Where the Lilies Bloom [Hardcover]

Vera Cleaver (Author), Bill Cleaver (Author), Jim Spanfeller (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 21, 1969

‘Set in the Appalachian hills, the story—narrated by 14-year-old Mary Call—tells of her efforts to keep her family together and independent after their sharecropper father dies. . . . There is a great deal of humor and love.’ —Teacher. ‘Readers won’t forget [Mary Call’s] sharp, touching, often wildly funny report.’ —SLJ. Basis for the feature film.

Nominee, 1970 National Book Award for Children's LIterature
Notable Children's Books of 1969 (ALA)
Best Books of 1969 (SLJ)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1969 (NYT)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a story of good people, with real natures, living under conditions of hardship..This is a grand book..." -- The New York Times Book Review

About the Author

While Vera and Bill Cleaver were best known and loved for Where the Lilies Bloom, they enjoyed a prolific writing career. Their other titles include: Delpha Green & Company, Dust of the Earth, I Would Rather Be a Turnip, The Kissimmee Kid, The Mimosa Tree, Trial Valley, and The Whys and Wherefores of Littabelle Lee.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (January 21, 1969)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0397311117
• ISBN-13: 978-0397311118
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,488,787 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb, absolutely great!, February 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Where the Lilies Bloom (Paperback)

I am reading, "Where the lilies bloom" at school, and I think it is one of the best books I have ever read. I have read some reviews by people on here who have read this book also and hated it. I don't see how they could hate it. It's about four really poor children whose father eventually dies, and their mother already dead. They have to struggle to keep their father's death a secret, and stop their dreamy 18 year old sister from marrying a so-called "villain". I think this book is really well written, and I hope others who read it share as much enthusiasm as I do. Thanks!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story, June 27, 2006

By 

Cindy Gerlach Mueller "So Many Books, So Litt... (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Where the Lillies Bloom (Hardcover)

This book transfixed me like no other has for a long time. The story alone is one that pulls in the reader; how will these four children survive against the odds? Very little money, no adult to help them, and they are trying desperately to live up to promises made to their late father before he died.

But it's the language, the writing that really captivates the reader. The voices are so strong; you can hear Appalachia in every utterance; the cadence is so real. I was with this family -- in particular 14-year-old Mary Call -- for the entire journey, sharing their small victories, aching along with their profound sadness. Mary Call is a strong character; with her steely determination she is a force, a great role model for young girls.

I would highly recommend this book to young readers. It's an absolute treasure.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars!, December 6, 2001

By 

"jim-and-terri" (Terry, MS USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where the Lilies Bloom (Paperback)

This is a must read book. Mary Call is a fighter against all odds...against Luther Call, against the state that wants to split up her family, against death, against poverty, against uncertainty. In the long run she learns the beauty of the gentleness of her more "simple minded" sister. This book makes you think about life and death and poverty and innocence and love. It is a wonderful picture of rural Appalachian life and of the struggles of growing up poor anywhere.

For girls, it teaches "can-do" through Mary Call's example of strength against adversity. May also have appeal to people interested in "wildcrafting" (herbs, roots).