In August's room, Lily looks at the book Mary Through The Ages. What shocks her?

• A. A hidden map showing Lily's mother's past
• B. A portrait of August with Lily as a child
• C. The pictures of Mary being given a lily by the angel Gabriel
• D. Mary performing miracles in front of crowds

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how Lily’s exposure to Marian imagery in August’s room unsettles her and pushes her to think about faith and motherhood. Mary Through The Ages presents Mary in historical scenes, and Lily is surprised by the way Mary is depicted in a moment that emphasizes purity and divine intervention. The image of Mary being given a lily by the angel Gabriel is a classic symbol from the Annunciation, signaling Mary’s chosen role and the purity associated with her. For Lily, who’s navigating faith alongside her own difficult relationship with her mother, that tender, idealized portrayal feels shocking and almost foreign. It confronts her with a powerful, religious aesthetic she hasn’t fully processed, highlighting themes of motherhood, belief, and belonging in the story.