A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the Mormons

Born on the windswept shores of the Great Lakes, the narrator grew up with the rhythm of waves and the glow of lighthouse lamps shaping her childhood. Her memories begin with the simple joy of watching white‑capped water roll onto pebbly beaches, a love that later guided her work as a lightkeeper. Through vivid personal anecdotes she paints a picture of island life where fishing, sailing, and family ties intertwine with the ever‑present danger of the lake.

The heart of the book lies in her four years living among the Mormon community that once claimed Beaver Island as its own. She recounts daily rituals, the authority of King Strang, and the uneasy tensions that eventually forced both settlers and Mormons to leave. After the upheaval, the island welcomed Irish families, whose descendants still tend the land, offering a glimpse of resilience and cultural blending that defines the island’s later years.