I think a lot of little girls will enjoy the adventures of Lily. Sally Warner writes in a very contemporary style and seems to have an idea of the kinds of experiences today's children might relate to.

"Accidental Lily" deals with the issue of bedwetting and is the reason I purchased the book. (If you read some of my other reviews you will see that this is a topic of interest.) Lily is troubled by her periodic wetting episodes and is faced with the prospect of accepting an invitation to a birthday sleep-over at a friends house. This is a very real problem many bedwetters must confront.

The writing is good and the premise is good. My disappointment with the book is that, though it raises the awareness of some problems faced by children who wet it does not offer any real hope to them that it can be overcome. Ms. Warner also helps to perpetuate some myths by suggesting that Lily's bedwetting is psychologically based (this is NOT TRUE for the majority of children). Lily's ultimate solution is not uncommon but is based in deception and therefore in my opinion reinforces the idea that this condition is shameful.

I realize that I might have been expecting more from the book than the average reader and perhaps more than the author intended. If you read "Accidental Lily" with your child, I would suggest that you discuss other ways that Lily might have dealt with this sleep-over dilemma such as confiding in her friend and her friend's mother.

If your child does not bedwet this book might be helpful in helping her be more sympathetic toward children who wet. If your child truly has only sporadic or occasional wetting episodes this book might be helpful in making her feel like she is not the only person in the world who wets and could be a good way to begin a discussion about wetting. However if your child is 6, 7 or 8 years old and has never been dry, is a deep sleeper and maybe has a parent who also wet, it is possible that your child has enuresis in which case this book will not offer the kind of insight or assistance that will be truly helpful in the long run.

I recommend "Accidental Lily" with reservation.



Recommended: Yes