Was Lydia’s Big Question answered? In this historical fiction story, young Lydia Hamilton Smith wondered who her father was.  Born during the early 1800s in a Gettysburg tavern to a single mother, formerly enslaved, Lydia had to work as a servant just like her mother. The story starts on her fifth birthday.  Both she and her mother worked for Mrs. Hamilton, a descendant of the tavern's founders and the owner of the Russell Tavern. She was demanding, yet her husband was not.  When Lydia’s mother moved out of the tavern, they adopted baby Jane, whose mother died after escaping toward freedom. Lydia learned about freedom seekers, property management, and bookkeeping. Without access to formal education, she adjusted, absorbed, and accommodated. Teenage Lydia found faith and made new friends, going with them to listen to a banjo player named Jacob Smith. The two married and had two sons, then moved to Harrisburg, where Jacob led a band, and they purchased property. Yet, Smith’s drinking and gambling forced Lydia to get a job to pay the rent, and they separated. Soon after, Lydia accepted an offer from Thaddeus Stevens to be his housekeeper after he had moved to Lancaster.  

Lydia then ran Mr. Stevens’ household, raising his two nephews along with her two boys. She had to learn new skills. In addition to managing his household, she oversaw his schedule to ensure the household ran smoothly. As a free woman at a time when blacks lacked basic rights — even those who were three-fourths white and worked for prominent people —she managed to overcome and thrive.

REVIEWS:

“This story follows a logical timeline, beginning with Lydia’s childhood and moving through her adulthood, offering a comprehensive narrative. The shifts between Lydia’s personal life and work involvement in historical events keep the narrative varied and engaging. Lydia’s courage, determination, and resourcefulness make her an inspiring character for middle school readers. The activities include writing reflection, role-playing, research, and creative tasks. They include integrative technology through QR codes and external websites for future exploration of historical themes of the 19th century.”—Amanda Funk, Instructor at McCaskey High School and educator for Prep Program K-12. 

“This book is amazingly written and will be a great shelf-stocker in the history section in the library! It is difficult to finish reading history books, but this one was different, It was easy to read, fast paced and impossible to put down. The way the author wrote about Lydia’s life made me sad, happy, and angry for her.”—Harper and Ainsley Simpson, middle school twins  

“Lydia Hamilton Smith is a powerful role model for young African Americans today. She demonstrated that there is dignity in all work, that through compassion and charitable deeds one can succeed.”—Randolph Harris, Former Executive Director, Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster

by Darlene Colón, with Terry Webb and Pam Lazos
Page Count: 136
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Publish Date: July 29, 2025
Imprint: Loch Ness Books
Genre: YA Fiction

Young Adult Fiction / Historical / United States / 19th Century
Young Adult Fiction / People & Places / United States / African American Books