Where the Lilies Bloom is a straightforward story, without many obvious double meanings, symbols, or mythic elements. It is narrated by Mary Call and, apart from occasional awkward phrases, which seem self-consciously "poetic," the writing is clear, smooth, and often beautiful. The Cleavers always research the geographic areas they write about, and as a result the colorful mountain dialect is authentic.

The Cleavers use humor to lighten what might otherwise be a very depressing narrative. Mary Call and Romey keep their wits about them, and they usually have some amusing observation about the people or situations confronting them. The scene in which Mary Call uses a mountain recipe to heal Kiser Pease of pneumonia—the recipe calls for the patient to be stripped and slathered with cooked onion slices—is very funny, although it also contains numerous references to the Luthers' poverty and to...