Her determination to pay off family debts makes it impossible to consider joining the movement for fair labor practices but she does open her mind to learning. Her reading & writing skills lead her to other dreams. In fact, Lyddie fits the description of *a bodacious lady* at a very early age.

This is a story about health problems in the mills of New England in the 1800s, and child labor before laws existed for protection of the young. It touches on views of slavery, prejudices against Quakers, Irish immigrants. The descriptions of early settlers pitted against hunger and poverty, even wild bears, have a genuineness that should impress young readers who haven't experienced such struggles, or known hard labor. (It does upset me that several student reviewers call this a 'boring' book -- how many of them ever 'stared down' a bear?) Following that episode, Paterson says "the November night gathered about them ... with its accustomed quiet."

It may not be your child's choice for carefree summer reading but it won't be an unhealthy encounter! There may even be some middle-schoolers who will find tracing their roots back to New England an exciting hobby. *Reviewer mcHaiku* is thankful that a sense of humor was part of Lyddie's dna, for it helped her to be a survivor in the best sense. This is a thoughtful book with "staying power" and is highly recommended.