looking at them all. Seeing her and her siblings playing, the beautiful visuals of the town they lived in. It was so pretty.

This is such a sweet story of one girls life and experience in the 50’s and it was great to read, it was written beautifully, the subject was unique and so interesting and the characters are so lovely that you enjoy following them. I also love that this was the authors actual story that she is sharing.

I love the book, it is very simple and heartwarming. about this girl who experiencing electricity for the first time. the change that she faces over the simplest thing is what moves me, there is hope and gratefulness that comes from this book as well as the dread of change. love the illustration also.