Reviews

Where the Lilies Bloom by Bill Cleaver, Vera Cleaver

kefletcher's review

3.0

The last book I remember my mom reading aloud to me. Some interesting themes and story lines to discuss with kids.

happy_hiker's review against another edition

3.0

I read this book when I was a kid and I remember really liking it. I recently found this book - the exact edition I had read - on sale at the library and picked it up. Upon re-reading, I can see how my preteen self enjoyed the book. As an adult reading through the last part of the book (in which the Luthers, with no parents and no money were trying to survive winter in the mountains)I was grateful that I have a nice warm house where I can comfortably look at the snow falling outside my window. I'm glad I re-visited this book.

unsociable_and_taciturn's review

adventurous dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.25

bailee_c's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death of parent

hmelton96's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

I liked the setting of this book in the Smoky Mountain but was kind of lost at times on the time frame of the story. I didn’t love Mary Call as a narrator but also have to acknowledge she has a huge amount of responsibility as a 14 year old. 

kaadee's review

adventurous emotional funny inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident and Death of parent

readwithmikey's review

4.0

When I read this in 6th grade, I think I presumed it was more famous than it is. Bucolic and thought-provoking, at least when I read it inaugurally. (7)

emlickliter's review

4.0

Where the Lilies Bloom by Vera Cleaver -- This is a coming of age story I read when I hit the phase where I read Katherine Called Birdy, the Witch of Blackbird Pond, and the American Girl books. Its lovely! Happy Reading!

laurenbdavis's review

4.0

Charming.

nora_s's review

4.0

This a great book about the struggles of living in the mountains with almost nothing. Nothing but a house. After their father gets very ill, the second oldest daughter, Mary Call, get assigned head of the household and is responsible for making sure her siblings get fed. She is only 14 and is in charge of her older sister, Devola, her 10-year-old brother Romey, and her 5-year-old sister Ima Dean.