Author: Katherine Paterson
Title: Lyddie
Publisher: Lodestar Books, 1991.
Grade Level: 4th & up
Summary: Lyddie, a poor farm girl from Vermont, goes to Lowell, Massachusetts to work in the mills in order to help her family.
Strengths: Paterson uses beautiful, vivid vocabulary which makes the reader feel like they are hiding from the bear in Vermont or in the loud loom room in Lowell. Paterson’s description helps the reader relate to Lyddie and her environment. I think this is a great example of historical fiction and is on a topic that is rarely covered by children’s authors. I think the historical accuracy should also be commended, which is certainly a vital part of writing good historical fiction.
Concerns: Lyddie’s mother being committed, the death of the baby, Diana’s pregnancy, and Mr. Marsden’s sexual advances may be tough to comprehend or swallow for young readers. Another concern is the interest level. I personally enjoyed Lyddie as a young girl, but I worry that its interest is limited.
Classroom Use: Lyddie is a great historical fiction read, whether completed as a class or independently. Teachers can utilize Paterson’s description of Lyddie’s life at Lowell to help better explain the textile industry in nineteenth century America. I also think this is another great example of a book that should be a part of the classroom library.
(image from Amazon.com)
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