Lily's Crossing
By Patricia Reilly Giff
Giff, Patricia Reilly. 1997. LILY’S CROSSING. New York : Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780385321426
Plot Summary
During WWII, life changed in many ways for people, even away from the fighting. Lily is dealing with these changes on the homefront, from having to make new friends, eating food she doesn’t like, and parting with her father. While summering in the beach front Rockaway as usual, so much is the same, yet so much different. In this summer, a strong new friendship is formed reluctantly with a Hungarian refugee, and many lessons are learned including overcoming her habit of lying.
Critical Analysis
Lily is a bold and adventurous girl who befriends the cautious and serious new kid, both realistic in character. Their summer activities, recreation, and ways of dealing with the war going on are appropriate to the time period. The focus of the story is the building friendship within the backdrop of the setting of wartime America and dealing with family issues and relationships. The situations are realistic, telling an interesting story dealing with heavier themes in a lighter way.
The story is told simplistically, not heavily detailed, but enough to be effective. The characters of Lily and Albert are definitely the focus, though the setting is also important. The story is based upon the author’s experiences as a child during this time period in the same setting, which lends to the authenticity. This story is lighter on the facts than other works of historical fiction, being more focused on character.
Awards, Honors, Best Book Lists
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 1997 Honor Book Fiction and Poetry United States Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 1997 Winner Best Bet to Win Newbery Medal United States Jefferson Cup Award, 1998 Honor Book United States John Newbery Medal, 1998 Honor Book United States M. Jerry Weiss Book Award, 2000 Winner Grades 4-6 New Jersey
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for PreK-Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999 ; National Council of Teachers of English; United StatesBest Children's Books of the Year, 1998 ; Bank Street College of Education; United StatesCapitol Choices, 1997 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United StatesChildren's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United StatesChildren's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006 ; H.W. Wilson; United StatesMiddle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000 ; H.W. Wilson; United StatesMiddle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005 ; H.W. Wilson; United StatesNotable Children's Books, 1998 ; ALSC American Library Association; United StatesReading Magic Award, 1997 ; Parenting; United StatesRecommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002 ; California Department of Education; CaliforniaTeachers' Choices, 1998 ; International Reading Association; United States
Review Excerpts
Mary Jane (BookHive (www.bookhive.org))
“…This warm story gives readers a sense of what it was like growing up during the war and the importance of friends and family.”
“…This warm story gives readers a sense of what it was like growing up during the war and the importance of friends and family.”
Hazel Rochman (Booklist, February 1, 1997 (Vol. 93, No. 11))
“With wry comedy and intense feeling, and without intrusive historical detail, Giff gets across a strong sense of what it was like on the home front during World War II…”
“With wry comedy and intense feeling, and without intrusive historical detail, Giff gets across a strong sense of what it was like on the home front during World War II…”
Connections
Don't you know there's a war on?
2001 Avi. HarperCollins, New York : U.S.A
2001 Avi. HarperCollins, New York : U.S.A
My daddy was a soldier : a World War II story
1990 written and illustrated by Deborah Kogan Ray. Holiday House, New York : U.S.A
1990 written and illustrated by Deborah Kogan Ray. Holiday House, New York : U.S.A
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