Lily’s Hong Kong Honey Cake

PreS-Gr 2–In 1937 Vienna, Lily’s family runs a bakery, filling pink-ribboned boxes with honey cakes for Rosh Hashanah. As war spreads across Europe, they are forced to close their shop and flee, setting sail for Shanghai, a haven for Jewish refugees. There, the family rebuilds their traditions in a new neighborhood, learning Chinese phrases, sharing food, and celebrating holidays with neighbors despite hardship. Bakery boxes once tied with satin ribbons become twine-wrapped brown paper, then goods wrapped in newspapers filled with images of war, reflecting their changing circumstances. In 1946, the family temporarily relocates to Hong Kong, where food shortages mean no honey cake for Rosh Hashanah. Longing for the taste of home, Lily finds the courage to ask the help of a hotel chef, and together they bake a makeshift honey cake to share with other refugees. “The honey cake tasted like home because they were together.” Themes of displacement, cultural integration, and the power of tradition are seamlessly woven throughout this moving, accessible narrative, offering young readers a gentle entry point into refugee experiences. Comic-style illustrations feature soft textures and layered shadows, centering characters while signaling shifts in setting through clothing and details. A muted palette mirrors themes of resilience and adaptation, with warm tones highlighting moments of community and hope. Back matter features a historical note, photographs, a map, and a glossary, enriching the title’s usefulness for classrooms and family discussions.