The Light of Luna Park

By: Addison Armstrong

Narrated by: Rachel L. Jacobs, Karissa Vacker

In the spirit of The Orphan Train and Before We Were Yours, a historical debut about a nurse who chooses to save a baby's life, and risks her own in the process, exploring the ties of motherhood and the little-known history of Coney Island and America's first incubators.

A nurse's choice. A daughter's search for answers.

New York City, 1926. Nurse Althea Anderson's heart is near breaking when she witnesses another premature baby die at Bellevue Hospital. So when she reads an article detailing the amazing survival rates of babies treated in incubators in an exhibit at Luna Park, Coney Island, it feels like the miracle she has been searching for. But the doctors at Bellevue dismiss Althea and this unconventional medicine, forcing her to make a choice between a baby's life and the doctors' wishes that will change everything.

Twenty-five years later, Stella Wright is falling apart. Her mother has just passed, she quit a job she loves, and her marriage is struggling. Then she discovers a letter that brings into question everything she knew about her mother, and everything she knows about herself.

The Light of Luna Park is a tale of courage and an ode to the sacrificial love of mothers.

I never knew!

As a nurse, this was sooo interesting! I never knew that premies were left to die like this, and not so long ago! I can’t imagine all those parents who had to watch their babies take their last breaths without any assistance. The story of how incubators were first used for these premies and how it was so shunned that the doctor who first used the incubators to save these babies had to put these babies on display like sideshow freaks, just to get the money and attention to support his cause. Wonderful story!

Two Amazing Women

This was a great book that wove historical fact with a believable fiction story. Althea Anderson and Stella Wright were women before their times. The story of the incubators was amazing to follow. Of course, I had to look it up and the pictures of the preemie babies was astounding. Thank goodness for Martin Clouney's sideshow exhibit at Luna Park. It would be interesting to hear some stories of some of those babies. I really enjoyed this story.

Compelling

I couldn’t put this book down! Each time I had to step away I couldn’t wait to get back. The story is moving and compelling, sometimes infuriating and heartbreaking, and sometimes joyous. The history itself is also compelling. It’s a fascinating time with fascinating people Making fascinating medical advances, and truly making a difference in the world. It’s worth Delling more into that history to find out how truly remarkable it is. This particular story may be fictional, but it truly grabs you and has something to teach. I highly recommend!

Engaging and educational

Ms. Armstrong created a fantastic story that is interesting and educational as well as engaging to the reader on a personal level. She weaves the two storylines masterfully and develops the characters in a very relatable and real way. It is fascinating to go back in time and learn about life and societal norms and attitudes a decade ago and sheds light on how far we have come as a society.

Love, Lies and Redemption

When you know that you know that you know and do something about it, you become the change that is no needed. A beautifully written story about determination, following one’s heart and life. Performance was a bit breathy, but good story.