LILY'S CROSSING by Patricia Reilly Giff

Bibliography

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

Summary

Lily Mollahan is a young girl with a wild imagination who is looking forward to spending another summer at her Gram’s house in Rockaway, NY with Gram and her dad. However, the year is 1944 and the U.S.A. needs help as WWII continues. Lily’s father joins the fight and Lily’s only friend Margaret and her family move across the country to help in a factory. Then Albert, a young Hungarian boy, moves in with her neighbors. As Lily and Albert become friends, Lily learns of Albert’s sister Ruth and his desire to get back to Europe and find her. In an effort to comfort Albert, Lily tells a lie that ultimately puts Albert’s life in danger. What will do for her friend and what will she learn about true friendship?

Critical Analysis

Giff transports us into 1940s New York and creates an atmosphere that will help young readers understand what it was like to live in America at the peak of WWII. Food shortages and communities coming together to support each other are seamlessly woven into the backdrop of the story that create the atmosphere of what it would have felt like during that time. Today’s readers will be able to connect to the families who have loved ones fighting to protect their country as that is similar to the environment they are being raised in now. The most important part of the story is friendship and what friendship means as friends move away and new ones are made. Anyone can connect with Lily and what she learns about true friendship.

At the end of the book, Giff relates a portion of her story and what she remembers as a child in 1944. While this isn't her story, Lily could have been her, one child who felt both the fear and the friendship of the age.

Review Excerpts

1998 ALA Notable Books for Children award winner

1998 Newbery award nominee

School Library Journal – "An excellent choice for all collections serving middle school students." - Veronica Schwartz

Connections

This is a great book to include in any study of WWII.

This is a great book to study character development.