Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
360th out of 681 books
—
1,302 voters
Where the Lilies Bloom
Mary Call has true Appalachian grit. When her dying father makes her promise to keep her brother and sisters together forever on the mountain and take no help from strangers, she is determined to keep her word. No matter what.
Hardcover, 176 pages
Published
January 21st 1969
by Harper Teen
(first published 1969)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,523)
Jan 22, 2012
Needleroozer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fans of stories about orphans
Shelves:
young-adult
I can't believe I have been on GoodReads for over a year and just remembered this book! I read it so many times when I was in middle school-it was one of my favorites!
I loved books like this one that were about kids who had to make it in the world alone because their parents are absent for some reason. (In this book, the parents were absent because they were DEAD!) I think I was drawn to that plot line because I just wanted my parents to leave me along. (Not that I wanted them dead. I didn't par...more
I loved books like this one that were about kids who had to make it in the world alone because their parents are absent for some reason. (In this book, the parents were absent because they were DEAD!) I think I was drawn to that plot line because I just wanted my parents to leave me along. (Not that I wanted them dead. I didn't par...more
3 likes · like · see review
view 2 comments
I love Appalachian fiction, and this book ranks among one of my new favorites. The authors do an excellent job of depicting the proud, stubborn, and loyal people of the region through the main character Mary Call. Even though it's hard, she does what is required for the survival of her family, and she keeps her promises to her father at all costs. Her pride is almost her downfall, but Mary Call maintains her dignity. Even in the end, she and her siblings continued to forage for herbs and roots t...more
This book and the experience reading it was so important to me as a kid. I think it might have been the first time when I realized that books could be written by people like us, about people from here, and that it could be good, and compelling, and mean something. What I really remember is that Mr. Cox, just out of college, had the opportunity to teach an Appalachia class (I have no idea why they actually let him do this...it had to be his idea) and I was lucky enough to be in that class. I'd st...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Written in 1969, this incredible YA book received numerous awards including a National Book Award finalist, New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year, School Library Journal Best Book, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and the ALA Notable Children’s Book.
This is a touching, moving, realistic portrayal of poverty in the Trail Valley of the Appalachian Great Smokey Mountains of NE North Carolina.
Mary Call was 14 when her father died, leaving her with unrealistic promises to fulfill and three sibling...more
This is a touching, moving, realistic portrayal of poverty in the Trail Valley of the Appalachian Great Smokey Mountains of NE North Carolina.
Mary Call was 14 when her father died, leaving her with unrealistic promises to fulfill and three sibling...more
I happened upon this book at the library. Logan and I went so that I could have a "good" experience there and want to go back. I'm not much for libraries! The books I went there to get were checked out which was annoying, but then I came up with a plan. I would go to the teens section and pick out a book at random.
So I strolled down the isles and saw this book. I liked the title so I thought, why not? This is a great book for young readers. It kept my interest and was a fast read. Success! The...more
So I strolled down the isles and saw this book. I liked the title so I thought, why not? This is a great book for young readers. It kept my interest and was a fast read. Success! The...more
When Roy Luther dies his four children become orphans. Mary Call, who is 14, obeys her father’s wishes and becomes the new mouth piece taking on the responsibility of raising her siblings. Not only is the daily task of making ends meet hard, but so is hiding the fact that Roy Luther is dead. If the Luther’s Appalachian neighbors and town’s folk found out, the children would be separated and sent off to group homes. Can they work together gathering mountain herbs to sell while hiding their secret...more
This book is about a family who lives up in the Appalachian mountains. The mother has died, the second daughter, Mary, has taken over her responsibilities and their father barely scrapes by to support his family. Then he gets sick and dies as well and Mary does what she needs to to keep her family together.
I chose to read this book for one of my Young Adult Literature classes. I enjoyed it because it portrayed a young girl determined and capable enough to do some very hard things. Children are...more
I chose to read this book for one of my Young Adult Literature classes. I enjoyed it because it portrayed a young girl determined and capable enough to do some very hard things. Children are...more
This book just popped into my head randomly this morning. I read this as part of the school curriculum in 6th grade, back when teachers still taught "classics" at all costs in school. I remember liking it, but unfortunately it was so long ago that I can't say for sure what kind of lasting emotional and psychological impact it left on me, so that's why it gets three stars. Given all the current fascination in children's literature with books about poor rural areas, the depression and the dust bow...more
Aug 18, 2010
Fluffy Flowers
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
fiction-young-adult
Where the Lilies Bloom by Vera & Bill Cleaver is a delightful young adult novel. I remember enjoying the movie when I was a kid back in the seventies and finally sought out and read the book.
Cataloged as young adult fiction, it is a truly moving story of a proud Appalachian family who loses their father to illness. Determined to keep the family together the tough fourteen year old heroine struggles to make money through wildcrafting, the lost art of gathering medicinal plant materials from...more
Cataloged as young adult fiction, it is a truly moving story of a proud Appalachian family who loses their father to illness. Determined to keep the family together the tough fourteen year old heroine struggles to make money through wildcrafting, the lost art of gathering medicinal plant materials from...more
Beautiful book! I can't believe I've never read this before.
Notes:
Mary Call: 14 year old who has to take charge of everything when her dad dies. They bury him and keep it a secret because otherwise they would all be taken.
They earn money by being wildcrafters, which is collecting and selling plant parts for medicine.
Wonderful Appalachian story.
Need to purchase a copy.
Quotes:"Somehow it seemed a friendly idea, just for all of us to fall gently asleep in a cave some night and not ever wake up agai...more
Notes:
Mary Call: 14 year old who has to take charge of everything when her dad dies. They bury him and keep it a secret because otherwise they would all be taken.
They earn money by being wildcrafters, which is collecting and selling plant parts for medicine.
Wonderful Appalachian story.
Need to purchase a copy.
Quotes:"Somehow it seemed a friendly idea, just for all of us to fall gently asleep in a cave some night and not ever wake up agai...more
I have a memory of this book burned into my mind from grade school. It must have been my favorite book (though I'd forgotten the plot completely), but I could remember the picture on the cover and it's exact location in my school library. I have memories of me going to it's location and just staring at the cover. So I decided now, in my 40's, to re-read the book.
For 3/4 of the book, I kept thinking, "what did I see in this book? It's so dumb." The parents of 4 Appalation children are both dead,...more
For 3/4 of the book, I kept thinking, "what did I see in this book? It's so dumb." The parents of 4 Appalation children are both dead,...more
I read this book years ago, when I was around 11 years old, and I remember thinking it was absolutely wonderful. I also watched the movie on television and thought it was great. I heard the book mentioned recently and decided to pick it up and see what I thought of it now. It's still a good story, but I must admit I'm surprised that I loved it so much when I was young. A lot of time is spent describing 'wildcrafting'... I would have thought I'd have been bored a bit, but I don't remember feeling...more
I first read this when I was in Jr. High, living in California. I loved the fiercely loyal and strong Mary Call and how she and her siblings foraged the nearby mountains in North Carolina for medicinal herbs; of her loyalty to her father's wishes after his passing; of her powerful desire to rise above ignorance.
Since then my family moved to North Carolina, not far from Mary Call's beloved mountains. No longer a child, I still admire Mary Call's strength and loyalty to her father and her family....more
Since then my family moved to North Carolina, not far from Mary Call's beloved mountains. No longer a child, I still admire Mary Call's strength and loyalty to her father and her family....more
I saw this movie years ago (1970s?) and never realized it was based on a book until I taught middle school and found the book. Of course I had to read it with students, since I loved the movie so much! I think part of the attraction was the setting, the Appalachian Mountains, but in the movie I fell in love with Mary Call. Mary Call is a 14 yr-old girl who is left to care for her siblings after her parents die. Before her father passed on he made Mary Call promise to keep the family together and...more
1 like · like · see review
I read this book aloud every year to my Central Texas students who probably wouldn't have ever considered Where the Lilies Bloom as as a good read due to the different setting and characters. As teachers, we were forever being reminded to choose books whose characters and situations were similar to our students'. However, they thoroughly enjoyed every part of it and loved the movie even more. I even saw one of my most troubled boys get really excited about imagining a way to film certain scenes....more
I got this while attending a book fair and they gave away a bunch of books that had been donated, there were at least ten thousand. I got this book after seeing the movie many years ago. I hate to say it, i likeed the movie better. But overall it was a good book and I felt some pity towards Mary Call, knowing what it was like to be in that situation but me doing a thousand times worse than what she did. I also felt some comptent towards Romey and Devola especially who were either carefree or whi...more
Not sure how I missed this book in the past, but I'm glad I found it while trying to compile a list of books that feature Appalachian settings and have received strong reviews and/or awards. This was a National Book Award finalist and still holds up well more than forty years after publication. I liked the strong female character (Mary Call) who is tough in the face of long odds, and I was fascinated by the chance to learn about "wildcrafting" - the mountain tradition of gathering wild plants to...more
This one probably deserves 3.5 stars. It was a re-read for me; I remember reading it as a kid and seeing the movie. I like the strong central female character who IS NOT an ignorant hillbilly. The descriptions of rural poverty and the beauty of the NC mountains were very good. Interesting descriptions of wildcrafting as the kids try to support themselves by harvesting medicinal herbs, roots and bark. Kids who have been through tough times will find an accurate mirror to their own experience here...more
I've needed something a bit different lately and pulled this off my shelf this week to re-read. I'd forgotten how good YA fiction can be, and how much I enjoy the sometimes stripped down, but not dumbed down, narrative.
Mary Call Luther is an admirable, if sometimes too-stubborn, 14-year-old girl who, at the behest of her father, is left to care for her siblings when he falls ill. She shows considerable pluck as she finds ways to honor her father's requests and keep her family together. A fine r...more
Mary Call Luther is an admirable, if sometimes too-stubborn, 14-year-old girl who, at the behest of her father, is left to care for her siblings when he falls ill. She shows considerable pluck as she finds ways to honor her father's requests and keep her family together. A fine r...more
I can't believe I just got around to reading this book now....I loved it!! One of my favorite YA books thus far. I love reading books about kids who are determined to make it in the world dispite their circumstances. I kept wanting to make it on their own after their father died...just didn't want them to be split up and sent to live with people who were mean to them. I would have liked the book to be a little longer in order to tell us what happened to the kids as they grew up.
I read this book first when I was 10 years old, and it became my favourite.
The strength of the main character Mary Call keeping her family together is great, and the surprising strength of her sister Devola is wonderful. The characters are realistic, sometimes grumpy or angry, often confused and just getting through.
I re-read this to my daughters, and it was still inspirational. The characters foreign but easy to relate to.
The strength of the main character Mary Call keeping her family together is great, and the surprising strength of her sister Devola is wonderful. The characters are realistic, sometimes grumpy or angry, often confused and just getting through.
I re-read this to my daughters, and it was still inspirational. The characters foreign but easy to relate to.
This was required reading in grade school. The descriptions of poverty were evocative, but somewhat long-winded. What I remember most is that the TEACHER despised the book, and gave us as little work from it as possible. Validation for my feeling of dull.
What I found the most irritating was the resolution: the retarded older sister suddenly becomes well enough to see the need of her family and take charge.
What I found the most irritating was the resolution: the retarded older sister suddenly becomes well enough to see the need of her family and take charge.
I read this book when I was eight. It was shelved next to the Beverley Cleary books and I didn't notice the change in author. I did, however, notice the vastly different tone.
I don't remember exactly what happened in the book but I do remember that it made me cry and also made me root for the main character. I remember being fascinated by what they did to keep going, and I want to read it again.
I don't remember exactly what happened in the book but I do remember that it made me cry and also made me root for the main character. I remember being fascinated by what they did to keep going, and I want to read it again.
This was a short, sweet novel of a 14-year-old mountain girl who vows to keep her family together after they were orphaned. She was enterprising, but a bit deceitful (well, she lied). They had state agents checking up back then. She had the usual sibling problems also -- rebellion in the ranks, a mentally challenged sister (but beautiful) courted by a wealthy neighbor.
I read this for a book report assignment over the summer before sixth grade. I liked the setting for the book, very rustic; plus, I love mountains and all that. And looking back on it I really like how strong a character Mary Call is. She does whatever is necessary to keep her family together and healthy. Another book I might have to revisit one day.
Jul 31, 2011
Gena Lott
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-historical-fiction
This is a book which really touched my heart. I was 15 when I read it, one year older than the main-character- who becomes the head of her family. The writing is clear and poignant, the characters are believable and lovable. This tender and enduring book is a must read for anyone who loves "Christy" or "Anne of Green Gables."
Never ever read this. I had to read it in 8th grade along with CALL OF THE WILD for Acedemic Decathalon. Sooooo not worth it....
It could have been more dismal, but the writers would have had to really work on it; maybe bring in a consultant: James Hurst, or the author of I RODE A HORSE OF MILK WHITE JADE; Katherine Paterson, or BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA glory.
It could have been more dismal, but the writers would have had to really work on it; maybe bring in a consultant: James Hurst, or the author of I RODE A HORSE OF MILK WHITE JADE; Katherine Paterson, or BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA glory.
Very interesting story about a very interesting culture. Appalachia is a beautiful region, and their history and way of life are unique and fascinating. This is the story of four children left alone when their widower father dies. Fourteen year old Mary Call promises him she will keep the family together, and valiantly tries to do so by gathering and selling mountain herbs. Her knowledge of the medicinal uses of these herbs is an intriguing look into the window of the lives of mountain people. T...more
Mary Call has a whole lotta troubles put on her 14 year old shoulders. Living in poverty in the Smokey Mountains, she has to come up with ways to feed her family after her father dies. This book gives a realistic perspective on what she is thinking, but what can happen when a teenager gets overwhelmed.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's The Name o...: childrens novel from 60s or 70s about siblings trying to make it on their own [s] | 6 | 52 | Apr 10, 2012 06:03am |
After her first book, The Nurse's Dilemma (1966), most of her magazine articles and 16 novels for children were written with her husband, Bill.
Together, they produced more than a dozen novels for young adults. Their subject matter reveals a particular interest in mountain children who have both physical and mental problems. The Cleavers were three times nominated for the National Book Award, and t...more
More about Vera Cleaver...
Together, they produced more than a dozen novels for young adults. Their subject matter reveals a particular interest in mountain children who have both physical and mental problems. The Cleavers were three times nominated for the National Book Award, and t...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
