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bwluvs2read's review
3.0
Lily plays the piano, swims like a fish, and tells lies. Well, really she writes them. But one summer she becomes friends with someone who tells just as many lies as she does, and together they both must face the truth. Each summer, she travels to Rockaway to stay with her grandmother on the Atlantic coast, but after this summer, Lily will never be the same. The year is 1944 and WWII has reached its long fingers into her life, taking away her beloved father, Poppy, her best friend, Margaret, and the assurance she once had in the simple things in life. However, the summer is not all loss. The appearance of a small, sad, and mysterious boy leads to unexpected happiness. Albert, a war refugee from Hungary, opens Lily’s eyes to his own experience with the war, the loss of his parents, and separation from his beloved little sister, Ruth. Through many adventures - rescuing a cat, learning to swim, sneaking into the movie theater, possibly crossing the Atlantic to return to Europe, see Poppy, and rescue Ruth - Lily and Albert stay side by side. The story resolves with not one reunion but two as Lily finds joy in both her family and her friendships at last.
The American home-front comes alive in Giff’s novel, portraying the anxiety, sadness, and fear that persisted in American communities throughout the latter years of the war. References to lost soldiers, divided families, tight rations, and ravaged home countries fill the book while snippets from radio shows, films, and propaganda bring harsh elements of realism to novel’s plot. While Lily’s internal conflict and the main conflict of the novel do not directly relate to the war, all events of the novel revolve around the D-day invasion. Once, Lily cracks the code in her father’s letters and realizes he is in France just after the soldiers landed in Normandy, she takes a greater interest in the war. These historical events also have personal significance to the author; Lily’s story is inspired by the summer Giff spent in Rockaway in 1944 where she clearly remembers “the fears of that time, and how personal it all was.” The tension and suspicion which Giff references is palpable, and Lily herself is subject to it - when Albert first arrives, she automatically assumes he could be a spy. Overall, Giff’s portrayal of the war, characters, and setting of the novel are all fabulously authentic.
Some might find the title of this novel misleading because Lily doesn’t cross anything, but in her separation from her father and her growing friendship with Albert, the far away countries and the tragedies occurring there are suddenly much closer. In many ways, she has “crossed over” to a new understanding of life and appreciation of the people she loves. War is traumatic, and Giff reminds us that those most often traumatized during difficult times are children. Not every war story has a happy ending, but thankfully, despite being somewhat contrived, this one does. Readers will delight and sympathize with Lily while experiencing a turning point in American history from a unique point of view.
The American home-front comes alive in Giff’s novel, portraying the anxiety, sadness, and fear that persisted in American communities throughout the latter years of the war. References to lost soldiers, divided families, tight rations, and ravaged home countries fill the book while snippets from radio shows, films, and propaganda bring harsh elements of realism to novel’s plot. While Lily’s internal conflict and the main conflict of the novel do not directly relate to the war, all events of the novel revolve around the D-day invasion. Once, Lily cracks the code in her father’s letters and realizes he is in France just after the soldiers landed in Normandy, she takes a greater interest in the war. These historical events also have personal significance to the author; Lily’s story is inspired by the summer Giff spent in Rockaway in 1944 where she clearly remembers “the fears of that time, and how personal it all was.” The tension and suspicion which Giff references is palpable, and Lily herself is subject to it - when Albert first arrives, she automatically assumes he could be a spy. Overall, Giff’s portrayal of the war, characters, and setting of the novel are all fabulously authentic.
Some might find the title of this novel misleading because Lily doesn’t cross anything, but in her separation from her father and her growing friendship with Albert, the far away countries and the tragedies occurring there are suddenly much closer. In many ways, she has “crossed over” to a new understanding of life and appreciation of the people she loves. War is traumatic, and Giff reminds us that those most often traumatized during difficult times are children. Not every war story has a happy ending, but thankfully, despite being somewhat contrived, this one does. Readers will delight and sympathize with Lily while experiencing a turning point in American history from a unique point of view.
paprica's review
This is one of those books i read as a child, and for some reason it's stuck with me throughout the years. Honestly though, I can't remember a single plot point in it, I just always remember it as that book set during world war 2 with a girl named Lily.
I want to give this a re-read and see how it holds up, but I'm afraid it'll shatter my childhood memories of checking this out from the library and loving it completely. It's one of those books I attribute to what made me really love reading. We'll see if I give it another go.
I want to give this a re-read and see how it holds up, but I'm afraid it'll shatter my childhood memories of checking this out from the library and loving it completely. It's one of those books I attribute to what made me really love reading. We'll see if I give it another go.
williamsdebbied's review
5.0
Lily's mother died when Lily was very young. In the summer of 1944, Lily goes to the beach with her grandmother while her father enlists in the army and joins the fight against the Nazis. Lonely at first, Lily eventually develops a friendship with a young Hungarian immigrant whose parents were killed and whose sister is still somewhere in France.
Moving and, ultimately, triumphant.
Moving and, ultimately, triumphant.
kailey_luminouslibro's review
2.0
poor plot, one-dimensional characters. bleh.
I'm surprised it won a Newberry.
I'm surprised it won a Newberry.
jcravens42's review
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
noelles's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mackenzieroy93's review
It was good. Some parts were confusing because she jumped around a lot and didn't explain but overall an adorable story
maddydoyle314's review
5.0
The book was amazing! I loved how this book taken place during World War II. This was a different type of War World II book because it takes place in the Rockaways. The ending of the book really made me smile. Every time I see this book in the library I have to turn to the last page and read it. I don't really get why it was called Lily's Crossing. I understand she lied about swimming across the Atlantic Ocean to get to Europe. I didn't think that was the main point of the story. I really did like this book though.