Patricia Reilly Giff

Children’s author, Patricia Reilly Giff, passed away this week on June 22nd at age 86. She wrote over 100 books for children and won two Newbery Honor awards. Several of her middle-grade titles were historical fiction set in New York City in the early 1900’s about immigrants newly settled in the United States (Lily’s Crossing and Water Street). One of her Newbery Honor books, Pictures of Hollis Woods, involves a young foster girl who connects with her foster parent, an elderly artist. Many of Giff’s books regularly appear on required reading lists and are reliable for fine writing, mood and plot. A favorite of teachers, Patricia Giff’s stories will live on for children for years to come.