Parents' Guide to

Lily's Crossing

By S. K. List, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Lets readers walk in the shoes of a tweenage girl.

Book Patricia Reilly Giff Friendship 1997
Lily's Crossing Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 12+

Based on 3 parent reviews

newjoy2day
newjoy2day Adult
July 3, 2013
age 8+

Lily's Crossing as an Introduction to WW2

I read this book for Battle of the Books in 5th grade and I feel it is a very appropriate for that age range. It is a work that is a bit slower so it takes some time to digest for younger kids. It takes place in WW2 and therefore has moments of grief as Lily deals with the death of her mother and the war overseas. This book is a gem and a great read, the only reason I say 8 and up is because the pace is rather slow for a children's book so it is wise to take the attention span of a child into consideration. I feel this book is an extremely good introduction to the topic of WW2 and should be treated accordingly.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
wolflordz194
wolflordz194 Adult
December 27, 2011
age 12+

don"t overlook classics!

first off "it swears in first chapter" give it up good reading is always close to reality. welcome to real life!
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In the last summer of World War II, ten-year-old Lily meets a young Hungarian refugee who's come to the Long Island beach community to be safe from the war. With delicate but authoritative writing, the author brings these two distinctive youngsters together and makes them allies against loneliness.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (6 ):

With meticulously chosen details, Giff lets us into Lily's life -- past and present -- and makes us care about what the future holds for her. It's clear that the author, who spent her own childhood summers in Rockaway, knows her landscape; she leads readers to inhabit Lily's world: beach sand and tarry streets, hot breezes and houses on stilts at the water's edge. They feel the impact of war: rationing, radio news, censored mail, and reports of a neighbor missing in action. They feel Lily's loneliness and know why she stretches the truth.

Giff slowly and persistently connects her readers to the heroine, and, as with friendships in real life, makes the friendship that is at the core of this novel heartfelt. Young readers will recognize this honesty at once and will take to this book with devotion.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Lily deals with her situation.

  • How does she handle her frustrations?

  • How does her new friendship change her outlook on things?

Book Details

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