The Lily Pond

Gr 4–8—Stephie Steiner and her sister, Nellie, were evacuated from Nazi-occupied Vienna in 1938. In the sequel (2011) to A Faraway Island (2009, both Delacorte), the second book in the quartet by Annika Thor, the two Jewish girls have been living with different foster parents on a remote Swedish island for a year. They are adjusting to life without their parents who were forced to stay behind. Stephie has an opportunity to attend school on the mainland and pursue her studies on a scholarship. When she learns that she is lodging with the same family who rented her foster parents' island cottage for the summer, Stephie is excited but nervous at the prospect of facing the couples' son again. Although he's older than Stephie, she's falling in love with him, especially with all his talk about equality and his anti-Nazi sentiments. On the other hand, she is struggling with her classmates' prejudice. Amy Rubinate does an excellent job of evoking all the emotions of a teenager who wants to be accepted by her classmates, fall in love, and do the right thing for her family. It is easy to picture Nellie's enthusiasm at Stephie's weekend visits and Aunt Marta's displeasure at learning of Stephie's attendance at the cinema. She gives each character a unique voice, and seamlessly blends the narration and the dialogue, drawing listeners into the drama and the historical significance of the time. Listeners will eagerly await the next book.—Sheila Acosta, Ed Cody Public Library, San Antonio, TX