Lily's Crossing

Lily's Crossing

A Review by Amanda Kendall

Bibliography:

Giff, Patricia Reilly. 1997. Lily's Crossing. New York: Random House Inc. 0440414539

Plot Summary:

Lily always spends her summers in Rockaway Beach, New York with her grandmother and father, Poppy. That is until the summer of 1944. Her best friend, Margaret, moved to Detroit with her family, and her father was called overseas. While the war continues in Europe, Lily finds herself with only her grandmother for company on summer vacation and without her beloved father and best friend. With her life turned upside down, Lily is not expecting to make a new friend- least of all, a Hungarian refugee named Albert.  However, through a series of unexpected adventures Lily and Albert begin to trust and open up to each other realizing they have more in common than they thought. Despite their differences, they help and support each other through a difficult summer and forge a friendship neither one will ever forget.

Analysis:

Giff's knack for storytelling brings this WWII story of unlikely friendship to life from the beginning. Lily's character is perfectly flawed making her even more likable.  Her dynamic first-person narration gives the reader the sense they are listening to a dear friend and privy to their deepest secrets and truths. Lily's voice is honest and refreshing, her true feelings coming across on every page. The reader feels Lily's anxiety and guilt right along with her. When Lily meets Albert and they begin to bond over swimming lessons and a stray cat, the two find themselves in the most unlikely friendship that ends up being a lifeline for the both of them. Both dealing with unresolved guilt and loneliness, the two find that a true friendship can transcend even the worst circumstances.

Giff does an impeccable job of recreating life during WWII for her readers. Every detail is woven directly into the story from the price of cookies to the movies being shown at the theater. Posters with slogans like "Loose Lips Sink Ships" and partially blacked-out headlights give authenticity to the story and show Giff's dedicated research on the time period. Each nuance of detail creates a window into Lily's world and the high anxiety and emotions that were a part of that world. Giff has crafted a story that transports back in history while showing us the timeless truth of the power of friendship.

Awards & Reviews:

• Newbery Honor Book 1998
• ALA Notable Children's Book 1998
• A Boston Globe-Horn Honor Book

From Booklist: "With wry comedy and intense feeling…Giff gets across a strong sense of what it was like on the home front during World War II…The friendship story is beautifully drawn."

From Publisher's Weekly: "Exceptional characterizations and a robust story line turn this WWII homefront novel into far more than a period piece."

From Horned Book Magazine: "Details…are woven with great effect into a realistic story."

Connections:
More Historical Fiction by Patricia Reilly Giff:

• Nory Ryan's Song. 0440418291
• Willow Run. 0440238013
• Water Street. 0440419212
•  Maggie's Door. 0440415810
• Gingersnap. 0440421780

More Historical Fictional Books during WWII

• Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. The War That Saved My Life. 0147510481
• Lowery, Lois. Number the Stars. 0547577095
• McSwigan, Marie and Mary Reardon. Snow Treasure. 0142402249
• Morpurgo, Michael. An Elephant in the Garden. 1250034140
• Park, Linda Sue. When My Name was Keoko. 0547722397
• Reiss, Johanna. The Upstairs Room. 006440370X
• Spinelli, Jerry. Milkweed. 0375861475

Suggested Curricular Connections:

• Take a virtual tour of Rockaway Beach, New York using Google Earth.
• Compare life in the 1940s to modern times. What similarities and differences do you notice? 
• Listen to some popular songs from WWII. Compare those songs to songs of today. 
• Write thank you letters to those currently serving in our armed forces. 
• Create your own WWII poster with a catchy slogan like the many posters Lily saw throughout town.