Lily's Crossing- Historical Fiction

Lily's Crossing
By: Patricia Reilly Giff

Lily is a stubborn, twelve year old, girl growing up in the United States during World War II . But the summer of 1944, changes life as she knows it, when her dad is drafted to war and is required to fight in France. The same summer, Lily meets Albert, a curious Hungarian that flees to the United States, after the Nazi's invaded his house, leaving him and his sister orphaned. His sister was left behind in Hungary because she had measles, and is afraid that he will never see her again, the same feelings that Lily has about her father. Once realizing that they both have loved ones fighting overseas in the war, their friendship quickly blossoms. Lily tells Albert that she will help him find his sister, one of the numerous lies that she tells that summer. So, they set out on a rowboat to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Lily's lie, almost costs Albert his life, when he is knocked overboard and cannot swim. Lily admits to Albert that she has lied, and been selfish the whole summer. He understands because he, too, has been the same way. Lily is reunited with her father, and Albert with this sister. Albert returned to Europe to be with his mother.

I would use this story as a read aloud, or for literacy circles, as a supplement to a social studies unit. This book shows the students the wartime effects that WWII had on families in the United States and in Europe, as well. I would start by having the students compare and contrast the two main characters, Lily and Albert, by using any graphic organizer that they feel would be appropriate (preferably a Venn diagram or Double Bubble map). This would be an ongoing activity throughout the novel, so by the end of the story, their maps should be full of ideas. We would discuss their similarities and differences throughout the novel, and at the end, to see if we can use the information to draw conclusions about the characters. I would then have the students write a letter to one of the characters, either Lily or Albert. The students could ask them questions about their feelings, talk to them about the importance of being honest and telling the truth, or give them advice about what they would have or could have done differently. This activity is really an open response to the novel, but it will require student to think critically about the characters.