100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ

Overnight NZ-wide Delivery ๐Ÿš€ Thank you for supporting our 100% NZ-owned store โค๏ธ

Lighthouse Girl

3.83 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 162 ratings, 25 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Lighthouse Girl by Dianne Wolfer is set during World War I and follows a young girl named Fay who lives on an isolated lighthouse island. As soldiers depart for the front, she communicates with them via semaphore flags and Morse code, forming heartfelt connections amid the backdrop of war and isolation. The story beautifully intertwines historical events with Fayโ€™s personal journey, capturing themes of courage and hope.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of Lighthouse Girl. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this story if you are interested in historical tales that blend real-life events with heartwarming fiction. Set against the backdrop of World War I, it captures the life of a young girl living on a remote island, highlighting themes of courage, resilience, and the power of communication. This book may appeal to those who appreciate beautifully illustrated stories that offer a glimpse into history through the eyes of an engaging young protagonist.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

It's 1914. Fay can shoot a rabbit and make a mean nettle stew. She understands Morse code and the semaphoric alphabet. She knows where the penguins nest and when the humpbacks migrate. But until she starts writing to a soldier named Charlie, she's never known friendship - and she's never had a friend to lose.

Fay lives alone with her father on bleak, windswept Breaksea Island, but her isolated life takes a dramatic turn with the outbreak of World War I.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Fay lives alone with her father on bleak, windswept Breaksea Island, but her isolated life takes a dramatic turn with the outbreak of World War I.

Fay collects the messages of lonely soldiers heading to the frontline. She is their last hope of getting messages telegraphed back home. After their departure for the battlefields of Egypt and Gallipoli, she follows their fortunes and continues her long-distance conversations with letters and postcards.

Then one day, a single, sad telegram arrives, and the war is brought brutally home.

Based on the true story of Faye Howe, this gentle tale brings to life the hardships of those left at home during the war - waiting, wondering, hoping. Drawing on fascinating archival material, and interweaving fact with fiction, Dianne Wolfer deftly recreates this period in Australian history from the perspective of a young girl.

Lighthouse Girl offers a profoundly moving insight into the impact of war, capturing both the personal and the universally shared wartime experience.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Lighthouse Girl by Dianne Wolfer is praised for its evocative storytelling, complemented by illustrations, sepia photographs, and news clippings that create an immersive historical experience. The book is noted for appealing to both early and older readers.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781921696572

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 June 2010

Country: Australia

Imprint: Fremantle Press

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Brian Simmonds

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 11.0mm

Width: 176.0mm

Height: 220.0mm

Weight: 415g

Pages: 124

About the Author

Dianne Wolfer is the author of 15 books for teenagers and young readers. Light Horse Boy was a Children's Book Council of Australia Honour Book and won the 2014 Western Australian Premier's Book Award for Children's Books. Granny Grommet and Me, inspired by surfing grandmas, was also on the CBCA shortlist. Lighthouse Girl, winner of a West Australian Young Readers' Book Award, explores the story of Fay Howe, the Albany lighthouse keeper's daughter who signalled to soldiers in 1914. It inspired the hugely popular Royal de Luxe performance of The Giants at Perth Festival (2015). Dianne wrote her latest book, The Shark Caller, as part of the PhD she is currently completing at UWA, but she has been dreaming about this story for ten years.

Also by Dianne Wolfer

View all
  • In the Lamplight
    Depicting a tale of bravery, loss and heartbreak, this much-loved Australian tale captures the Anzac spirit and celebrates the lifesaving work of WWI nurses. Harefield, England. When the war arrives, Rose's life changes dramatically. Far from home, soldiers like Jim the Light Horse boy find themselves in the hard-working hands of nurses like Rose. Despite suffering their own casualties and...
    Hardback
    $2900
    Elsewhere:
    $3200
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady
    The story of Robin Miller - the woman who single-handedly flew life-saving vaccines in her own plane to remote communities. Imagine flying solo, crisscrossing the north-west of Australia in your own plane, and single-handedly delivering life-saving vaccines to remote communities. Robin Miller did this, and at a time when most people didn't think women should be pilots at all. Her...
    Paperback
    $2300
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Granny Grommet and Me
    A gentle and matter-of-fact story of overcoming fear by multi-award winning author, Dianne Wolfer. A story that many young reluctant swimmers will identify with, Granny Grommet and Me is about the power of our elders to transform scary experiences into exciting ones. Watching Granny and her friends duck and dive and twist and turn, enjoying catching waves and revelling in...
    Hardback
    $2400
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Light Horse Boy
    Light Horse Boy goes behind the scenes of the great Anzac legends for an intimate look at their experience of World War I. In 1914, Jim and Charlie abandon the Australian outback for the excitement and adventure of the war to end all wars. But in the Light Horse, they quickly discover the brutal realities of life on the frontline....
    Paperback
    $2400
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Photographs In The Mud
    The Kokoda Track, 1942. Jack and Hoshi are soldiers on opposite sides in the war who meet in battle, discovering that they have much more in common than they had ever realised. Photographs in the Mud is a beautifully illustrated and moving story of events on the Kokoda Track during the Second World War from the point of view of...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Dog with Seven Names
    The heart-warming story of a golden-eyed dog in a time of war. A tiny dog, the runt of the litter, is born on a remote cattle station. She shouldn't have survived, but when Elsie finds, names, and loves her, the pup becomes a cherished companion. Life is perfect... until war arrives. With Japanese air raids moving closer, Elsie's family leaves...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Scout and the Rescue Dogs
    A celebration of community, adventure, kindness and, above all, dogs! The summer holidays have finally arrived, and Scout canโ€™t wait for her adventure in the big rig with Dad. Theyโ€™re on a mission to deliver donations of dog food to animal rescue shelters right across the state. Thereโ€™ll be lots of music, dad-jokes, and a brilliant plan that will make...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Aussie STEM Stars: Munjed Al Muderis
    Age range 9 to 14 Aussie STEM Stars: Munjed Al Muderis tells the inspiring story of Munjed's life. "Life is about making a difference," Munjed says. "We all have a mission in life, to leave behind a legacy." His resilience, determination, and positive outlook on lifeโ€”seeing the glass as half full rather than half emptyโ€”have helped him excel in his...
    Paperback
    $4100
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Cattle Muster
    A uniquely Australian outback tale from award-winning creators, Dianne Wolfer and Frane Lessac. Itโ€™s time to muster the cattle. Mumโ€™s in the ute. Charlieโ€™s in the chopper. Dad leads the jackaroos. Sis rides canters on the wing. Everyone has a job, everyone except me. But whose job will it be to save the day? From the author of Scout and...
    Hardback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Mia: Through My Eyes - Australian Disaster Zones
    Mia is used to cyclone build-ups, but the noise and energy of the wild rain squalls keep her awake half the night. What if the cyclone hits before Mum gets back? As wild winds batter the coast, Mia knows she must keep calm. The animals need her. Thirteen-year-old Mia lives on a bush block in the Pilbara, where she assists...
    Paperback
    $2199
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Colt from Old Regret
    Tossing his mane, the Colt from old Regret tears through the scrub. Stones clatter and crimson rosellas shriek as he canters higher.You may have heard the story of the man from Snowy River and his fearless ride through the mountains. This is Colt's story, of nickering mares and a rearing stallion. How did Colt escape the man? What did Colt...
    Hardback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Last Light Horse
    The fourth and final book in the Light series, which began with Lighthouse Girl and includes the CBCA shortlisted Lighthorse Boy. There were 136,000 Australian horses sent to fight during the First World War. Just one came home. From the high country of Victoria to the desert sand of Egypt, from the waters off Gallipoli to the battlefields of France,...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Children's Books

View all
  • Cass and the Beast
    New Release
    Cass and the Beast
    A sweeping and original picture book about a girl who chooses not to be afraid, a modern-day heroine in a story we feel in our bones like an ancient folktale. When a fearful beast arrives in the township, Cass finds her courage and is rewarded with a wild and magical journey. The creature takes her on a thundering ride through...
    Hardback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    The Case of the Viral Video: Violet and the Velvets 3
    Violet and the Velvets can hardly believe they've come so far in the BandChamps competition with only hard work, a smidge of talent, and a whole lot of thinking outside the box. This time, they get to record their new song in a proper recording studio and star in their very own music video! But Violet is letting her perfectionism...
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $1899
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    Royalslinger
    K Pop Demon Hunters fans will love this! Graci Kim is back with the second book in her exciting and fantastical Slinger series where dragons and phoenixes roam the skies of Seoul; meals magically appear based on your mood; and dreams literally come to life. Praise forย Dreamslinger: โ€œA mind-blowingly original fantasy adventureโ€”Graci Kim has done it again!โ€โ€”Rick Riordan,ย New York Timesย #1...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    Detective Beans and the Map of Mystery
    Enjoy this new DETECTIVE BEANS adventure in the bestselling and award-winning graphic novel series by Li Chen! Your favourite kitten detective is back with a new mystery to solve . . . and treasure to find! When Captain Scuttlebeard gives Beans a treasure map, Beans is determined to find the prize at the end. The clues take him all over...
    By Li Chen
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2200
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Mei Mei the Bunny Mei Mei the Bunny
    New Release
    Mei Mei the Bunny
    Mei Mei the Bunny is Laufey's picture book debut about a bunny learning to believe in herself through music. Experience a heartwarming tale of self-belief in this enchanting picture book by GRAMMY Award-winning musician Laufey. Meet Mei Mei, a little bunny with a big dreamโ€”to spread joy through her music! As her debut recital at the H'Opera House draws near,...
    By Laufey
    Hardback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    Hunted: Wolf Girl 15
    Just when Wolf Girl is finally reunited with her father, he is torn away from her once more, and Gwen vows to stop at nothing to track him down. But danger is closing in: a giant snow leopard and a mysterious hooded figure are hot on their trail. As Gwen and the pack race through deep caverns to snowy peaks,...
    By Anh Do
    Paperback
    $1699
    Elsewhere:
    $1899
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    What If You Could
    From the former prime minister of New Zealand comes a guide for teens on chasing your dreams and embracing the unexpected qualities that truly make a person strong. When Jacinda Ardern became prime minister of New Zealand, she was one of the youngest people in the world leading a country. Many people thought she would never succeed โ€” herself included....
    Paperback
    $2599
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Lonasei and the Mystery of Origin Grove
    Eleven-year-old Lonasei is lonelyย โ€” she wishes her older sister Eva Grace wasn't so mean, and that her mum Aria didn't have to work so much. But when Aria inherits her childhood home, Lonasei discovers she can enter her late Aunt Malia's paintings and experience the memories within. Through them, she discovers that her mother had another sister, Agnes, who went...
    Paperback
    $2199
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Dawn Raid: The Apology
    This sequel to Dawn Raid follows Sofia Saveaโ€™s family, 50 years later, as Sofia's grandson becomes involved in the quest for a government apology. INVERCARGILL, 2020 Wow, I thought I knew a bit about the dawn raids, but this is HUGE. It happened to my OWN family and I never knew! I had no idea that Granfia and her family...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2099
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Big Bang Bread
    New Release
    Big Bang Bread
    In this time-travel storybook and cookbook with a cosmic twist, take a journey through time and space to discover the secrets of baking! Did you know that bread is made from stardust? Board the rocket and blast off on an adventure through time and space to discover the secrets of a home-baked loaf! Big Bang Bread is a kids' time-travel...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    B is for Bird
    From award-winning artist, Lily Emo, comes a beautiful celebration of birds. Paired with a fun rhyming story, gorgeous illustrations, and fold-out pages, this book is set to be a favourite for everyone and the perfect gift. Make your way through the alphabet with this stunning book featuring a cast of familiar birds. From albatross to fantails, gannets to quail, and...
    Hardback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Signed Copy
    The Curse of the Carnivorous Cactuses
    (Sam: Nothing could be as bad as being covered in icky purple blobs ... wait, what does carnivorous mean again?) The gang is determined to defeat Glam-Evil and her nasty curses so that they can save their park and get back for Shackleton and Amelia's very first sleepover. But Glam-Evil has a few new tricks up her ultravillainous sleeve ......
    Paperback
    $1400
    Elsewhere:
    $1499
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.