THE LILY POND

THE LILY POND

Written by Annika Thor, Translated by Linda Schenck

Image credit: www.penguinrandomhouse.com

1. Bibliography

Thor, Annika. 2011. The Lily Pond. New York: Delacorte Press. 

ISBN 9780385908382

2. Plot Summary

During World War II, young Stephie Steiner and has been sent away from her home in Vienna to live as a refugee in Sweden.  Stephie will attend grammar school in the posh town of Goteburg while boarding with a wealthy family.  Stephie gets acquainted to life in the city and becomes smitten with the son of her lodgers, Sven.  Sven is older than Stephie and she is taken with his charm and kindness.  She is adjusting to her new school and friends, but is constantly concerned about her parents who remain in Vienna.  Through letters, they communicate with Stephie and describe their ongoing persecution as Jews.  Stephie bravely navigates young love and teenage friendships in the midst of a culture brand new to her. 

3. Critical Analysis

This story is the sequel to Thor's novel A Faraway Island following the two Steiner sisters in their second year as refugees in Sweden escaping the Nazi-occupied Austria.  This piece of historical fiction is a different take on the effects of World War II as it is set in the peaceful Sweden.  The story focuses on Stephie's coming of age woes more than the devastation happening throughout Europe during the time period.

There are numerous cultural markers beginning with the setting.  The Swedish setting plays an important role in this story as Stephie often travels by boat to visit her foster parents on an island.  The descriptions of icy cold weather and the picturesque town with a city theater, art museum, and concert hall all add to the Nordic setting.  The names of the characters such as Sven, Putte, Hedvig Bjork are distinctly Swedish adding to the authenticity of the novel.  Even Stephie's schoolmates are described as "more or less blond" (p. 29) with few brunettes in her class.  There are also numerous examples of German in the story as this is the foreign language that Stephie learns in school, though the rest of her instruction is in Swedish.  This story clearly has an international perspective opening the eyes of a reader to the Swedish culture. 

4. Review Excerpts

BOOKLIST (December 2011) "A compelling look at WWII-era Sweden, this distiniguished Holocaust story will resonate."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (February 2012) "She gives each character a unique voice, and seamlessly blends the narration and the dialogue, drawing listeners into the drama and historical significance of the time."

2012 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book

5. Connections

• Readers who enjoyed Thor's A Faraway Island will want to continue the story of Stephie and Nellie by reading The Lily Pond.

• Readers interested in World War II historical fiction such as Brubaker's The War that Saved My Life or Lowry's Number the Stars would also enjoy this title.

• After reading, students could research Austria and Sweden's role in World War II to determine a possible timeline for this story.