Books like Lily's crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff
Lily plans a carefree summer in Rockaway, living in her family's house on stilts above the Atlantic. By 1944, the war has reshaped life: her best friend Margaret has moved to a factory town, and Lily’s father is heading overseas. With no other peers nearby, Lily meets Albert, a Hungarian refugee who hides a painful secret in his coat. Together they rescue a kitten, and through this shared adventure they build a fragile friendship rooted in mutual truths and fragile lies. Their bond illustrates bravery, the impact of war, and the resilience of youth as they navigate the hardships of 1940s America.
First publish date: 1997
Genre: Historical Fiction/20th Century Historical Fiction
Authors: Patricia Reilly Giff
★
★
★
★
★
2.5 (2 community ratings)
How are these books recommended?
The books recommended for Lily's crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff are shaped by reader interaction. Votes on how closely books relate, user ratings, and community comments all help refine these recommendations and highlight books readers genuinely find similar in theme, ideas, and overall reading experience.
Have you read any of these books?
Your votes, ratings, and comments help improve recommendations and make it easier
for other readers to discover books they’ll enjoy.
Books similar to Lily's crossing (15 similar books)
During World War II, a foster girl in Nazi Germany steals books to share with neighbors and a hidden Jewish man, proving literature’s power to nourish the soul amid darkness.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
In 1943 Copenhagen, ten‑year‑old Annemarie Johansen helps her Jewish friend Ellen Rosen escape Nazi persecution, learning courage and resilience while navigating war‑time hardships.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A 1930s wartime tale of a blind French girl and a German boy whose lives intersect in occupied France, weaving themes of survival, friendship, and the moral choices people make amid World War II.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
John Boyne’s 2006 novel follows an unlikely friendship between two boys during the Holocaust, set against the backdrop of Auschwitz.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A nine‑year‑old girl named Ada escapes her abusive home amid World War II, joining her brother in London’s evacuation; she learns to ride a pony, reads, and finds a new family with Susan Smith while watching for German spies.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Caddie Woodlawn, a Newbery‑Medal‑winning historical novel by Carol Ryrie Brink, follows a spirited Wisconsin farm girl as she navigates frontier life, family bonds, and friendships in 19th‑century America.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
In World War II, four refugees—descendants of a Royalist, a German Jesuit, a Jewish family, and a Polish munitions factory worker—board the doomed MV Wilhelm Gustloff in a desperate bid for survival.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A 1943 British fighter pilot crash-lands in Nazi‑occupied France and recounts her daring escape, espionage, and friendship to a young French woman while concealing her true mission.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Three children linked across time by a mysterious harmonica face family‑sacrifice and destiny‑bound quests in the forbidden forest, Germany, Pennsylvania, and California.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A Korean brother and sister navigate the growing oppression of the Japanese occupation during World War II, confronting threats to their culture while embodying courage and family loyalty.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
In an Arkansas town hosting German POWs during World War II, 12‑year‑old Patty Bergen befriends the escaped prisoner Anton, learning that humanity can transcend prejudice and fear.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
During World War II a young Japanese‑American girl is sent to an internment camp, and she learns that a friendship can outlast even the loss of a treasured bracelet.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Boowie discovers his grandmother’s World War II diary, revealing her childhood in England during the D‑Day preparations and the story of her beloved cat, Adolphus Tip, whose name carries a deeper family resonance.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Lily Blennerhassett spends her thirteenth summer missing her best friend while keeping a diary of her dull home life and the exciting discoveries of newfound relatives.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Some Other Similar Books
Dear Miss Breed by Grace LinThe Bracelet by Yasmin Sabina Khan
Counting Thyme by Summer Ramdyne
The Village Voice by Ian McEwan
Have a similar book in mind? Let others know!
Please login to submit books!