This was the perfect read for February, Library Lover's Month and for that matter anyone who enjoys a story told in an entertaining fashion with bits of historical information, obnoxious haters and kind people who see past the differences in others!
Richardson has written a darn good book about the little known Blue People of Kentucky and the Pack Horse Library Project of which, Cussy Mary Carter, one of the last of the Blues, works as a traveling book delivery person in the impoverished hill country communities of Kentucky. Cussy delivers much more than reading material, she reads to those who can not, befriends those without, consoles, educates and acts as liaison passing messages to those in the bigger city and beyond. Yet, despite her community service she, like other persons of color, is ostracized and disrespected.
Her dying father hopes to marry her off before he dies but there is little interest for a blue woman.
The author, treats Cussy's reality with moving tenderness. This is a story which will stick to me for some time.

Thank you NetGalley, Kim Michele Richardson and Sourcebooks Landmark for digital access to the Advanced Readers edition of this impressive novel. Available May 7, 2019.

4.5 Stars I am not a huge fan of historical fiction. I’m too picky in that I don’t want a boring history lesson, yet I don’t want the author to play too loosely with fact. I requested this, as I am drawn to “bookish” books, This turned out to be way more than I anticipated. Combining several aspects of geographical history (all without becoming bogged down with “too much”), the story educated me about some things I was completely unaware of. While bigotry and small mindedness is a central theme, this book demonstrates the strength and pride of those who are a bit different persevering against all odds...and making a huge difference.

I had never heard of the Blue People of Kentucky before this book. Very interesting story that I believe will be an easy hand sell.

The Book Woman, Cussy Mary or Bluet. Whatever name you call her, she is an exceptional character. I adored this book about the early 1930's in Troublesome, Kentucky. I have knowledge on the WPA and the women who rode miles every day to deliver books, also known as the Pack Horse Library Project.
This is much more than a history story; this is a story of a true hero of a woman who felt pain, hatred, heartache and also love. Thank you NetGalley.

A very interesting and engaging book!
It's a well researched historical fiction that is full of interesting details and memorable characters.
I loved the well written characters, the plot and the descriptions.
I learnt something new because I never heard before of blue skinned people.
It's the first book I read by this author and it won't surely be the last.
Recommended!
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and Netgalley for this ARC

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
I received a complimentary, ARC of this book from NetGalley for an unbiased review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I was drawn to this book first by the cover, and then because I love Libraries, and I love history. The Pack Horse Library Project, a program of Roosevelt’s WPA, provided much needed jobs and income to women in Appalachia. The women delivered books and other reading materials to folks in the poorest, and most isolated areas of eastern Kentucky. Bluet, the main character and daughter of a widowed coal miner, is hired on to deliver on some of the most difficult trails and isolated hollers. In addition to poverty, and its associated ills, she also suffers from racism. Bluet is one of the “blue people” of Kentucky, so is considered “colored”. The story is set in 1936, and prior to a scientific explanation of Methemoglobinemia.
It is a fascinating book, well researched, and beautifully written. However, it is a heavy read and I had to walk away a few times. Richardson does an excellent job of describing the physical location, events, and emotions of the time and people. She is also able to link the heaviness of the locale with the heavy oppression on the people.
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is of historical importance, and an excellent read. However, it is definitely not a light read.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley.com and the publisher Sourcebooks Landmark. Thanks to both along with Ms. Richardson for the opportunity to read and review. This in no way has affected my review.

Cussy Mary is a Kentucky Blue, the last of her kind. She is also a Pack Horse Librarian, travelling dangerous trails and crossing paths with dangerous people to deliver books to the hill folk of the area. Cussy is treated brutally by her neighbors and coworkers for being "colored". She overcomes obstacles to do the job she loves and seevher patrons who love her for coming to them.

Historically accurate and well written. This book is set in the past but has a theme that could be included in the current news. Emotional and moving without meladrama, you feel Cussy's trauma and pain. A story of a woman who just wants to belong.

Highly recommended.

Based on 15%: the style of writing is drawn out with a plot of slow pace. It is not an engaging read for me to continue with this book.

I've recently become a librarian. It has been a lifelong dream. Achieving this goal was just as magical as I envisioned it would be. And three months into my new role, I still randomly sit at my desk with a dazed smile thinking about finally being where I am today. And this is how I envision Cussy feels on her trail delivering books with her adorably angry mule. This connection really allowed me to immerse myself into the story, but without my intense interest in librarianship, I am not sure how others will feel. But I am excited to find out!

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a historical fictional story. However, the Pack Horse Library of Kentucky was absolutely real. Thanks to this story, I was able to do a little research and find some really awesome photographs of the OGs. You know what else is real? The blue folk of Kentucky. It turns out that this is a genetic disorder which people actually suffer from. It isn't something that the author made up, which I wasn't certain of initially. The disease being factual was not mentioned until mid-story and again with the Author's Note, which is inconveniently located at the end of the novel. When I first started the novel, I wasn't really aware. And I must admit, I was a tad tiffed that the author had to "invent" a new race to express hardship through. Luckily, I decided to do a little googling determining that the author did no such thing. Learning this really helped me get into the story and move past that point.

On that note, this story is about a determined, big hearted blue woman named Cussy trekking through hills to deliver reading materials to an impoverished community in Kentucky. Cussy builds relationships with her patrons, she learns about their lives, hardships and tries her damnedest to deliver material that will brighten their day. Simply because Cussy is a good woman and a good librarian. But since she has blue tinted skin, she is treated like an outsider by most others in the town with the exception of her patrons. And her librarian-patron relationships is truly where this story unfolds.

Upon completing the story, I was incredibly torn on the rating to give this novel. For parts, I was counting down the pages until the book was completed. And then there were portions where I was surprised how much I had read and got caught up in. But upon reaching the end, Richardson had brought out a surprising amount of sobbing from me. It’s rather comical to me since I was just (very recently) thinking how it had been an exceptionally long time since a story had really got me into a good crying session. And this kind of sealed the deal for the great rating debate resulting in the 4 stars. So fair warning, I could have filled an Olympic sized pool after being closed for the winter.

Now in my frank opinion, this story is not going to be for everyone. This story is very much a niche novel. It isn’t going to appeal to the masses and it will take a certain type of reader. I don’t mean to gatekeep the target audience, but this story is going to be better suited for historical fiction fans, librarians, passionate readers and the likes. Personally, I would not have enjoyed this novel without the librarian connection nor would I have added it to the TBR pile. So I will give that warning, but it is only my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt.

If you do try this story out, be prepared. Be prepared to cheer for Cussy. Be prepared to fall in love with Junia the sassy mule. Be prepared to feel inspired. And mostly, be prepared with some Kleenex tissues.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sources Landmark for the advanced copy.

I really loved the history behind this book, one that was previously unfamiliar. However I struggled to connect with the characters. The book also opened with a scene of sexual assault which was hard for me to get past and makes it hard for me to recommend. After the bumpy beginning, I couldn't quite figure out the storyline and then it was like everything happened in the last three chapters quickly and with only a disjointed pseudo-resolution.

Being passionate about books and reading I was eager to read this book on the packhorse library of Kentucky. The character of Cussy Mary is based on a true life story of the blue skinned Fugate family of Troublesome creek, their colouring caused by a recessive gene. She goes out of her way, despite living in extreme poverty to help her neighbours as reading gave them hope, delivering books and scrapbooks filled with past magazine articles of interest. Not the most gripping of books but worth a read.

Thanks to Netgalley the author and publishers for a copy of this book.

This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. Every once in a while you read a story that you feel in your heart and you know will stay with you for years to come. This is one of those stories.
Thank you to Kim Michele Richardson and to Netgalley for allowing me to read this.

Coming off of a huge paranormal romance binge, when I was first reading along, and Cussy’s skin was revealed to be blue, my brain immediately started down the road of trying to identify what sort of mythical creature she was…*face palm*

But then I remembered that I knew all about the blue people of Kentucky. They were quite real and completely human, by the way, suffering from a disease called methemoglobinemia. If you haven’t heard of this before feel free to jump down the wikipedia rabbit hole.

This book felt like a tribute to librarians everywhere and the work they do to make reading a reality for so many communities that might not otherwise have access to books or a place to read. It was a fascinating immersion into an often misunderstood and marginalized American culture but it didn’t romanticize these folks or make an attempt to hide their flaws. Such as…prejudice on the basis of skin color. It’s interesting to watch the crappyass way Cussy was treated a “blue” despite the fact that she was technically caucasian…really highlights how arbitrary these prejudices truly are…Imagine that, right?

Booklovers, and fans of historical fiction, give this one a read. I think you will find it worthwhile. Thanks, Netgalley for the chance to read an advanced copy. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek releases in May.

This book has everything (well almost): racism, government mistrust, traveling librarians and a plucky heroine. And bonus points for introducing me to something I was unfamiliar with: the blue-skinned people of Kentucky ( a real thing). Set during the Depression, Cussy Mary visits tiny communities in the hills of Kentucky, bringing reading material on a mule to them. It is an arduous job, not only because of the difficult travel but also because of the prejudices she encounters because of her blue skin. Her daddy, a coal miner, is desperate to marry her off but very few Kentucky men are interested in such a liaison. Cussy Mary tries to content herself by caring for her library patrons. This is a fascinating story and one worth reading.

It really took a while to get into this book, but once I was into it, I could not stop reading. Bluet was a really unique character and this was the first I had heard of blue-skinned Kentucky people. I wasn't sure what to make of this and people of her time did not either. The characters were well written and the subject matter was interesting. It was the beginning of libraries as we know them today. Hard working men and women would travel afar to share books with others and fought to learn during this time period. I would be interested in learning more about this point in history and would love to know more about what happened to Bluet. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Cussy Mary "Bluet" Carter is a 19-yr old Appalachian Mountain version of a librarian. She is also last of her line of the Blue People of Kentucky, discriminated against as Colored, and owing to a genetic blood disorder known as Methemoglobinemia. Bluet is closest with her mining father Elijah who is dying of "Miners Sickness"; and also with her protective mule, Junia. Their attackers are legion, from rapist cousins Sheriff Frazier and Pastor Frazier, to abusive management at the Library Company and at the mine, racists everywhere, and Bluet's even hated on by blues who've managed to pass for white. Author Kim Michele Richardson has created a wonderful collection of characters in Troublesome Creek, from the doctor who wants to get his hand on Bluet's vitals, to all her precariously located clientele; and I loved seeing the care with which she selected all their reading materials.

Bluet is ridiculously resistant to accepting kindness, regardless of how urgently she is in need of it; even when she's starving and working her ass off and vomiting several times a page, when an offer arises she refuses to accept it, because none of the Kaintuck folk she brings books to has stuff to eat, despite how often they keep offering her and her mule stuff to eat. The suffering of Junia the mule, much like that of Bluet the blue, was painful to read about and perhaps a bit sadistically drawn out. And I hardly think that somebody who lives in the ruralest of rural Kentucky, in a family sharing the same skin condition, is actually going to feel hurt "like seeing something horrible for the first time" every single time they look in the mirror.

Got this ARC from NetGalley, and appreciate the opportunity to preview the book!

A story that is befitting the times, when you have always viewed someone as an outcast it's hard to see them happy or doing better then you. Some will do anything to keep you down. You'll love Bluet and you'll want to continue with her on her adventures and hope she gets the happily ever after.

Cussy Mary Carter is a diligent traveling librarian, but she is also the last of her kind: a blue-skinned woman. As she goes about her work, carrying books into the mountains for far-off patrons, she is faced with deep prejudices as she comes to terms with herself.

This book starts of heavy. Cussy Mary's life is not easy, and her father -in an honest attempt to provide for her future- gives her in marriage to a man. This leads to a scene of rape and abuse, not in too great of detail but enough to have made my stomach turn. And that is just in the first two chapters.

From there, we move on to the prejudices from town members. Also, the intense interest of the local doctor to work out a cure. All of this, combined with Cussy Mary's own uncertainties about her place in the world, made for a very serious read.

It is well told and well researched. Cussy Mary is a strong lead, it was easy to get behind her, to want her to have a happy ending.

I would recommend this to readers of historical fiction, who don't mind the darker details of the story.

What a wonderful book! It's a must read for every book lover and every library fan, every person who grew up in reduced circumstances but found solace and hope in the pages of books. Kudos to the author for a powerful, historically-based story.

I give The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek a 3.5.
Cussy Mary is a "Kentucky Blue," born from a family whose skin is blue. Already struggling in poor Appalachia in the 1930s, being colored is just another hurdle Cussy has to get around. Called Bluet by the majority of the population, she overcomes her stigma by becoming a Book Woman, one of the programs set up to help the poor area by providing books to the local population. Bluet must contents with racist town folk, murderous preachers, and the creatures of the Appalachian wilderness. Each day, she rises above this because proving books, knowledge to her patrons gives her a sense of purpose.
I'll be honest, I was intrigued because I had never heard of the Blues. And honestly, I feel like my education has let me down. While it was coffined to small, confined areas, it happened to many other populations and not just Kentucky. There is, in fact, an answer and diagnosis in regards to this and I've never heard about it. I loved learning about the illness and it broke my heart that these people were treated so shamelessly. I will make sure my children know their story.
I really enjoyed learning about the life of those in Appalachia. My heart ached for each patron on her route. In fact, I had sympathy for everyone but her supervisors at the Center; they were horrible people. I was frustrated for their fights from the coal miners to the chicken stealers. I do think, that these stories were too strung along. There were so many it was hard to truly get into these stories as deeply as was called for. There were times when they slowed down the narrative dragging the story along as slowly as the mule on the rocky path.
That being said, I like how the author didn't play all her cards up front,. We didn't meet each patron ass the beginning adding freshness to the story and Cussy Mary's route. But at points these stories started to drown out the Book Woman's story.
My biggest issue with the novel is the ending. It is thrown in at last minute and is a huge twist in the tale. The author handles it in one chapter and an epilogue when it is a clear turning point for the story that needed more time to deal with and understand. A "poof" and its gone answer belittled the event and the story.
Overall, I enjoyed reading about the Book Women, Appalachia and the Blues. I would have like itr in a more well rounded novel though.