De lelievijver

Faraway Island #2

by Annika Thor, Emmy Weehuizen-Deelder (Translator)

Zweden 1940. Steffi en Nelli, twee joodse zusjes die door hun ouders uit Wennen naar het neutrale Zweden zijn gestuurd, wonen sinds een jaar bij pleeggezinnen op een klein eiland in zee. Na de zomervakantie verhuist Steffi naar Gotenburg waar ze tijdens haar middelbare-schooltijd zal inwonen bij de doktersfamilie die ze die zomer op het eiland heeft leren kennen.

Dat betekent dat ze haar pleegouders en Nelli slechts één keer per maand zal zien. Maar het betekent ook dat ze elke dag in de buurt van Sven zal zijn, de zoon van de dokter met wie ze in de vakantie lange wandelingen over het eiland heeft gemaakt.

De lelievijver is het vervolg op Een eiland in zee. De boeken kunnen los van elkaar worden gelezen (Lemniscaat).

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Swedish Literature, Fiction, Historical, Holocaust, Sweden

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Annika Thor grew up in a Jewish family in Gothenburg, Sweden, in the 1950s and 60s. She started work as a librarian and then went on to work as a film and television critic, and finally dedicated herself to writing books, plays, and screenplays for young people. She is one of Sweden’s best known authors for young people. Her books have been translated into many languages and have won many prizes.

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I might not like these books past the first book. But I liked this one just as much. I really enjoyed it. I plan to read book 3 soon as I am eager to find out what happens next. Book 4 looks available in English as a Kindle edition but I’m not sure it’s available in any other format. I hope that there is some way I’ll be able to read it if I want to continue on past book 3.

This book could work as a standalone but I highly recommend reading book 1 before reading this book. I know I would have liked this book much less than I did had I not read book 1 first. Just enough background is given in this one so readers won’t be totally lost though if they decide to read this book first.

I loved getting to know some new characters and the city vs. middle of nowhere setting. I also really liked seeing other sides to people I’d already met in the first book.

I appreciated that the main character is flawed and makes mistakes but is very likeable and loveable anyway.

I thought the relationships and people and happenings were mostly realistically done.

It was chilling to see the anti-Semitism, subtle and a bit less so, from some of the characters, especially the Swedes and most especially some of the teachers. Luckily, there are many, many characters that are on the right side of things.

Fabulous story(ies) that would have been a favorite of mine when I was 9-12.

I deliberately read through this slowly because my other library books were not ready and I didn’t want to be left with no library books, but this is a book I could normally easily read in one or two days.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephanie goes to the mainland to attend grammar school. Her younger sister Nellie remains on the island. Stephanie lives with the doctor's family who visited on the island, but she's not really treated as a family member, taking her meals in the kitchen. She's glad the other two girls from the island are in the other class. Stephanie has a crush on Sven, the son in the family with whom she resides. She befriends a girl from a poor family. Sven takes Stephanie on a tour around town, showing her a lily pond which is in front of wealthy families' homes when she arrives. She knows it is a place she'll visit often. It was the perfect title for this book since she visits there regularly to reflect and ponder. Her parents are still in Vienna, hoping to secure passage to America. I don't want to give too much away. It's a great installment in the series. I'm glad someone decided to make these available in English. I listened to the audiobook.

[Isidora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serien om Steffi och Nelli fortsätter väldigt bra. Jag har bytt jobb och de här ungdomsbäckerna är just det jag behöver nu.

[Katya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a year since Stephie Steiner arrived in Sweden. She has finally learned to love the island and her foster parents. Now she's about to embark on a new adventure-grammar school in the city of Göteborg. Stephie is excited but nervous. She can't wait to see her friend Sven again and talk about literature and things. Stephie will be living with Sven and his family while in Göteborg. All is not as it seems however. Stephie isn't treated like a member of the family, some of the teachers are too tough and the one girl who may have something in common with Stephie avoids her. Still, there's her growing feelings for Sven, the attractions of the city (sinful in Aunt Marta's opinion) and new friends. Stephie's eyes are opening to new subjects and new worlds but she can't help but worry about her parents who are so far away. When will they finally be reunited?

The plot of this book is fairly slow. I speed read to find out what happened to Stephie's parents and family. I'm mostly interested in them. Stephie is more likable in this book as she grows and matures. Two-thirds of the way through there's a random incident taken straight from Anne of Green Gables. It doesn't fit here at all! It's so bizarre how Stephie figures out what's wrong! The book is ruined by Stephie's crush on Sven. It's horrid. I can't believe how she acts and the poor decisions she makes in the spur of the moment.

Sven is nice and kind but a clueless boy. While he treats Stephie as a friend, he must not have a lot of experience with young girls because he has no clue about her crush. I don't like how he kept secrets from her. I LOATHE his parents. Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is complicit with murder and I am shocked by how the wealthy Swedes like Sven's parents put their heads in the sand. Sven's mother treats Stephie worse than the dog. Stephie is there to make her feel good about herself but she doesn't want anything to do with Stephie. The stunt she pulls with the excuse "OH, didn't I say?" would be inexcusable. I know Stephie doesn't have a choice where she stays but who needs enemies when you have friends like this?

Luckily for Stephie she has real friends like May. I love May and her atheist, socialist leanings. Most young adults are not that self-aware. I love how she knows who she is and accepts her limits. I can also relate to her math woes. May is the only real friend Stephie has and Stephie almost blows this relationship too. I like May's warm, loving family. They're poor but they have each other. The change that comes is only too well deserved and comes shockingly late in the century.

I also like Miss Björk. She's clearly Stephie's Miss Stacy. I like and agree with Miss Björk's beliefs and the way she treats her students fairly on a case by case basis.

Seemingly out of nowhere comes a new subplot about Alice. Not everyone who has dark hair in Sweden is a foreigner or Jewish. Alice is a clearly troubled young lady. I'd like to know more about her but her story is thin on details. The author missed an opportunity to bring awareness to unrealistic expectations and the effect those expectations have on children. It's only briefly touched on.

Overall, I liked this book better than the previous one but not as much as other Holocaust refugee novels.

[Elvira · Rating 4 out of 5]

så himla mysig! och en massa känslor också och jobbiga saker - älskar verkligen att läsa om Steffi.

[Melodyfestivalen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uppföljaren till en Ö i Havet och del två i serien om Steffis upplevelse i Sverige efter hon flytt från Wien när nazisterna kom. Inte lika bra som första och (vad jag kan minnas) nästkommande delar men fortfarande en bra ungdomsbok. Välskriven och en viktig del av historien om Steffi för att man som läsare ska kunna följa den, den råkar nog bara inte vara min personliga favorit då jag anser den vara lite, tja.. händelselös? Mycket byggs upp inför kommande bok snarare än utspelar sig i denna, och det känns som att Näckrosdammen är mer som en transportsträcka till en viktigare del av historien än en sådan i sig självt.

Det finns dock styrkor, såklart - början av boken är intressant och breven från Steffis föräldrar samt de andra delarna som tar upp hennes judendom är gripande och sårbara. De påminner om en hemsk tid och det är viktigt att de gör det; de påminner dessutom väldigt bra på så sätt att de är välskrivna och målar upp realistiska bilder av 40-talets Sverige för judar. Som sagt är även Steffis personliga liv mer fascinerande i början, kanske för att det inte än hunnit bli långrandigt som det ter sig i andra halvan av boken.

Väl värd att läsa om man tyckte om En Ö i Havet och planerat att läsa bok tre och fyra. Står däremot inte ut i sig och bör ej läsas som enskild bok eller om man hoppas på ett lyft efter besvikelse av tidigare bok i serien.

[Mikayla Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book! It's really a peek into the past of how something as simple as what you looked like and believed could get you different and sometimes very harsh treatment. Stephanie (main character) is one of those characters that as you read the book you feel like you are that person. Stephanie is a refuge. She is 13 and is a very good student. At the end she got a letter from Papa and Mama that said that she was forced to grow up too fast and to take care of her little sister Nellie and although they may not be together for a little while to stay true to yourself and remember where you came from. Interesting ending although I believe there has to be another book coming up. It says that she needs the good luck from her pin from Sven(boy she is was in love with). So to me that is saying there is more to the story. Amazing charactors in the book. Very historically accurate; amazing detail. Definately worth the book award it was given.

[Johanna Lundin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Omläsning. Jag mindes inte mycket från den andra delen så det blev en mycket trevlig omläsning. Det jag gillar med Annika Thors berättande här är hur hon får med både sorgen att vara skild från föräldrarna i Wien, lillasystern på ön och de tankar och känslor som vanligtvis förknippas med de tidiga tonåren. Teman som den första kärleken, vänskapsrelationer och ett skapande av sin identitet samspelar med tankarna och känslor kopplade till att vara på flykt från förföljelse och krig. Det är en fröjd att läsa om denna kvartett.

[Evelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lika bra som den första boken! Jag tycker verkligen om att läsa om Steffi och Nelli. Läs hela recensionen här: https://ewelinasbokblogg.blogspot.se/...

[Dilshat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Такая же отличная книга, как и первая часть! Очень правдоподобная главная героиня, такой подросток со своими метаниями и недостатками.

[Mireille]

Hele serie is zeldzaam meer-dan-goed.
Graag herlezen, het was een verrijking. Ik schreef een lang stuk: https://lezersgoud.nl/annika-thor-ser...

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Text-to-text. This intermediate book surprisingly made me think about how the views are reflected in the United States. This historical fiction book focuses on the life of Stephie as a refugee during World War II in Sweden. I think the view some of the Swedish people took toward the refugees reminds me a lot of the views people in America have towards the refugees and immigrants that are coming to seek asylum here, or for better opportunities. In fact, the TED talk we watched about the single story also makes mention of commonly held views of refugees and people from developing countries. We typically think of refugees as people to be pitied, who are uneducated and poor. This may be realistic in some cases but there is much more to their story. Stephie stays with the Soderbergs while she is attending a school in Sweden. The Soderbergs consider themselves to be her great rescuer and expect her to show gratefulness throughout her stay, while treating her as a hired hand or extra help, part of the same station as their maids. She had grown up in a well-to-do family, her father a doctor in Vienna. Her life has taken a drastic change where she has very little money for extras and she is on scholarship at the school she is attending. If the Soderbergs truly understood that she was more than a refugee, they would see that she still needs a family and a place of love to come home to rather than a room to stay in.

2. The students would be challenged by the different point of views and values that this character encounters. For example, Stephie has foster parents that she stays with when she is not at school in the city. They are loving and good people but they are also part of the Pentecostal Church. Stephie and her sister Nellie end up joining the church there because they feel duty bound to do so. It will challenge students to think about respecting other children' beliefs and ideas that may be different than their own. It will also challenge them to think about how our beliefs and fears are reflected in political decisions. For example, in Sweden, the government recognized that there was a refugee crisis in Germany because of how the Jews were being treated. They allowed refugees to come to their country, but only if they were children. According to the government, they did not have enough room for the adults. That is why Nellie and Stephie ended up going there alone, leaving their parents behind in Vienna. Their parents in the meantime, plan to get passage to America and then send for them there. This proves to be a challenge because America does not "recognize" the plight of the Jewish people and so few of them are given Visas to enter. For a brief moment it appears that the parents will be able to get to America only to have their hopes completely dashed by illness. It isn't long after that Austria and Germany's borders have become very secure and now they are being sent off to Poland. In the parents' last letter to Stephie, they express a hope that perhaps life in Poland will actually be better than the constrained living in Austria. Of course, we all know that it will in fact be the worst fate possible since that is where the death and labor camps are.
Another interesting perspective is the fact that another Jewish girl at Stephie's school has lived in Sweden her entire life and takes an instant dislike for Stephie. It seems that even she has a prejudice against refugees. She is worried that people will associate her with them (since they are poor and have very little). Hopefully it will make students see refugees in a different light. They come from all walks of life and experiences. They don't need our pity. They simply need to be treated like human beings.

3. Remembering: Can you tell about three things that happened to cause Stephie to leave the school and Goteborg?
Understanding: Why do you think the author chose to call this book "The Lily Pond"? Why was it important in the book?
Applying: If you were Stephie's best friend, what would you do when you found out she was in love with Sven? Why?
Analyzing: How would you compare May's family with the Soderbergs?
Evaluating: Do you agree with how Stephie handled Ms. Krantz's unfair accusation? Why or why not?
Creating: Pretend that Stephie is not going to be able to stay with May's family after all and is now going to live with Alice Martin's family. Write what will happen now that she is living with another Jewish family that seems to think refugees are all poor and dirty.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, fast read. However, I am sad to learn that this series was originally written in German and the next two books have not been translated. Sigh.

[Jinnie Stork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steffi har nu börjat på läroverket i Göteborg. Som trettonåring tampas hon med vänskap, olycklig kärlek och pressen att lyckas i skolan för att få fortsätta. Samtidigt ligger oron för mamman och pappan som är kvar i Wien, och systern som är kvar på ön ute i havet, och maler.

Detta är en fantastisk bok om att vara tonåring. Det finns många avsnitt som man känner igen sig i, men den skildrar också Steffis utanförskap på ett bra sätt. Ett avsnitt ur boken är när hon redan är upprörd, men sitter tyst under middagen hon blivit bjuden på av den doktorsfamiljen som hon för tillfället bor hos i Göteborg. Doktorinna får veta att Steffis mor är sjuk, och visar då en stor okunskap om det förtryck och den utelämning av det sociala skyddsnätet som drabbar judarna i de tyska ockupationerna. Senare, när doktorn tar upp detta, Försöker Doktorn beskriva en neutral hållning till båda parterna i kriget, och menar att tyskarna ju inte är onda. Samtidigt följer man Steffis brevväxling med föräldrarna, och förtrycket mot dem växer (ingen el, värme, ljus i boendet, inget betalt jobb för doktorn, man får inte åka spårvagn längre, man måste gå till särskilda butiker för att få köpa mat så är dålig, och köa länge...)

Sven idealiseras av Steffi, men han är en ganska feg karaktär, som tycker mycket utan att kunna stå upp för åsikterna gentemot sina föräldrar. Han är rädd att bli av med uppehället medan han studerar, men verkar glömma att det är så verkligheten ser ut både för Steffi som han håller av mycket, och den flicka som det visar sig att han har nära bekantskap med. Han må vara intellektuell, påläst och kunnig inom sina åsikter, men inte särskilt modig.

Slutet blir lite för abrupt. Jag hade velat att Steffis kärlek till Sven hade fått klinga av under längre tid, då den varit djup i snart ett år, men hon kommer över honom på fem veckor. Sedan kan även lösningen på hur hon ska kunna fortsätta studierna vara lite väl fåniga, jag tror nog att fröken Björk och Maj snarare hade kunna telefonera och lösa situationen på så vis. Kanske skulle Vera ha blivit arg på Steffi för att hon åker i alla fall? Vad är det som gör att hon bara släpper all ilska hon hyser till Maj?

Ser fortfarande fram emot att följa Steffis väg mot att bli vuxen.

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Näckrosdammen” är den andra delen i berättelsen om systrarna Steffi och Nelli som kommer som flyktingbarn till Sverige under judeförföljelserna i Europa under slutet av 1930-talet.

Steffi ska äntligen få börja i läroverket. Hon ska bo inackorderad hemma hos doktorsfamiljen som varit sommargäster ute hos tant Märta och farbror Evert på ön. Steffi är förväntansfull inför allt det nya som väntar henne och samtidigt undrar hon när allt i livet kommer återgå till det vanliga - om det någonsin kommer bli som förut?

Steffi och Nelli håller fortsatt brevkontakt med sina föräldrar. I breven får Steffi reda på att tillvaron i Wien börjar bli mer och mer ansträngd.

I läroverket får Steffi nya vänner, framför allt Maj från Majorna som blir en ny nära vän. Relationen mellan Steffi och Sven är fortsatt god och blir tätare i och med att Steffi bor hemma hos familjen Söderberg. Känslorna för Sven växer sig starka och Steffi vet inte hur hon ska orientera sig i dessa och osäkerheten kring om han känner samma leder till att hon snärjer in sig själv i en lögn som hon har svårt att ta sig ur.

Livet på ön rullar på under tiden Steffi är i Göteborg. Besöken på ön sker på helger och lov. Steffis nyvunna vänskap med Maj skakar relationen till Vera och Nelli saknar sin syster och önskar att de två kunde bo tillsammans. Ett av breven från deras föräldrar meddelar att inresetillstånden äntligen har gått igenom och att resan till Amerika snart blir av. Beskedet är glädjande men samtidigt som nyheten sjunker in blir det tydligt att längtan att komma bort från det liv som Steffi blivit tvungen att leva sedan mer än ett år tillbaka kanske inte är lika stark längre? Är hon redo att lämna tant Märta, farbror Evert, Vera, Sven och ön bakom sig?

[Deryn KongE2]

The Lily Pond by Annika Thor is based on World War 2. It has a lot in common with ALWTW by Linda Sue Park. In the Lily Pond the main character Stephanie Steiner left her family, because of Nazi-occupied in Vienna, and she had to adapt to her new life in a Swedish island with her aunt. On the other hand Salva, the main character in the ALWTW, also got separated from his family, because of war. Another evidence is, Stephanie had a lot hope when her parents mailed a letter for her, and said that they may be moving to America. It states on page 138, "Finally some good news after all this time. Mama and I now have our entry permitted for the United States! ... At the first possible instant, we will, of course, arrange for you to come to us." This is similar to ALWTW, because Salva was also full of hope when he heard that his father was alive in a hospital in Sudan. Both book reflects how war can affect on a family, and to yourself.

[Lovis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asså fyfan varför är alla så fkn elaka. Bra bok tho

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het was mooi! Wel een beetje tweede deel-vibes en Steffi is iets overdramatischer dan gedacht, maar het heeft z'n momenten.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3. Pretty good and relatable for the age group.

[J.D.Staton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this author is developing the protagonist and the wide range of characters who matter to her, within this book series. The romantic feelings described/revealed in this stage of the storyline are remarkably accurate for a YA of Steffie's age, development, and character. I went through a somewhat similar experience at precisely the same stage in my own development and learned later just how common it is, especially for gifted girls (who are, intellectually and emotionally, way beyond their years). The superficial goggling over celebrities, popularity, fame, etc., that is far more common for "conventional" YA girls isn't part of the internal world of those with advanced emotional ranges, while falling head-over-heels for an older teen who is more similar in internal qualities is very much so (older teens need to be warned about this, in my opinion, as it is so common and frequently misunderstood by all involved).

As her father writes in his letters to her, both girls are having to grow up far more quickly and roughly than is the ideal. I'm grateful that fact is relayed within the book as most preteens/teens have no idea how to compare/contrast their own lived experiences with the norms for their age group. Their naivete about this and so many other life realities often leaves them feeling very alone, ashamed, and confused.

So many other meaningful topics are broached for the first time, in this second book of the series. Most unusual, to me, was learning how Swedish Jews who had been thoroughly assimilated into Swedish life over multiple generations responded to the influx of refugee Jews. I've never heard this topic mentioned in any book before, whether fiction or nonfiction. Of course, it's understandable that shared religious commonalities don't necessarily translate to political, economic, linguistic, or cultural ones. That is true of religious groups of every type, all over the world. I'm looking forward to reading the remaining two books in this series, once theya re translated.

[Malin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm slightly blown away by how good this series is. It does an incredible job at dealing with a broad range of complex subjects in a way that is equally accessible to kids and adults. Part of me wishes I'd continued this series as a child (oh past self, why didn't you?) but another part of me feels like I almost appreciate the story more now, as an adult. I guess as a child I would have related more to Steffi, our main character. As an adult I mostly want to give her a big hug and tell her it's all going to be ok, eventually. Because it will be, at least if your problem is a broken heart as a result of puppy love. Unfortunately for Steffi, she also has bigger problems because of the ongoing world war and the situation for her parents left behind in Austria just keeps getting worse. And it's absolutely heartbreaking to read about Steffi's hope that things will soon get better, that the war will soon be over, and to know as a reader that we've seen far from the worst yet. Despite all the heartbreak there are also many parts of this story that are truly heartwarming. Also a special shout out to the audio-book version of these, because they are wonderfully narrated.

Four very strong stars. Honestly, the main reason I'm not giving it five stars is that I want to save the five star rating in case one of the books truly stands out as even more enjoyable than the others. I guess we shall see as I continue with the next book!

[Stephanie Mixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie has been living with Aunt Marta on the island since she evacuated Vienna due to WWII, until she makes the decision to further her education in Goteborg by attending a grammar school.
Stephie is exposed to discrimination, worldly temptations, and first love. When confronted with an accusation of cheating on her school work Stephie has enough.


This book can be used in the classroom to share literature about the effects of WWII. This can be a book to show effects of people’s views and how they changed when they are exposed to new experiences. This book can be used to reflect on a young girl’s life and the many things she goes through with love and friendship. This also can be used to show the importance of staying true to your values and sticking up for yourself.

[Bookandahug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life in Sweden is challenging for a pair of young sisters as they wait for word that their parents have finally escaped from Vienna, Austria as the Nazis rise in power. There is school to adjust to, teacher prejudice and mistrust, and the beginnings of young love. Told from the perspective of Stephie, we experience the ups and downs and the joys and the humiliation. We also follow the twists and turns of friendships and the kindness of family and friends. This is a thoughtful read... good for girls who like to put themselves in others shoes. And good for girls who take in history through the experiences of characters they can identify with.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sequel to A Faraway Island, yet it would stand just fine on its own. It continues the story of the Steiner sisters, Austrian Jews sent to Sweden for safety during World War II. This volume focuses more on Stephie, now 13, who leaves the island off the Swedish coast to attend school in the city of Goteborg. Though she lives with the doctor's family that vacationed on Sophie's island last year, Stephanie is expected to eat meals with the housekeeper, instead of the family. At school, Stephanie longs to make friends, but isn't accepted by anyone.

tough questions, like, "Will Stephie never again feel completely at home anywhere? Will she always be on her way to the next destination?" (p. 4)

[Nabilakb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it how Stephie is like usual teenagers that falls in love with someone, not knowing if he will like her back. She kind of relates to me, her personality and all her feelings about Sven which is the guy she falls in love with. It's a super great book for teenagers specifically girls. I can visualize and even feel the character's happiness or sorrow or sometimes imagining of what she's thinking. To Annika Thor: I really want you to make another series of this story!!! I want to read more of your awesome story and adventures of Stephie and Nellie.

[Rilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audience: Intermediate

Appeal: If someone likes Diary of Anne Frank, they may find this book enjoyable. This tells the story of 2 girls who are sent away to live with foster parents to get away from the effects of World War II. This would be a good piggy-back book for a unit of WWII.

Award: Sydney Taylor Book Award

[Donna Dobihal Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engrossing second installment in the series, this story stands alone although those who have read the first will have a more in depth understanding of the young protagonist's background from the start. I loved this one even more than the first: interesting characters, complicated relationships, a plot that moves along nicely toward the satisfying ending.

[Nancy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting look at a Jewish child sent to Sweden from Vienna by her parents during World War II.This is a young adult book which deals with first love feelings, unexpected friendship, and possible sad endings for her parents unable to leave Vienna.

[Libriar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the series is as good as the first. Again, accessible historical fiction about the Holocaust for 5th and 6th grade students. Disappointed that the third book isn't out in English yet.