Favorite reads 2026

From two-time Newbery award-winning author Katherine Paterson. When Lyddie and her younger brother are hired out as servants to help pay off their family farm's debts, Lyddie is determined to find a way to reunite her family once again. Hearing about all the money a girl can make working in the textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts, she makes her way there, only to find that her dreams of returning home may never come true. Includes an all-new common core aligned educator's guide. Rich in historical detail...a superb story of grit, determination, and personal growth. —The Horn Book, starred review Lyddie is full of life, full of lives, full of reality. —The New York Times Book Review An ALA Notable Book An ALA Best Book for Young Adults A Booklist Editor's Choice American Bookseller Pick of the Lists School Library Journal Best Book Parents magazine Best Book