I love historical fictions! This book shows a part of our history of libraries that is so important, while also teaching about the blue colored people. I love that the author included the history of the blue people in the back part of the book. I highly recommend this book!

<em>The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek </em>is such a different, powerful story, bringing together several elements to create a work that's moving and inspiring.

Cussy Mary Carter and her father live as outcasts in the Kentucky hills, shunned because of their blue skin. Cussy's father is a hard-working coal miner who suffers from lung disease. He's determined to secure a safe future for Cussy by finding her a husband, despite her objections. Cussy loves her work as a pack horse librarian, riding miles through the mountains each day to bring books, magazines, recipes, and household instructional pamphlets to the isolated people along her route.

Meanwhile, Cussy faces horrible mistrust and discrimination whenever she ventures into the nearby town. While her library patrons cherish her and greet her with happy cries of "Book Woman" as she rides up on her mule, the townsfolk she interacts with at the library headquarters insult her and curse her to her face, barring her from society and segregating her because she is -- literally -- "colored". And while a local doctor offers Cussy and her father some meager help and protection, it's clear that he views them as medical oddities and pursues studying them not out of a desire to truly help, but as a way to further his own career.

There is just so much to love about this book. Cussy is a loving, caring person who understands that books can lift people up and change lives. Though the reading material available to the pack librarians is all donated and unpredictable, Cussy puts thought into which books to bring to which of her patrons, choosing carefully to find just the right subject matter to help or instruct or distract or inspire her readers. As we meet the people on her route, we see just how heartbreaking their living conditions are, as the poverty-stricken people starve to death before Cussy's eyes, and where the only source of income is the mine company, which controls all aspects of people's lives in the mountains.

Learning about the Blue People of Kentucky is fascinating, as is learning more about the impact of the Depression on an area of the country I really knew very little about. The author does a masterful job of introducing the factual, historical elements in a way that's organic to the story, It never feels like a history lesson; rather, this book feels personal, as if we're being let inside the lives of living, breathing people with a unique story to share.

With its mix of historical interest, the focus on the magic and power of books, and a strong, kind, memorable main character, <em>The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek</em> is a delight to read. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction story set Depression-era Kentucky. Cussy Carter, nicknamed Bluet, is the last living female of the Blue People, a group of related individuals with a rare blood disorder that made their skin blue. Cussy joins the Pack Horse Librarians, taking books and other reading materials to impoverished people in the area. Her route is long and dangerous, but she's committed to improving the lives of those who so desperately need it. Along the way she faces serious discrimination because of her skin color, as well as those who don't trust the government's book program.

There is A LOT of detail in the book, and while I appreciated learning about the Blue People, the setting, and especially the book program, at times I felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information. But, it's clear how much Richardson loved this topic, and I would recommend this book to anyone who loves books and reading and stories about overcoming great hardship. There's also a very sweet love story.

I  received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.


The book is set in the hills of Kentucky in the 1930's. The people are hungry and poverty stricken. The book is inspired by real people and true events. Reading about the blue mountain folk was fascinating.

19 year old Cussy is believed to be the last female of the blue mountain folk. She believes reading books leads to a better community and world. She joins the Kentucky Pack Horse Library program which was established as part of President Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration. These librarians travel by horse, boats, mule and sometimes foot to reach remote areas and homes to bring books in all types of weather conditions.

I really liked Cussy Mary Carters spirit. Some called her Bluet due to her condition as one of the Blue People of Kentucky. She remained strong through her disastrous arranged marriage as well as the prejudice and racism she faced. My heart went out to her many times throughout this book.

I found Cussy such a fascinating character. It was a beautiful and well written book. It was a wonderful tribute to those that understand the beauty and importance of books.

I loved this book from the get-go. It's funny when you move somewhere far away and the difference highlights places of your old home you never noticed before. California to me is so bright, new, and fast-paced. But my home state of Kentucky? The land is old and hard, you can feel its ancientness when you stand in the middle of a meadow and know so many others have walked that same stretch of land. Old Kaintuck. That weight of the land is so perfectly portrayed in this novel. Kentucky is its own character in a way I don't think I could've put into words myself. You just feel it from the page.

The characters you meet throughout the story are so enjoyable and well-developed. Cussy May has to be one of my new favorite protagonists. She's strong and determined but also pretty fragile. She has hopes that are often dashed, she has dreams that she denies herself. And she lives in a state of lifelong fear, that suffocating fear of being different in a land that doesn't tolerate different. She's lived such a separate existence and yet manages to love people and seek to help them. I loved reading about her route, about the lives she changed, and I can't describe to you how insanely angry I got for her throughout this story as others put her down. Nothing is easy for Cussy May in life but she doesn't expect it to be. She's surrounded by an interesting group of side characters though I have to say her father is my favorite of the group.

The prose is well-written without being stuffy. It just feels good to read as you make your way through intriguing dialogue and beautiful passages. I really enjoyed the vernacular and often found myself smiling to read something in a voice that reminds me of my childhood. The ending was superb, absolutely perfect for this story and for Cussy May herself. The story itself is so human, with all the joys and heartbreak that comes along with it, and left me feeling so hopeful. The world is still full of people who hate what is different and it all comes down to one thing: fear. This story highlights how much those people miss out on when they close themselves off and that's an awfully good lesson for the world right now.


Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author Kim Michele Richardson for the opportunity to do so.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is about a young woman, Cussie Mary Carter, also named Bluet, who worked for the Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky, delivering books and other reading materials to people up in the hills and mountains around Troublesome Creek in the 1930s.

Cussie is a special woman - a rare kind - her skin is blue, her blood is like chocolate. She and her father are the last people with this condition, a rare genetic disorder. Her father is a miner and they barely scrape by. The area is quite poor, with many illiterate people and high mortality rates. Cussie is very dedicated and loves her patrons, she loves to facilitate the education of people who otherwise wouldn't have had any opportunities to get reading material. Her kindness and devotion break through some people's prejudices. Of course, that's not always the case and she encounters oppression, derision and abuse on many occasions.

I had never heard of the Blue people of Kentucky, so I appreciated learning about them. The Pack Horse Library project was an amazing outreach initiative, it was great to learn about it.

While these two aspects anchored the novel, there were quite a few issues prevented my full immersion in the story. Cussie is the narrator of this novel. Nothing wrong with it, except that her voice was inconsistent - sometimes the dialogue sounded more authentic, with dialect, especially from people sounding uneducated, as they were supposed to be, but it waned and then came back as if the author suddenly remembered who her characters were so she'd throw in some colloquialisms.

Cussie was too saintly, too perfect. She sounded way too sophisticated for someone so young, who's never been to school. Had the novel been written in the third person, I probably would have been less bothered by some incongruences.

As the story progressed, the middle part was quite repetitive that involved Mary's tracking to her patrons.

The last chapters turn into full-blown soap opera, way too melodramatic for my liking.

In conclusion, this had the makings of a great historical novel, but its incongruences and the melodrama made it just an okay read for me.

I loved learning about the Blues of Kentucky. Cussy Mary was a strong, fiercely independent character who was so beautifully written. She believed in herself, her books, and the work she did bringing books to her community with her trusty Junia. Lots of discussion points as Cussy is once married, manipulated into treatment, and finally finds peace.

...A 2019 FAVORITE!

Thanks to President Roosevelt's NEW DEAL and WPA (Works Progress Administration) program, horse and mule riding librarians took to the remote backroads, more like overgrown trails through the woods and steep mud-packed mountains delivering and talking books. Such hunger for books....and food in the midst of the GREAT depression.

It's 1936 Kentucky when we first meet 19 year old Cussy Mary Carter and her pa who desperately wants to see her hitched and cared for....because he promised her ma....because of his black lung illness from working the mines.

So pa continues to set out the courting candle....to Mary's chagrin, but there ain't many takers even with a dowry of $5 and 10 acres bc Mary is one of the blue people....mistreated, misunderstood and kept at arm's length.

Nicknamed Bluet, Mary loves her freedom and job delivering and reading her books...even teaches some of her patrons to read, those who do not fear her color.

Mary is good people, generous and a fighter, and together with her old grey mule Junia delivers books, recipes, patterns and messages deep into the woods....even as she is being watched and hunted. (good creep factor)

This wonderful work of historical fiction is a page-turner of a story, so interesting and informative, about the tough and dangerous job of the pack horse librarians and blue people of the Appalachians.

Loved this one! Highly Recommend!

***Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark via NetGalley for the complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review***

There were many things that I loved about this book. I adored the well-researched historical narrative to the setting for the story. It was in Depression-era, backwoods Kentucky and the protagonist is a part of a group that carries books to the rural poor of the region to encourage reading. Most of these people are desperately poor and have used the pages of any books that they had to insulate their homes. These women ride on horseback into rural communities to provide this service. This is an interesting piece of history that I did not know. Overall I enjoyed this book, although in general books involving horses are not my thing. This one is worth the read.

#TheBookWomanOfTroublesomeCreek #NetGalley

Books have the power to change lives and nowhere is this more true than the story of 19-year-old Cussy Carter. This is a story of hope and heartbreak and how fierce determination can challenge the grasp of poverty and oppression. I recommend this one on Modern Mrs Darcy's Summer Hot Books list.

Oh this book! It just got me in all the right places! I really struggled to put this down at all -- I wanted to read straight through to see what was going to happen next for Cussy Mary. In this book, Author Kim Michele Richardson paints the most exquisitely detailed picture of what life would have been like during the depression in the Kentucky hills.

I did not love the last 10% or so of the story so that takes a tiny bit off my final score, but I still strongly recommend this read -- it was fascinating and equal parts uplifting and heartbreaking.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with a DRC of this book.

he Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is written based on two historical aspects that happened. I love how Richardson took these two things and wound them together so wonderfully into a story.

A nineteen your old woman, Cussy has become known as Book Woman amongst many on her book delivery route. She has taken it upon herself to risk her life daily to get books and give an education to those not as fortunate. Her father, is not quite happy about this position and wants to find her a dowry so she can be married and have someone take care of her.

However, a dowry is hard to find for Cussy. There are not many bachelor’s left in Troublesome Creek and even though her father is offering a lot more than a normal proposal, many are not accepting after they see Cussy. She has a blue tint to her skin. A coloring unlike anyone other and many in the town fear her. Her father working in the coal mine at night, is often black from the soot so people tend to forget he is a “colored” also. Many fear they will get this disease from Cussy if she gets to close or touches them.

Cussy for the most part has accepted her coloring, even though at times she wishes she could just be white to experience the things the white women get too. Her father finally finds someone who will take his daughter as a wife, however his reasons are only to obtain the land offered as dowry and Cussy soon finds herself being treated as a worthless piece of property and defends herself to him.

Her father and the local doctor come to help her take care of the situation and in return for silence, her father has finally given in and agreed to allow the doctor to observe them and take Cussy to a larger city to get analyzed and blood drawn to find out what is causing this blue skin coloring. The first visit does not go too well and the doctor does feel bad for Cussy and how she was treated, and she uses this to her advantage to get food and other items of need for those on her route.

Cussy cares for those on her book route as they are good family and friends to her, and quite a few understand that she is not diseased but just like them, only with a blue tint to her skin. Cussy does everything she can for her book people until she is asked to do something she would have never thought would be asked of her.

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One of the women on her book route is pregnant and when she happens upon their house, she finds that the husband has hung himself. She goes inside and finds the wife early alive with the baby… she is asked to take the child as her own. The woman knows that Cussy will love it, like it should be loved. But why Cussy…. the baby has a blue tint and her father had this also but kept it well hidden. He could not stand the fact that he had just had a child with his coloring as well.

Her father, now more than ever feels he has to find Cussy a husband to care for her and now an unexpected child. Although he was upset, he soon falls in love with this baby and a most unexpected suitor is found to become Cussy’s husband, and of his own free will. However, some in town are outraged that a white would marry a colored and causes problem because this is illegal in Kentucky… does Cussy get her happy every after?

Thank you to Bookish First for the free ebook arc!

I am astonished by the amount of research authors ferret through for facts to support an idea. In THE BOOKWOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK author Kim Michele Richardson has created a story enriched by the slightly altered – literary license and all – to provide the reader with an extraordinary look into a harsh time in our history. There are many parts of American history and folklore that give you pause and this is definitely the case in THE BOOKWOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK. Kim Michele Richardson did a masterful job of recreating situations that abounded in the early 1900’s and although we might profess to be shocked there is the unspoken truth that many of these actions were all too frequent. And if we were completely honest with ourselves it is a testimony to how many times civilized society was anything but.
How many times can people excuse their violent and hurtful actions. In THE BOOKWOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK Kim Michele Richardson valiantly tries to explain some of these horrid actions as a result of misinformation or religious fears. Nonsense. People don’t always need a reason to be horrible. Indeed for some it is just their nature. For some it’s fear of the unknown. For some it’s some deep seated generations’ long hatred. For some it’s just plain meanness.
In THE BOOKWOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK Cussy Mary daily runs across all these types. Cussy Mary’s love of books instilled by her deceased mother and encouraged by her coal miner father has led to the one job that gives her otherwise dismal life a purpose and joy. She loves this job that requires arduous, at times dangerous travel through the Troublesome community of hill dwellings to reach her library patrons. Time are hard and none more difficult than for the poor souls depending on the dying existence of the coal mines. They face danger at the job, hunger and disease at home. And yet they plug on. And this is the story of Cussy Mary Carter, her father and friends.
Cussy Mary is the last of her kind. She is a colored woman. Her skin is blue, her blood is brown. Her family discriminated against her entire life. Somehow, probably because she is intelligent and well read, Cussy Mary finds joys in bringing books to her hill neighbors. Some receptive – others not so. Somehow this strange young woman manages to bridge the gap with her loving and caring manner. But unfortunately not everyone is open to her personal touch and manner. They are just too prejudice, too racist.
As the story progresses in THE BOOKWOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK we are exposed to the harsh realities. It is often a life and death struggle to survive. Hunger is rampant. Food is scarce and what these folk survive on can barely be considered sustenance. Cussy Mary’s library patrons live in awful hobbles most have no real household supplies much less food. Those that actually allow Cussy Mary on their property have become dependent on her monthly visits with books, periodicals, out of date newspapers and such. Many do not read and treasure Cussy Mary’s gift of reading to them. Surprisingly there are some that have learned how to read. But so many are frightened by these books.
And of course there are those that wouldn’t hesitate to bring harm to this young woman.
So in THE BOOKWOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK we get to know these Kentucky mountain folk quite well through the eyes of their blue woman. Our reception to these people is not always kind. But neither are they. And that is the historical basis of this book. Again brilliantly conceived by Kim Michele Richardson.

This one is definitely making my list of favorites for this year! I had no idea about the Fugates of Kentucky or the Pack Horse Librarians. I love it when reading opens my eyes to new information.

Kentucky is a state that has had its share of struggles and the author presents readers with life in Appalachia during the years of some of the most desperate times for the folks living in the hills. Set during the depression years, Cussy Mary’s father is a miner who is suffering from black lung. The conditions in the mines were awful and it created quite a bit of conflict in the mining communities. In addition to that, people were without jobs due to the depression, causing many families to go hungry.

Cussy Mary was fortunate to have her job as a Pack Horse Librarian. She loved her job and had a caring way with the people on her route. Yet, she was an outcast in the community because of a genetic condition that turned her skin blue. The hill folks on her route didn’t seem bothered by her color. They loved to see her coming with some new books and often gave her small gifts or mementos.

I enjoyed following along as she delivered books on her route, interacted with the people along the way and nurtured her relationships with those she loved and cared about. She had a very hard life, but a joyful, giving soul in spite of it.

I think the author did a wonderful job in presenting the story and look forward to reading more of her work. I think all book lovers will enjoy reading this one. It’s full of interesting Kentucky history which will appeal to historical fiction and history readers as well.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

I absolutely loved this story about a “blue” woman who works as a librarian on horseback in the mountainous “hollers” of Kentucky. Cussy Mary’s vocation is to bring literacy to the people of her area and the fact that she is shunned for being “blue” won’t stop her. I loved the voice of this character and found the storyline intriguing and interesting. I did wonder why the author chose the blue storyline and then discovered that it is based in fact — there was a succession of Kentuckians who shared a recessive gene that led to unoxygenated blood, which makes the skin appear blue. Interesting!

Highly recommended! Thanks for my e-copy to review!

Title: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

Author: Kim Michele Richardson

Chapters: 47

Pages: 308

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 5 stars

This book had me hooked as soon as I heard what it was about, librarians pack horse librarians at that, and the people of Eastern Kentucky. A group of people hit hard by the Great Depression. Cussy Carter one of the pack horse librarians are different that the rest of the people in her community, she's one of the blue people of Kentucky. But to the people on her route she is the one bright spot in their week, the book woman.

I love just about any historical fiction novel set in Kentucky, I love reading about my home state in the pages of a book. As well as learning about its history in any form. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson is full of rich detail both of setting and historical detail. The characters are easy to relate to. Though some you just know from the beginning that you are going to hate. Though other characters you’re going to laugh with, cry with and rejoice with. Have tissues handy.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, Kentucky settings, and libraries and librarians. There is some language in this book. Though most seems to come from one character as well as some scenes of abuse and hate.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone

I received an ARC of this one from Netgalley but it's long since out and I am just catching up. I think I'd best describe this as a slice of life about a Pack Horse Librarian in 1930's era Kentucky Mountains.

So it's not the easiest of lives nor is her mission to deliver books to her patrons deep in the exceedingly poor mountain areas.

Also, she's blue.

When I requested this it was the books that immediately interested me. To be honest I didn't even know the blueness was an actual condition.I hadn't heard of the Pack Horse Librarians either- so learned a couple of new things with this read!

Question if the girl on the cover had blue hands and arms would that make you more likely to pick up the book? I think it would have been more eye-catching to me. Also it kind of threw me off when I first realized she was blue I looked back like... eh, where?

Anyway we follow Cussy along as she tries to care for her miner father and her patrons. It's not the easiest read as there are starving children to deal with, rape, assault, suicide and racism is rampant.

But I think maybe it was a little too life like in that it meanders a bit and I could never quiet engage with Cussy's story. There's good scenes murder, blackmail and probably more death any one should see but we move so fast it feels like oh just another day. Nothing really sticks to have meaning. Cussy is wildly noble and exceedingly put upon which also gets a bit tiring as a reader.

The medical tests are interesting but they just trail off. There's a big showdown at the end that could have lead to something but we just jump ahead and nothing happens there either. Perhaps the idea is very life like but doesn't make for an intriguing read. That's the best way I can describe it when I was reading it the book was fine but when I wasn't I didn't have any real desire to pick it back up. It took me almost a month to finish and it really shouldn't have.

I did like the power of reading element. That Cussy knew the joy that the books and magazines brought to people's lives so she kept up her route despite the racism and danger to herself.

The important power of stories indeed.

Recommend: 50-50. Mostly it wasn't for me. If you do decide to read keep in mind the trigger warnings for rape and assault.

My thoughts
Plot and Narrative
A historical tale told in the innocent yet deep voice of the Book Woman, touches the humanity in your soul. The depth of the topic and the era it was set in makes it an interesting read by default. Cussy Mary's voice brought the story to life and you genuinely feel her joy, sorrow, pain and anger.
This is a bold story which didn't shy away from the ugliness that exists among folks who are suffering and also the ones who are set in their own hard always. It gives you insight about a culture and people in the form of a thought provoking fiction.

Characters and Conflict
While the Book Woman was the anchor to the story and indeed a lively narrator of the story itself, the book had different characters who had their own arcs in the story. Some which made you smile and some that wet your eyes. The presence of a strong plot definitely helped shape these characters but each one of them were memorable enough and had their own place in the book.

Cussy herself had a journey of her own. It was one thing to be let down by others but the biggest challenge could be the self doubts. And yet the desire to survive is what keeps the strongest going, just like the old mule Junia.
The little bit of romance was soothing and grounded to reality.

Conclusion
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a heart-felt read. It is an empowering book and a reminder of how far we have come as human beings, yet how far we need to go, in order to embrace everyone alike and be that brave new world. This is a tale of compassion and inclusion, or rather, the want for it among people.

I received an advanced reading copy of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book combines two very little known topics, the Pack Horse Library Project and the Blue-skinned people of Kentucky. Richardson deftly represents the culture of Kentucky and the back woods of the Appalachia mountain area. She provides vivid details of the treacherous work of the coal miners, the hard scrapple lives of those trying to survive on small farms in the mountains, and those who struggled with segregation. Her use of native dialect provides authenticity to her research and writing. Overall a compelling read

I had anticipated some "darkness" to be part of the Book Woman's journey. I understood the scene being set about the poverty of the area and the lack of women's rights with the abusive marriage and the hunting of Cussy by the preacher...but the medical examination scene at the book's midpoint was truly horrific and caused me to stop reading.