Blog #2: Anna Rose Johnson

About Anna Rose Johnson

    Starting at a young age Anna Rose Johnson began telling stories and enjoyed it. Now, Anna Rose Johnson is a bestselling and award-winning author (1). Anna Rose Johnson is a Native American author and is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa tribe. Anna Rose Johnson has a passion for telling stories through novels and journalism. Anna writes about historical fiction, her native experiences, and writing children's books. She likes classic books, beautiful flowers, and all things historical (1). Johnson's novels are encouraged by the beautiful, whimsical, and family-oriented fiction of other authors. These authors consist of L.M. Montgomery, Jeanna Birdsall, Beverly Cleary, and Elizabeth Enright. Her goal is to write stories (1) to remind people of treasured childhood favorites. The sweet and gentle stories that are honest and about the hardships of life (1). Anna Rose Johnson has conducted over 450 interviews all over the globe with athletes (1). This includes Olympic and world champions. 

Book #1: The Star That Always Stays 

    The first novel is The Star That Always Stays, which is about a bright and spirited character named Norvia, who moves from the country to the city. Norvia grew up on Beaver Island, where Grand-Pere told her stories about her ancestors. When Norvia moves to the city, things a much different. In the city, Norvia's mother forces her to pretend that she is not a Native American (2). She even has to pretend around Mr. Ward (her mother's husband) and Vernon (her new stepbrother) (2). Imagine moving from the country where you are free and able to be yourself to a city where you pretend to be someone you are not. With the move, there is a threat of a world war. Norvia and her five siblings have the determination to make 1914 the best year they could possibly have. "Norvia is certain that her life depends upon it.." (2). The Star That Always Stays is inspired by Anna Rose Johnson (2). This book is based off of Anna Rose Johnson's great-grandmother. 

Review: The Star That Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson

    According to the website Story Sanctuary, a woman named Kasey did a review on the novel, The Star That Always Stays. It was published on July 12, 2022, by "Holiday House". Kasey the reviewer said that this novel was "absolutely charming" (4). The main character in the book, Norvia, shares the interests she has in different books. Books that are widely known and others that are less familiar to people. One of Kasey's things she liked a lot about the novel is "Norvia's journey through becoming part of a blended family" (4). even though in the beginning of the book she is very suspicious about her mother's marriage and stepfather. Her new brother is very weird and annoying to Norvia. throughout the novel Norvia begins to see the love her mother has for Norvia's stepfather and her stepfather's "loves for her and his devotion to all the children" (4). The novel shows two completely different time periods. One time period, that happened in the beginning of the book, where "Norvia is a child living on Beaver Island" (4) and listens to stories from her grandfather about her Ojibwe heritage. and a later time period, where "Norvia seeks her place in a new school, but battles fierce prejudice" (4).  during this time Norvia looks for "heroines" (4) from the books that she had read for some guidance on being liked and successful. She eventually discovers that her heritage offers tools of empowerment and prepares her for the future. In the back of the novel, in the author's notes section, Anna Rose Johnson shares details from her family history which overlaps the story of Norvia. The author also "shares her desire to craft a story" (4) by telling tales that the main character loves. Kasey states, "I think she absolutely succeeded in doing that" (4).

Book #2: The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry 

    The second novel is The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry, which is about a French-Ojibwe orphan who is sent to the stormy waters of a lake to "live with a mysterious family of lighthouse keepers"(3). She is in the hope of finding a legendary necklace her father had spent his life looking for. "Selena Lucy Landry was named after a ship, as every sailor's child should be." (3). She is scared of the water ever since she lost her father. With not a single person to take care of her, "she is sent to foster with the Martins"(3). This family is "big, hardworking, and close" (3), and Lucy struggles to fit in the family because she " has always been a dreamer" (3).  Near where Lucy is living, at the lighthouse with the Martins, is a famous ship wreckage. This is where her father died. this could also be where the legendary necklace could be. during the time that Lucy is searching for the necklace another person is too. Lucy and Martin children are in search of the ruby necklace. Will they find it and save their home? Will the Necklace give her a piece of her father? 

Book Review: The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry by Anna Rose Johnson

    According to the website "The Geekish Brunette", a woman named Joanna, gave a report about the novel The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry. Her review was about how it had interesting times and confusing times. "The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Lucy" (5) This means that Lucy tells the whole novel, The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry. Since Lucy's had a rough childhood after both of her parents passed away. Joanna felt bad for Lucy. Joanna thinks that Lucy used her imagination a lot and "she used it as an escape for her own life" (5) even with Lucy finding love by the end of the novel "it takes her a long way to get there" (5). Joanna the reviewer, "... did like the setting and was happy to find what she needed." (5) This means that she liked the book and the main character found what she was looking for by the end of the book. Joanna gives constructive criticism on how to possibly make it better by stating, "I think it would have made the family aspect a lot more heartwarming" (5). 

Personal reflection: 

    Throughout reading about this author, I found her books very interesting. I found out that both books are related to her Ojibwe heritage. Reading about a new author is very intriguing. Reading about Anna Rose Johnson and her books was really fun. I enjoyed doing research on her and her books. I would honestly like the read her books. Learning about Anna Rose Johnson was very interesting because I got to read about how she is a Native American tribe member, which was very interesting to me. 

works cited 

(1) “Home.” Anna Rose Johnson, 9 Jan. 2023, annarosejohnson.com/#:~:text=Author%C2%A0%20%7C%C2%A0%20Journalist%20Anna%20Rose%20Johnson%20Bestselling%20and,classic%20books%2C%20beautiful%20flowers%2C%20and%20all%20things%20historical.

(2) “The Star That Always Stays.” Goodreads, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/book/show/60098525-the-star-that-always-stays. Accessed 5 Mar. 2024.

(3) “The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry.” Goodreads, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/book/show/173476119-the-luminous-life-of-lucy-landry. Accessed 5 Mar. 2024.

(4) Kasey. “Review: The Star That Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson.” The Story Sanctuary, 6 Dec. 2022, thestorysanctuary.com/review-the-star-that-always-stays-by-anna-rose-johnson/.

(5) TheGeekishBrunette, ~ Joanna @. “Book Review: The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry by Anna Rose Johnson.” TheGeekishBrunette, 23 Feb. 2024, thegeekishbrunette.wordpress.com/2024/03/04/book-review-the-luminous-life-of-lucy-landry-by-anna-rose-johnson/.