When Lily meets Albert, a refugee from Hungary, during the summer of 1944, they begin a special friendship. However, Lily and Albert have both told...
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Sep 25, 2010
Linda
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Lily loves to lie. The lies flow fast and easy. Each time she vows not to lie, another one slides right on out of her mouth. Lily just cannot help herself.
The setting is Rockaway, NJ where Lily, her grandmother and father spend idyllic summers. But the summer of 1944 is different and lives are changed because of WWII. Lily's best friend moves to Detroit where her father can build bombs, the seaside boardwalk is empty and Lily's father is going oversees to fight in the war.
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The setting is Rockaway, NJ where Lily, her grandmother and father spend idyllic summers. But the summer of 1944 is different and lives are changed because of WWII. Lily's best friend moves to Detroit where her father can build bombs, the seaside boardwalk is empty and Lily's father is going oversees to fight in the war.
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Dec 16, 2009
Viviana
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This book took place during World War II. Lily is in 5th grade and every summer she goes to Rockaway,but this year when she arrived it was only her and her grandma because her dad was going overseas to fight against the nazis. Lily didn't say good-bye she was hurt and angry also because her only and best friend Margaret was also leaving Rockaway because her dad had to go and work to make bombs for the soldiers to use in the war. Lily was lonely with no friends, but one day she met her neighbor's
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Jul 18, 2011
Cathy
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This year, as in other years, Lily has planned a spectacular summer in Rockaway, in her family's cozy house on stilts over the Atlantic Ocean. But by the summer of 1944, World War II has changed almost everyone's life. Lily's best friend, Margaret, and her family have moved to a wartime factory town, and worse, much worse, Lily's father is on his way overseas to the war.
There's no one else Lily's age in Rockaway until Albert comes, a refugee from Hungary, a boy with a secret sewn into More...
There's no one else Lily's age in Rockaway until Albert comes, a refugee from Hungary, a boy with a secret sewn into More...
Jul 06, 2011
Beth
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I loved this book! I could not put it down when I started reading it. The book is about a little girl, Lily, who visits her grandmother's house each Summer. She and her best friend, Margaret, are inseparable until Maragaret has to move due to her father's position in the war. Lily is left to spend the Summer alone with her grandmother until she meets Albert. She and Albert have a rocky friendship at the beginning, but soon become the best of friends. Lily finds herself trusting and telling Alber
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Oct 23, 2011
CM
rated it: 
Eh, it wasn't a bad book really, but I was a little disappointed. I wanted to like this book. The summary sounded interesting, and the reason I picked it up in the first place was because I read Patricia Reilly Giff's book Wild Girl recently and thought it was great. But this book . . . it just didn't do it for me. Lily is a brat, as is Margaret, so right from the beginning I found myself disliking her and hoping that she would get into trouble. With the introduction of Albert (good guy, bu
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Aug 11, 2009
Brandi
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I saw this at the library--it's a Newbery awarded book so I thought I would read it. This book was set near the end of WWII and offers a different perspective of the war than I had previously read. It's an easy summer read and I think for kids, a good eye-opener to some of the hard things kids had to go through during the war.
What I didn't like: The protagonist is naughty, she steals, lies, sneaks into movies, and is mean to her grandmother. The whole first half of the book all I could More...
What I didn't like: The protagonist is naughty, she steals, lies, sneaks into movies, and is mean to her grandmother. The whole first half of the book all I could More...
Apr 16, 2008
Lucy
rated it:
I thought that this book told a cute story a bout lily a 11 year old girl and her freinds.And sad because she hardly got to see he father because he was at war with her friends brother.
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Jul 14, 2011
As in years past, Lily will spend the summer in Rockaway, in her family's house by the Atlantic Ocean. But this summer of 1944, World War II has changed everyone's life. Lily's best friend, Margaret, has moved to a wartime factory town and Lily's father is going overseas to the war. There's no one Lily's age in Rockaway until Albert comes, a refugee from Hungary with a secret sewn into his coat. Albert has lost his family in the war; he's been through things Lily can't imagine. But soon they for
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Oct 04, 2010
Angie
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I listened to this sweet book while doing daily chores, and I really enjoyed it. It takes place during WWII, and it gives the perspective of an American girls view of what it was like to live during this time while she "hears" about the war from the adults, but doesn't really know how it relates to her until her dad, an engineer, has to go and leave her behind to help rebuild Europe. Her understanding of how the war effects her is magnified through a friendship she makes with a boy f
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May 08, 2010
Lisa
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This story is set during WWII. A young motherless girl with a propensity for lying goes to her grandmother's summer beach house in Rockaway, NY each summer. Her father is sent overseas to do his part for the war effort which rocks Lily's world. She meets a boy, Albert, who was sent to his family in Rockaway from Hungary for his safety. Though they become fast friends, her lies and his secret causes certain tensions and dangers to arise....
I really didn't like this book at first b More...
I really didn't like this book at first b More...
Apr 07, 2010
Katie
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Lily is going to Rockaway in the summer of 1944(in case you don't know, it's the summer of WWII). The war is changing everyone's life. Lily's best friend is moving to Michigan, and her Poppy(Dad)is going to war. Even a new Hungarian boy moves in next door. Lily isn't looking foward to meeting the new boy. When she finally agrees to meet him she learns secrets and tells lies. The truth is hard to tell.
I gave this book 4 stars because there is a little cursing in it. But its only a cou More...
I gave this book 4 stars because there is a little cursing in it. But its only a cou More...
Jul 14, 2009
Darcy
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In Lily's Crossing, Lily must move to Rockaway, NY for the summer. Her father is sent to Europe. Her father promises to tell her where he is secretly. Her best friend Margaret must move near a factory where her dad works. Albert a refugee from Hungary stays with the Orbans for the summer. Albert is looking for his sister Ruth who got sick in France and was taken a nunnery. Lily promises him that she will go with him to France to help find his sister. Over time Lily and Albert become best friends
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Sep 07, 2011
Isabelle
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I think it is a very well written book. This book is about a young girl named Lily she moved to Rockway. (a made up place) Then her friend Margret moves away. So Lily is alone. Until she meets this boy Albert and then she discovers that most his family has died. Then they become friends and then Albert told so many things that she could not even imagine. One day they went to the movie theater and they had no money so they snuck up these stairs and watched from the window. Until this man came up
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Jun 14, 2011
Ashley
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This was so sad but amazing! Lily and her family usually spend their summers at her family's summer house in Rockaway by the Atlantic Ocean, but the summer of 1944 was a summer to remember. Because the close people in her life were far away, it was kind of hard not to make new friends. Lily made friends with Albert, who is a refugee from Hungary, they become close fast, but Lily tells Albert a lie, and Albert might suffer from it. Overall, this book was one of my favorite books of all time becau
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May 21, 2011
Debbie
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I've been reading books that give me a perspective on the Holocaust for the purpose of a lit-circle like unit. I expected this book to be one.
It was to a certain extent. It's based in the US, but one of the boys that Lily spends time with is a refugee from France, who has escaped to protect himself. Additionally, Lily's father and her neighbors are busy with work related to the war. It's really about Lily growing up, becoming more caring, courageous, and cautious while also becomin More...
It was to a certain extent. It's based in the US, but one of the boys that Lily spends time with is a refugee from France, who has escaped to protect himself. Additionally, Lily's father and her neighbors are busy with work related to the war. It's really about Lily growing up, becoming more caring, courageous, and cautious while also becomin More...
Jul 27, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
can't wait to read this book. my daughter just finished this one and she said it is one of her favorites
okay, this book was not one of my favorites. It is basically about a girl about 10 years old learning to deal with the realities of war. But in reality, she doesn't experience much of the war other than through others who leave for the war. Beware, there are three swear words in this book! I found Lily annoying at first with her stealing and lying ways! If my 10 year old ever More...
okay, this book was not one of my favorites. It is basically about a girl about 10 years old learning to deal with the realities of war. But in reality, she doesn't experience much of the war other than through others who leave for the war. Beware, there are three swear words in this book! I found Lily annoying at first with her stealing and lying ways! If my 10 year old ever More...
Oct 03, 2011
Katie
rated it:
This book is a winner of the Newbery book award. Lily loves to lie but when her dad is sent over seas for the war she meets a friend, Albert who is a Hungary refugee, she feels that she can't lie to. They become great friends but at the end of the summer they leave the Atlantic. Alber goes to Canada and Lily goes back to her house. When returning to the Atlantic, Lily didn't know that Albert came back. She was excited to see him and his sister Rose who was left in Hungary because she was ill. Li
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Mar 30, 2011
Therese
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A great book to introduce young readers to life in America during the early 1940s and WWII. Central themes of the consequences of lying, friendship, and family bonds are well presented. This book is not about a Jewish experience and there is no mention of some of the atrocities that occurred during that time period with respect to Jewish deportation and concentration camps. One character’s parents are taken by the Nazis and die in custody; however, no gruesome details and info is told from a
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Nov 11, 2009
Jenny
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I picked this book up because it was on my third grade classroom self and in the end I just loved this book. It is a beautiful and charming story of young girl and her friendships and love. There's probably more ten year olds out there that think this way (even if they wouldn't act her ways) than we know! I think the author did a wonderful job of telling the story like a 10 yr. old. It is hard not to like the main character Lily and she stays with you long after the story is over. I'd read i
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Sep 21, 2009
Julia
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wow. this book really got at me b/c of the theme of love and friendship, and because i think i could BE the protagonist. (haha. i just used the new word i learned in mo's! :P)
-DON'T READ THE BACK SUMMARY before you read this book. it just ruins the whole thing.
u fall in love with her writing and the characters b/c you feel sorry for some, while you could just relate really well to others.this author incorpurates alot of symbolism.
*this is a childeren's bk. like a 3 grader More...
-DON'T READ THE BACK SUMMARY before you read this book. it just ruins the whole thing.
u fall in love with her writing and the characters b/c you feel sorry for some, while you could just relate really well to others.this author incorpurates alot of symbolism.
*this is a childeren's bk. like a 3 grader More...
May 02, 2009
Janet
rated it:
This is a charming piece of historical fiction, set during the second World War. The period details are richly evoked, and the story, of friendship and loss, is resonant. I did feel, however, that the character’s voice was a little off in spots – as if the authorial voice was interjected too deeply into the character’s head. And at times Giff skips giving out information – she moves through her scenes tangentially and with inference, which I like, but here her technique sometimes feels awkward.
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Jul 30, 2011
Julie
rated it:
Though I read this book years ago, imagery from Lily's Crossing has stayed with me to this day. Lily smearing on lipstick to try to appear incognito. Lily eating the candy though she knows she shouldn't. Lily tiredly playing piano, though she'd much rather go play.
Lily's Crossing is, to me, the story of a not so perfect girl, but a girl who truly loves her family, even if she doesn't show with gushing affection. She's real. And that's what is so lovable about Lily's Crossing.
Lily's Crossing is, to me, the story of a not so perfect girl, but a girl who truly loves her family, even if she doesn't show with gushing affection. She's real. And that's what is so lovable about Lily's Crossing.
Dec 13, 2011
Rebecca
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Lily is a very down to earth little girl spending her summer on the beach in Rockaway, NJ in 1944. WWII as broken out, and is changing her life and the lives of everyone around her.
This book is very well written. I immediately loved Lily and her spunky personality. The characters are relatable. Giff also does a great job of painting the situation so the readers are able to understand the magnitude of the war. This book won the 1998 Newbery Honor, and deserved it!
This book is very well written. I immediately loved Lily and her spunky personality. The characters are relatable. Giff also does a great job of painting the situation so the readers are able to understand the magnitude of the war. This book won the 1998 Newbery Honor, and deserved it!
May 26, 2010
Mitzi
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My daughter picked this book for our parent/child book assignment for her 5th grade class. It's a delightful youth book, full of details about what it was like in America during WWII. Lily is a wonderfully complicated girl who learns a lot about courage, redemption, and gratitude the summer her father joins the Army and she meets a refugee from Hungary. It's a simple, sweet story but I admit I was hooked enough to read most of it in one sitting, and cried at the end.
May 28, 2009
Lara
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During a summer in the late-1940s, Lily befriends a boy who managed to escape from the Nazis during World War II, but who lost his sister and parents in the process. Lily struggles with being genuine in the relationship, and in her relationship with her grandmother too, all while her father leaves to help rebuild Germany. The setting of a small east-coast beach town was real, and the adult issues she wrestled with were tough but ultimately very genuine.
Sep 19, 2011
Rose
rated it:
Lily's Crossing is about a little girl who is in the middle of World War 2 and her father gets sent off to war. She meets a little boy who escapes Europe and whose parents were killed during the war. This book is a very good book in giving kids an understanding of the hardships of war. Since the story is told by a child, I think it is more understandable for them. The book was a very easy read and I think studetns would love reading it.
Apr 26, 2011
Rachel
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I liked the setting for this YA book but the lead character was not my favorite. She lies and steals all the time, and for most of the book those things are not really seen as that bad. In the end she changes her ways and it kind of explains that she was just afraid and that was why she lied and she decides its better to be brave and honest. It's not one I would keep my kids from reading but its not one that I would encourage either.
Feb 18, 2010
Emilia
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This book is okay, not my favorite though. This book, Lily's Crossing, is about a girl whose father goes into battle in WW2! Because her mother is dead, she listens and lives with her grandma. Lily is sad until one day, she meets a boy who is the same age as her, his name is Albert. Lily and Albert become great friends and make each other better people. Lily's dad comes home from war and helps Albert reunite with his lost sister.
Apr 27, 2011
April
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It is 1944 and our country is in war and things are changing for Lily. Lily is going to spend her summer in Rockaway, her dad is going to war and her friend is moving away. She then meets Albert, who is from Europe and has awful memories. Lily has one major fault and it isn't easy admitting it, especially to someone she doesn't know well.
I loved the end of this book! Read it and see if you cry like I did.
180 pages.
I loved the end of this book! Read it and see if you cry like I did.
180 pages.
Sep 07, 2010
Jennybug
rated it:
This book started out really slow for me. I think it is a great book about friendship. I would love for my girls to read it, I am just not sure if it will capture there interest. (We will see?) I liked how the little boy Albert stood up to Lily for sneaking into movies. This is a great example of standing up to your friends, yet still being their friend. I think that this would make a really good Disney movie.
