#2 - Historical Fiction

Lily's Crossing

Author: Patricia Reilly Giff

Credit: Patricia Reilly Giff

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Giff, Patricia R. (1997). Lily's Crossing. New York. ISBN 978-0440414537

PLOT SUMMARY

Lily is on her way to Rockaway with her Grams, father and best friend Margaret.  Soon all that changes when WWII comes calling.  Lily is devastated when her hopes of a fun filled summer are dashed due to Margaret and her family moving away, and her father is going to Europe to help the War. Lily meets Albert, a boy from Hungry, a boy with secrets, and eventually, they become friends. Will these secrets cost them Albert or Lily's life? 

CRICITIAL ANALYSIS

Patricia Giff writes an amazing historical fiction novel about a feisty young girl named Lily. Lily is very down-to-earth, a real-life character,  and is very easy to identify with her as a reader. For example, she hides her report card from her Grams, her dislike of school, and her being so upset that her best friend Margaret is moving away for the summer. The plot and setting of Lily's Crossing stay consistent throughout the book.  The theme of Lily's Crossing is friendship and love and is shown throughout the book between Lily and Albert, especially when Lily saves Albert's life in the end when she pulls him out of the water. Also, between Lily, Margaret, and her family. Patricia Giff has a wonderful style of writing. She beautifully blends history into a fictional novel. Lily's Crossing is a historical fiction novel, many true events of that period of the 1940's happen to families like Lily's were true. For example, jobs were created during World War II for our U.S. families to help build airplanes, etc. In addition, the fear for our country was evident throughout the U.S., spies, etc. This is a beautiful novel, one of friendship, mystery, and love.

AWARDS AND REVIEWS

* Horn Book For Excellence in Children's Literature - 1997

* Honor Book Fiction and Poetry in U.S. - 1997

* M. Jerry Weiss Book Award - 2000

* Best Children's Books of the Year - 1998

* Notable Children's Books - 1998

* Teachers' Choices - 1998

* "Details are woven with great effect into a realistic story." - The Horn Book Magazine

* "Exceptional characterizations and a robust story line...this has all the ingredients that best   reward readers."- Kirkus Review

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

CONNECTIONS

Activities To Use With This Book:

* Research World War II, jobs and employment during World War II.

* Label on a map Atlantic Ocean and Rockaway Beach.

* Compare and Contrast Albert and Lily as characters and discuss their friendship.

Book Connections:

* Nory Ryan's Song - ISBN 9780440418290

* Maggie's Door - ISBN 9780756951023

* Blog created for the purpose of TWU, Children's Literature Course #5603, and for the love of reading!