Lily’s Hong Kong Honey Cake
Lily’s Hong Kong Honey Cake by Erica Lyons is a picture book published by Behrman House, Incorporated in 2025. This 32-page book is written in English and explores the experiences of Jewish refugees during World War II, focusing on themes of resilience and adaptability. The story follows Lily and her family as they navigate the challenges of displacement, from their bakery in Vienna to new beginnings in Shanghai and Hong Kong, highlighting the importance of creativity and love in difficult times.
Readers will find an engaging narrative that illustrates how Lily learns the art of baking while facing the realities of war and scarcity. As her family encounters various obstacles, including dwindling supplies and changing circumstances, Lily draws on her experiences to ensure that the spirit of Rosh Hashanah is preserved, even when traditional honey cakes seem impossible to make. This book presents a heartfelt look at family life and the significance of holidays and celebrations amidst adversity, making it a valuable addition to collections focused on Jewish history and the refugee experience.
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STARRED REVIEW: “A first purchase for libraries building collections around Jewish history, refugee experiences, and stories of resilience for young readers.”–School Library Journal
“Highly recommended” –The Jewish Book Council
“An enjoyable, inspiring story”–The Historical Novel Society
Based on the history of Jewish refugees in Asia and spanning multiple years during World War II, this picture book shows how some creativity, adaptability, and a lot of love can make the new year sweet no matter where you are.
Lily’s family ran a pastry shop in Vienna. Every Rosh Hashanah, they baked honey cakes for their customers. But when war comes, they must leave everything behind. They first travel to Shanghai, where they are able to open a new bakery. Each year, Lily learned more about baking. She helped to mix and pour the batter, measure the ingredients, and passed out the wrapped up treats. But each year, there are changes. When the flour runs out, they have to use rice instead. There were fewer customers, and the newspaper wrappings were showing bad news.
Soon, Lily’s family has to move again, to Hong Kong. With rations there was even less than usual. There would be no honey cake this year. But Lily had been watching how her parents had made do in the years before, and she had some ideas of her own. Because despite all the changes, everyone deserves to have a sweet new year.
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