Hardships in Lowell, MA

   Katherine Paterson presents turmoil, strength and struggle during the 1840's.  At first, I felt this book was too much of a bridge to find a connection.  The time period and the language had distanced themselves from my liking.  However, as I continued on, I realized that Lyddie's struggle, the main protagonist, is something that women face every day in our country.
   Lydia Worthen, shortened to Lyddie, is a determined young girl that reminds me of myself.  She is strong-willed girl desperate to make things right at home.  She yearns for normalcy, though never attains the fomented idea.  She does not like to be told how to live her life, which is why she carries off to achieve her dream.  After her father left, she is uncertain about Charlie, her mother and babies, and the family farm.  I gathered her older sister and brother in law were not worth a second glance.
She knew her mother's mental state had declined with her father's disappearing.  But the hope remained that one day he would return to the family and the farm in Vermont would be prolific.  But this dream was put on hold when Lyddie and Charlie learned that Mother was sending them off to work.
   Lyddie was always in the mindset that if she saved her money, the farm would be saved.  Personally, Charlie was probably thinking about himself and how he would succeed in this world.  He knew he would not return, nor did he long to like Lyddie.  Lyddie's motherly instinct was to bring the family back together, but as the story unfolds, the dream crumbles before her as the family breaks apart.
   The first job with Cutler's Tavern opens her eyes as a servant girl, though he deliberately states over and over again, "I ain't a servant girl."  She refuses the title, but knows Miss Cutler doesn't think much different.  Charlie works as an apprentice at Baker's Mill not far away, but it is a long time before he goes to visit his sister.  The Quakers promise to look after the house while Lyddie and Charlie are gone, particularly Luke Stevens.  Lyddie thinks of her allowance and how she can continue to raise money to pay off her father's debts.

   I enjoy Paterson's whit in intertwining the story of the bear.  I once saw a very enthralling movie called Jack the Bear about a very young boy who is kidnapped by a neighbor after his mother passes in a car accident.  The theme of bear is the strength to overcome some of the worst difficulties imaginable.  If one can succeed, you beat the bear.  I thought of this as Lyddie often referenced beating the bear.  At various points, she feels the bear has won, when her brother in law comes to Lowell to explain the farm will be under his care for sale.  The bear had won in taking the life of Mother and baby Agnus.  The beta had won in being dismissed for moral turpitude. But I think all of these things were overcoming some of the worst difficulties imaginable.  I cannot imagine the feeling of loss, despair, and regret Lyddie must have experienced.  She had beaten the bear in so many ways, which ultimately is clear at the end of the novel when she reveals her plan to attend the college that accepts women in Ohio.  Though the dream belonged to Betsy, she knew she wanted to make something of herself.  Diana had found her family in Boston, and now Lyddie must find hers.
    At first, I wanted Lyddie to accept the marriage proposal to Luke Stevens.  He had taken care of the home, and she could live there with him to be his wife.  How PERFECT.  BUT, I then realized, this was "the road most taken" to steal from Robert Frost.  Lyddie wanted to pave her own path, and not have someone pave it for her.  I commend her spirit.
   I feel this book has a lot to offer young girls.  If I can get them past the first twenty pages or so, they truly will be interested in the content.  Her longing for her sister, only to relinquish her to Charlie, what courage.  This is the type of courage seventh and eighth graders need to be exposed to.  It makes them reflect on, "What decisions have I made for myself lately? and not, what have I relied on my parents to do for me?"
   This could be a great literature circle book for seventh grade girls.  I do not see boys keeping an interest due to the min protagonist is a girl working in a girl's factory.  This is also a great read in conjunction with history.  The history of "work" was fascinating to read.  Imagine, working sixteen hour shifts, on feet with regimented breaks for food and bathroom.  Thankfully those reformers like Diana existed, and petitions were made and signed to bring justice to the workforce.  These lessons of strength, survival, and optimism give middle schoolers the hope that change for the better can be achieved.


   Overall, this book was challenging to stay focused at first, did hold my interest.  Verisimilitude allowed me to envision the factories in Lowell, MA, and the conditions she must have endured.  To me this novel directly connects to Under the Persimmons Tree which will be discussed later this month.