Where the Lilies Bloom

Where the Lilies Bloom Summary | Plot Summary

This National Book Award finalist, published in 1969, follows the struggles of Mary Call Luther and her siblings, as they struggle through the harsh Appalachian winter after the death of their father, Roy Luther. Mary Call has promised her father that she will keep her family together on the mountain and will not accept charity from strangers. This means that she must keep his death a secret and find a way to provide for her two sisters and her brother.

Mary Call has always felt that their landlord, Kiser Pease, has taken advantage of her father and kept him down. When Kiser becomes ill, Mary Call makes him sign over their house in exchange for their help. Kiser has wanted to marry Devola, the oldest sister, for some time, but because Devola is like a child, Mary Call has promised her father never to let that happen.

Once the Luthers have their house and their land, Mary Call makes a plan to help them provide for themselves. They will take up the tradition of wildcrafting and gather the wild medicine plants of the mountains. This can be a risky and dangerous job, but it is the best solution for the Luthers. Mary Call and the other children are eager to learn. At first, things go well, but then the harsh winter comes. Mary Call realizes that she may not have done enough to prepare for the long, hard months of cold and isolation.

The winter is the beginning of problems for the Luther family. Their neighbors are suspicious that they have not seen Roy Luther. Food becomes more and more scarce, as the weather becomes colder. The snow traps them in the house. A truck runs over Kiser Pease, and his sister threatens to turn the children out of the house. Mary Call tries to remain calm and smart in every crisis, but when her family might become homeless, she becomes desperate.

Mary Call asks Kiser Pease, a man she despises, to marry her. When he refuses, she finally breaks down and accidentally mentions that her father is dead. She plans to move the family to a cave, but Devola finally takes charge of the situation and announces that she and Kiser are getting married. Although Mary Call must break the promise she made not to let them marry, this change in their lives, and the help they get from Kiser, allows her to keep her family on the mountain and relieves her from the burden of her secret. Mary Call remains a tough and independent girl, but she realizes that she cannot take care of her entire family by herself.