This document provides a summary of the historical fiction novel "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson. It summarizes the main character Lyddie's goal of helping her family survive difficult economic times in mid-1800s Vermont. It also profiles the author Katherine Paterson and her inspiration for writing the book. The document discusses themes of overcoming adversity and women's rights. It provides positive reviews of the book praising its vivid portrayal of the time period and inspiration it can provide.

1. By : Kath erin e Paterson
Lyddie

2. Genre & Audience
Lyddie is a
historical fiction
novel written by
Katherine
Paterson for
young adults.

3. Themes
The book reveals the
themes of overcoming
adversity, the rise of
women’s rights, striving
through determination,
person against nature,
and person against
person.

4. L
Lydia Worthen (“Lyddie”) is on a quest to
help her family survive and be reunited
during the difficult economic times of the
mid-1800s.
What is Lyddie’s Goal?

5. Lyddie, an extremely independent and self-sufficient 13-year-old, endures
many traumatic events occurring in her life in a few short years.
CharacterSpotlight

6. About the Author
Katherine Paterson
Katherine Paterson,
while growing up in
China as a little girl, had
a missionary for a father.
She has lived many
places. As a child,
Katherine didn’t fit in
with the other kids
because of her cultural
differences; as a result,
she became an avid
reader, using books to
escape into a world of
imagination.

7. About the Author
Katherine Paterson
She has won the
Newberry Medal Award
and National Book
Award twice each. She
received the 1998 Hans
Christian Andersen
Medal in addition to the
2006 Astrid Lindgren
Memorial Award.

8. About the Author
Katherine Paterson
Katherine wrote Lyddie
in response to attending
a conference for the
Vermont Women’s
History Project. She was
challenged to write
about women in
Vermont’s history after
hearing letters written
by Vermont farm girls
who had left farms to
work in factories.

9. The Importance
Lyddie is important to
young adults because
the book gives them a
glimpse into the lives of
other individuals their
age who lived many
years ago in very
different conditions.

10. The Importance
They will be humbled to
learn that young adults
over 150 years ago
worked in strenuous
labor for 13 hours or
more a day, cooked,
cleaned, farmed, and
received little
education, if any.

11. The Importance
In fact, many went
without basic
necessities like food and
medicines. Yet still,
many their age were
still in slavery if they
didn’t have white skin.

12. What makes this book so great?
School Library
Journal
“[A] superb
novel…Paterson has
brought a troubling
time and place
vividly to life, but
she has also given
readers great hope
in the spirited
person of Lyddie
Worthen.”
Publishers Weekly
“Impeccably
researched and
expertly crafted [as
well as]…sure to
satisfy those
interested in
America’s
industrialization
period.”
Kirkus Reviews
“A gripping,
ultimately uplifting
story about the
power of Christian
forgiveness.”
Reviews

13. Classroom Activities
Middle School
Language Arts
A Class Act
The class can be divided
into groups of four or five
students. Each group is
assigned a different major
scene to act out.
The members of each
group work to develop the
script, appoint characters,
and gather props.
The groups take turns
performing for the rest of
the classroom.
Middle School
Language Arts
Extra! Extra! Read All About It
The class can be divided
into small groups, in order
to create a newspaper
from the 1850s.
Each group member
chooses a main idea or
event from Lyddie to
create a headline,
compose an article, and a
photograph (drawn or
actual black-and-white).
The newspaper will depict
“big news” presented in
the book.

14. My Thoughts
Sarah Hughes
Personally, this book
was a huge
encouragement to me. I
identify with the main
character, Lyddie
Worthen, by sharing my
lack of confidence in
pursuing a college
education and striving
to be academically
successful.

15. My Thoughts
Sarah Hughes
The courage that Lyddie
displays in overcoming
obstacles and striving to
achieve her dreams
offers much
encouragement to me;
her character inspires
me to believe in myself,
that I can pursue my
degree and finish
successfully, despite the
challenges I face.

16. SH
Lyddie
Book Talk
Sarah Hughes

17. References
Kirkus (2010, May 20). Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com
Paterson, K. (2004). New York, NY: Puffin Books.
Publishers Weekly (2015). Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com
School Library Journal, starred review. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com
References