The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek paints a vivid and heartfelt portrait of 19-year-old Cussy Mary, a courageous young woman navigating life in 1930s Appalachian Kentucky. As if being a woman in a rugged, male-dominated world isn't challenging enough, Cussy also faces deep-seated prejudice due to her rare blue-tinged skin.
Determined to make a difference, she becomes a pack horse librarian, braving treacherous terrain and societal scorn to deliver books and promote literacy in her isolated community. While many come to appreciate her kindness and dedication, others—particularly certain men—resent her independence, putting her in constant danger.
A compelling and beautifully written story of resilience, discrimination, and the transformative power of books.
RECOMMENDED BY DOLLY PARTON IN PEOPLE MAGAZINE! A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A USA TODAY BESTSELLER A LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLER A PBS BOOK PICK
The bestselling historical fiction novel from Kim Michele Richardson, this is a novel following Cussy Mary, a packhorse librarian and her quest to bring books to the Appalachian community she loves, perfect for readers of William Kent Kreuger and Lisa Wingate. The perfect addition to your next book club!
The hardscrabble folks of Troublesome Creek have to scrap for everything-everything except books, that is. Thanks to Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, Troublesome's got its very own traveling librarian, Cussy Mary Carter.
Cussy's not only a book woman, however, she's also the last of her kind, her skin a shade of blue unlike most anyone else. Not everyone is keen on Cussy's family or the Library Project, and a Blue is often blamed for any whiff of trouble. If Cussy wants to bring the joy of books to the hill folks, she's going to have to confront prejudice as old as the Appalachias and suspicion as deep as the holler.
Inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a story of raw courage, fierce strength, and one woman's belief that books can carry us anywhere-even back home.
Look for The Book Woman's Daughter, the new novel from Kim Michele Richardson, out now!
Kim Michele Richardson was born in Kentucky and resides part-time in Western North Carolina. Her work includes Liar's Bench, GodPretty in the Tobacco Field and The Sisters of Glass Ferry. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is her fourth novel.
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