- Personal reactionI did not enjoy this book very much because of its historical background. I took World History class during elementary and middle schools. I really enjoyed the classes because learning histories of other countries was very interesting. However, while reading this book, I felt sad. I enjoy academically learning histories, but knowing what people had to be faced and how hard their lives is really hard for me. It reminds me of Korean War. I don't have a family member attending the war. However, I have seen many people who still have a hard time because of the war. Also, as the main character, Lily, tells a like many times, I could not enjoy this book. The most important moral standard for me is being honest. I have some bad memories that happened because of someone's lie.- Purpose(s): I would read this book to fourth graders. - This book would be difficult for young children because it is based on the historical background. Thus, I would start to read this book to fourth graders. They would understand this story, as they take a history class. Moreover, though they haven't taken a history class, I would still recommend this book to them because their cognitive domain and language ability have developed enough to understand it.- This book would help children to understand the genre, historical-realistic fiction. This story might have occurred during the war. It's based on the history as well as realistic story. Thus, children would learn this type of book.- I would recommend this book to a child who has shown his or her interest in a history class. It would give more ideas of what actually occurred during the war and how people's lives seemed to be. By connecting lectures to this book, it would encourage them to learn more deeply about the history. - This book would help children to learn new vocabularies. As this story has many world related to the war and the mood, children would extend their language capacities. - This book does not have illustrations. As fourth graders have abilities to read a long story without a picture, children would draw images in their minds. It would help them to develop their imagination. - It has many thought-provoking sentences. For example, before Lily's father left to the war, "The army needs engineers", this sentence is written. It makes readers think that his father, an engineer, would go to the war. - As a teacher, I want to ask "What do you think of Lily's future?" to students.
As I consider what I liked best about this story, I think it is the expression of Lily's contrary feelings. Remember when you were young and you loved your mom, but you disliked her too? When your mom showed you expressions of love, you may have shunned them. Contrary. A perfect expression of those teenage emotions. And stubborn. Too stubborn to give in to those soft feelings.Lily has those feelings towards her Gram. She feels mad at her dad who is leaving her to serve in the war. She doesn't have a mom, she died long ago. Her best friend Margaret is leaving for the summer too. So Lily tells lies and stories to comfort herself. The only good thing is she is at her beloved home by the ocean in Rockaway. While there Lily has some adventures with a new friend, Albert, who has been orphaned by the war and has his own struggles. In essence, this story is about Lily's beginning to grow up. To understand that love and life is complicated. I really enjoy reading teen/young adult fiction. For one, you can read a story in an afternoon, and secondly, it's often better than much of the adult fiction that's out there.If you read aloud to your children, this would be a good option for your upper elementary student. If you just want a story to while away a few hours, this would fit the bill.
Do You like book Lily's Crossing (1999)?
Lily's Crossing is a historical fiction book by Patricia Reilly Giff. Lily's Crossing won the 1998 Newberry Honor Medal. The book is set in 1944 and it is about a young girl named Lily who spends her summers at Rockaway Beach during WWII. Lily struggles with understanding the war and growing up without her mother. She also struggles with lying, every time she vows not to lie, another lie slips out of her mouth. Eventually, her lies put the life of one of her friends in jeopardy. Albert is a Hungarian refugee who lost his family during the Nazi occupation of Europe. Albert tells Lily about his unspeakable horrors he experienced at the hands of the Nazis. Lily and Albert's relationship develops throughout the course of the book and tackles difficult subjects such as war and loss. I think children can easily relate to Lily. The author seems to understand the dichotomy between someone Lily's age still being a child but is expected to grow up too fast due to the circumstances of the world around her. Lily seems like a typical older elementary student who is curious about the world and what is around her. She has a hard time understanding why her Gram asks her to do certain things, like practice piano and set the table. She is also a struggling student, but not in reading and she loves to write. She is a liar and wants to stop lying but she cannot seem to. She is also dealing with the loss of her mother and the fact that her father has to work in Europe for the war. Most children are able to relate to Lily in one way or another and they can tie the text back to their own lives. Lily's Crossing would be a great read aloud for grades 4-5. It could also be used to supplement a history lesson that includes WWII. The book brings up topics that would not be suitable for younger elementary students so I would not recommend using it as a read aloud for grades K-3. For older elementary students, this book could help facilitate discussions about lying, the struggles of understanding yourself when you're young, and the meaning of friendship.
—Cassandra Miller
In Lily's Crossing, Lily must move to Rockaway, NY for the summer. Her father is sent to Europe. Her father promises to tell her where he is secretly. Her best friend Margaret must move near a factory where her dad works. Albert a refugee from Hungary stays with the Orbans for the summer. Albert is looking for his sister Ruth who got sick in France and was taken a nunnery. Lily promises him that she will go with him to France to help find his sister. Over time Lily and Albert become best friends. At the end of the summer Albert returns to Canada. This is a wonderful book telling what the war was like living in the United States.
—Darcy Stewart
Personal reaction: I enjoyed this book overall however, my problem was with Lily's trouble with lying so much. I liked the story line and the perspective placed in the war. Lily seemed to lie all the time without really any real consequence of her lies. I think a story like this should possibly include a lesson for children about lying. Purposes: This book could very easily be used as a read aloud book for a class who is learning about WWII. A way to engage the students would be to have them create a storyline about the events in the story. Another purpose for this book could be independent reading for a student who is experiencing life changes, who has had to move away from what they know, or a child of a military family as the story would be relatable for them.
—Megan McKenny
