Lily's Crossing

This past weekend I spent the night at my sister's babysitting. Aside from the pleasure of seeing the kids, I also discovered a new book to blog about.
"Lily's Crossing" is a book by Patricia Reilly Giff.  Some readers may know her from the Polk Street School series, a series of stories about a class of second graders. But she has also written Newbery honor award winning books. They are great books for younger readers, but "Lily's Crossing" is written for the 9-12 year olds.
The book is set during World War Two. Lily is an only child who lives with her father and grandmother. Her mother died when Lily was a baby of heart issues.
The book is set during the summer of 1944. Lily's family is once again planning their summer trip to Rockaway Beach, where they have a house in the water. Lily is looking forward to seeing her friend Margaret, and all the other people she's known from her summers at the shore. But when she arrives there she finds more than the tide is changing. Lily's father is going away with the army to help rebuild cities, her best friend Margaret is leaving for Detroit so that her father can work in a factory for the war effort, and people are living in a high state of alert, aware a German attack is a distinct possibility.
The biggest change Lily faces however, is the appearance of a boy named Albert, a refugee from Hungary. Their friendship is built on loneliness, and guilt. But then Lily, whose imagination sometimes takes the place of common sense gives him an idea that is dangerous. Can Lily stop Albert from risking his life on a plan that will never work?
Lily is a strong character, who often has an issue with the truth. Despite that, her heart is in the right place. On the verge of growing up <what we call "tweens" nowadays> she frequently butts heads with her grandmother. Lily also keeps certain rituals to remind her of the mother she never knew. With her father, Lily has a better relationship, but her anger at him for going off to fight in a war prevents her from saying goodbye when he leaves.
Albert, her new friend appreciates her for herself. Something Lily never had before.
Patricia Reilly Giff describes this story as being based on her life in the summers of the 1940s. She talks of her fear when she'd go to bed at night, and how she'd watch for the spot lights that kept the nights safe for America during that terrible time.
"Lily's Crossing"  can be an excellent book for either boys or girls, because while the story is told from Lily's point of view, Albert is a strong character as well. He is definitely someone boys can relate to.
This was a great book to read on a soggy Saturday at the shore. Look for it at your library. You and the kids will enjoy it too!