02+Literary+Elements

__Literary Elements__ PLOT In the novel Lilly's Crossing, Elizabeth Mollahan travels to Rockaway Beach in New York, in the summer of 1944. The annual trip is different this year as World War 2 is raging and Lilly's life is about to dramatically change. Her best friend Margaret is moving away and Lilly's widowed father is drafted off to war. This means Lilly is left with only her grandmother for company. There is no one to play with until her grandmother introduces her to a young boy named Albert. Albert is an immigrant from Hungary who has lost both his parents in the war. He and Lilly form a unique friendship over time. Though they have different backgrounds and personalities they become inseperable after rescuing a drowning kitten together. But Lilly makes a mistake. She tells a lie. A big one. One so big, she may never see Albert again.

MAIN CHARACTERS __Elizabeth__ (called Lilly): a young girl who lives with her father and grandmother after her mother dies when Lilly is an infant. Lilly is outgoing and has an active imagination. She also has a problem making up stories and telling lies. __Lilly's Grandmother__: has taken care of Lilly and her father since Lilly's mother died. She is strict but obviously loves Lilly. __Lilly's Father:__ a kind and generous man. He even had Lilly's piano shipped to their summer house in Rockaway. In the book he is drafted to war. __Albert:__ a young orphan from Hungary. His parents were part of the resistance movement against the Nazis and were taken away, their fate unknown. He also has a sister who was left behind in France as she was not permitted to travel due to sickness.

CONFLICT One of the main conflicts is between truthfulness and lies. Lilly often tells lies. For example, she tells Margaret her aunt is a spy against the Nazis. Albert has a secret as well, which he attempts to keep hidden.

SETTING The setting is Rockaway Beach, New York. Rockaway is a beach by the Atlantic Ocean. Lilly dwells, for the summer, in her grandmother's small house on stilts over the water. Along the sidewalks are small shops, one of which is the bakery, which Lilly enjoys.

THEME Truthfulness is a theme in Lilly's Crossing. Both Albert and Lilly had secrets they hid from each other. By the end of the book, they open up to each other and still remain close friends.