The Lanterns Between Houses is a 1988 realistic fiction novel by Robloxian author John Smith. Set in the fictional mining town of Millersham, nestled in the the Roregon Highlands during the mid-to-late 1970s, the novel follows thirteen-year-old Avery Dorsey and his circle of friends during one long, unforgettable summer filled with secrets, losses, and the slow unraveling of childhood innocence. A quiet but emotional work, the novel gained a cult following in literary circles for its introspective voice, atmospheric setting, and nuanced handling of memory, grief, and the fragile architecture of adolescence. It is considered one of Smith's most poignant works and is often included in Robloxian school reading lists for its complex emotional landscape and subtle historical commentary.
Originally published by Dunsleigh Press, the novel received modest commercial attention upon release but gained traction through word-of-mouth and was later praised by several national literary critics. As of 2010, it has sold over 1.3 million copies and has been translated into four languages. A limited-edition 30th anniversary hardcover was released in 2018 with annotations, archival photos of Smith’s writing cabin, and a foreword by playwright Malcolm Vane.
Plot
The novel is set in the fictional mining town of Millersham, located in the Roregon Highlans region of Robloxia during the summer of 1976. It follows Avery Dorsey, a thirteen-year-old boy navigating adolescence while coping with the recent death of his mother and a changing family dynamic. He lives with his father, Harold, a former train conductor, and his older sister, Maggie, who is politically active and planning to leave for university.
At the beginning of the summer, Avery and his friend Paul discover an old lantern beneath an abandoned house on Farwell Lane. The boys begin using the lantern as a nightly signal between their homes, developing a silent routine that becomes symbolic of their friendship. As the story progresses, Avery becomes involved in a series of quiet but increasingly significant discoveries related to Millersham's past. This includes anonymous letters, interactions with a new neighbor named Eliza, and information about a violent miners' strike that occurred in 1949.
The narrative interweaves personal experiences with local history, as Avery uncovers documents, audio reels, and other records suggesting a cover-up involving the town’s leadership. The subplot includes conflicts between Avery’s father and the town council over redevelopment projects, as well as Maggie’s growing activism and departure. During a town-wide blackout at the Harvest Festival, Avery uses the lantern to help guide several children to safety. The incident is noted by residents but not widely publicized.
The novel concludes with Avery returning to school, having recorded his experiences in writing. The lantern, once a simple object, becomes a central metaphor for the novel’s themes of memory, loss, and unspoken connection.