What do you think?
Rate this book
Lily: The Girl Who Could See
“I will make you the greatest living artist in all of England! But you must work very hard at your art, and you must decide between your art and your work with the poor.” This was the choice that John Ruskin, the celebrated Victorian art critic, presented to the young Lilias Trotter. With a storyteller’s eye and ear, Sally Oxley traces the steps that led up to this turning point in Lilias Trotter’s life and the amazing adventure that followed as she turned her back on worldly fame and set out in faith for the mission work in North Africa. Readers young and old will be stirred by the enchanting pictures and lean, moving prose and will come away with a renewed vision of the world and their role in it. Lilias Trotter’s full story can be seen in the documentary film Many Beautiful Things.
44 pages, Paperback
Published June 9, 2015
112 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 30, 2019
I really wanted to like this book, but the narrative felt stilted and heavy-handed. I would love to read about a missionary and how she put her faith in action, but I don't want to be slapped over the head with it.
The Christianese was a bit annoying, but not nearly as annoying as the constant switching between third-person narrative and the characters' thoughts in quotation marks. I don't mind a true quotation here or there, especially when it's apt, but when you're inventing or inferring what people are thinking in a picture book biography, there is no reason to present it as a quote. There is such a thing called paraphrase, and it really should have been used in this book.
The illustrations are beautiful, but the narrative is unbalanced and poorly paced: it spends too much time on things of minor importance, jerks between events, and hops between point-of-view characters when there shouldn't even be a POV character. Also, the sentence structure hardly ever varies; the majority of sentences start with a noun-verb construction, and that quickly bleeds all life from the syntax.
Lilias Trotter is a fascinating woman and her life story would make for a beautiful picture book; I'm deeply disappointed that this book isn't it.
2.5 stars, rounded up for the illustrations and the general message
The Christianese was a bit annoying, but not nearly as annoying as the constant switching between third-person narrative and the characters' thoughts in quotation marks. I don't mind a true quotation here or there, especially when it's apt, but when you're inventing or inferring what people are thinking in a picture book biography, there is no reason to present it as a quote. There is such a thing called paraphrase, and it really should have been used in this book.
The illustrations are beautiful, but the narrative is unbalanced and poorly paced: it spends too much time on things of minor importance, jerks between events, and hops between point-of-view characters when there shouldn't even be a POV character. Also, the sentence structure hardly ever varies; the majority of sentences start with a noun-verb construction, and that quickly bleeds all life from the syntax.
Lilias Trotter is a fascinating woman and her life story would make for a beautiful picture book; I'm deeply disappointed that this book isn't it.
2.5 stars, rounded up for the illustrations and the general message
November 18, 2019
This picture book biography is visually lovely, but the story's pacing is so uneven that I can only give it three stars. It focuses on Lillian Trotter's early life with detail and attention, but then rushes through her missions work in Algeria without providing any substantial information about her experiences there or how she used her art to connect with and minister to people. This could have been much better if it included more research about the rest of her life.
January 15, 2018
You need this book! Lovely story, beautiful art and even better message. I cannot think of another book that expresses more clearly the fact that God has a unique plan for each of us! This book has it all, lovely illustrations, art, Nature, real people and how God is a part of all but does not force Himself upon us. Please buy this book! I’m off to follow the rabbit trail of John Ruskin. . .
February 7, 2021
The authors and illustrator have truly honoured Lilias Trotter's artistic style.
Children and adults alike can enjoy an introduction to the main aspects of her life and victories and struggles therein.
It is a hard task to cover, in few words, her primary crisis and faith in God and in an understandable manner for children. A job well done.
Children and adults alike can enjoy an introduction to the main aspects of her life and victories and struggles therein.
It is a hard task to cover, in few words, her primary crisis and faith in God and in an understandable manner for children. A job well done.
February 4, 2025
Wow. That there is a children’s book about the life of Lilias Trotter. I wish I had known about this sooner! The illustrations are beautiful, and the writing perfectly breaks down the meaningful, fulfilling life of a woman who truly gave her entire being to the Lord. What an inspiring read, and I can’t wait to share it with my students.
December 31, 2018
A beautiful book. I'm looking forward to watching the documentary, Many Beautiful Things, the title of which was apparently taken from her dying words, when she exclaimed, “A chariot with six horses!” When asked if she was seeing beautiful things, she replied, “Yes, many many beautiful things.”
October 22, 2016
Lilias Trotter's life, artistic skill, devotion, and service are inspiring. The very warm drawings by Ladwig go a long way to add humanity and realism to the writing that seems a bit stiff and didactic.
January 8, 2025
Read this aloud to A for SCA summer reading challenge. Great book!!
February 21, 2025
This had so much potential and it just feel flat. I would’ve loved to have read more of her actual story than just that she decided to serve God. I love the illustrations but the story not so much.
September 7, 2016
A wonderful heart warming story about a little girl named Lily. Lily grows up following Jesus and doing what she loves most, painting. You will see Lily go through trials and decide what God has in store for her. This book is a remarkable story about a young lady who grows into an old women. It's just what she does that makes you keep reading on and on.
October 26, 2016
A beautifully illustrated picture book biography about a brave woman artist-turned-missionary to the Arab world.
Read full review at Redeemed Reader
Read full review at Redeemed Reader
September 21, 2016
Wonderful!
May 6, 2017
What a lovely picture book introduction to Lilias Trotter, a remarkable artist and missionary. The illustrations are lovely and often hearken back to Lilias' own work. Some of the narrative is a little stilted or incomplete, but otherwise phenomenal picture book introducing kids to the idea of God's supremacy and direction in our lives and how He uses our talents for His glory. Love it.
February 14, 2018
Excellent! Our book study group is reading Miriam Huffman Rockness' A Passion for the Impossible, a book about the. life of Lilias Trotter. Lily, the Girl Who Could See is the juvenile non-fiction book about her life. I found the book warm and inviting. A book I would enjoy reading out loud to children who love history and brave people who do extra ordinary things. This book covers her life from birth to her death. Beautifully illustrated and a joy to read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews