The Lily Pond
Annika Thor
Language: English
Pages: 224
ISBN: 0385740409
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
A Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book and an ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book, The Lily Pond continues the story of two Jewish sisters who left Austria during WWII/Holocaust and found refuge in Sweden.
A year after Stephie Steiner and her younger sister, Nellie, left Nazi-occupied Vienna, Stephie has finally adapted to life on the rugged Swedish island where her she now lives. But more change awaits Stephie: her foster parents have allowed her to enroll in school on the mainland, in Goteberg. Stephie is eager to go. Not only will she be pursuing her studies, she'll be living in a cultured city again--under the same roof as Sven, the son of the lodgers who rented her foster parents' cottage for the summer.
Five years her senior, Sven dazzles Stephie with his charm, his talk of equality, and his anti-Hitler sentiments. Stephie can't help herself--she's falling in love. As she navigates a sea of new emotions, she also grapples with what it means to be beholden to others, with her constant worry about what her parents are enduring back in Vienna, and with the menacing spread of Nazi idealogy, even in Sweden. In these troubled times, her true friends, Stephie discovers, are the ones she least expected.
A Conspiracy of Paper: A Novel
The Accusers (Marcus Didius Falco, Book 15)
By Murder's Bright Light (Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan)
The Traitor and the Tunnel (Mary Quinn Mysteries, Book 3) (UK Edition)
Name of the Star (Shades of London, Book 1)
some consideration. Being at home would mean being with people she’s known all her life, being able to speak her own language and not having to fear that people will misunderstand. Being at home means being in the place where she can be entirely herself. “No,” she says in the end. “Not just as much. Or, rather, not the same way.” “What about Sylvia?” Vera wonders. “Are you in the same class?” “Nope. She and Ingrid are both in the other class. I never talk to them.” So Vera tells Stephie what
middle of its peak. Stephie’s never seen Sven in a hat before. Usually he wears either his school cap or nothing at all on his head. The hat makes him look very grown up; she hardly recognizes him. “Hi,” he says. “What weather! It’s raining cats and dogs!” Stephie laughs. She’s never heard that before, and she pictures black-and-white kittens pouring down from the skies, along with puppies that look like Putte. That would be better than these heavy, wet drops of freezing rain. “How about
others might think or say. Stephie wishes she were more like them. She’d like to be spared her insecurity and her doubts. She’d like not to spend so much time brooding, and not to be always trying to adapt to others. She’d like not to be afraid. “Come in,” she says, opening the front door for May. Things go better than she dared to hope. May introduces herself in a well-mannered way and thanks Aunt Märta for inviting her. She wipes her shoes carefully before stepping on Aunt Märta’s newly
coming back in any case.” “What about school?” She can’t get herself to tell him about the German test and the note. All that seems very long ago, anyway, as if it happened in another life. “Stephanie,” says Sven. “I didn’t mean … I am so sorry.” His voice cracks as he says those last words, as if he is close to tears. That gives her strength. “Let me past now,” she says, “or I’ll miss the boat.” He hesitates. “You’re not in charge of me,” says Stephie. “You’re not my big brother. Let me
Vera shouts from a distance. “Yes.” Vera stops in front of them, extending a hand to May. “I’m Vera.” “I’m May.” “I know.” Vera walks them out onto the pier. “I never really thought you’d be staying,” she says softly to Stephie. “You don’t belong here, not the same way I do. I doubt I’ll ever get away from this place.” “Of course you will,” says Stephie. “If that’s what you want, you’ll do it. And if you move to town next year, we will go out dancing, no matter what Aunt Märta says.” Vera