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jedore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
“Their hunger for books could teach them of a better life free of the hunger, but without food they'd never live long enough or have the strength to find it.”
This is a moving and educational work of historical fiction set in 1930s Kentucky. The story follows Cussy Mary Carter, one of the last living “blue people” of Kentucky and a dedicated packhorse librarian. As part of the WPA’s Packhorse Library Project, launched under FDR’s New Deal, Cussy rides through the rugged Appalachian terrain to deliver books and hope to impoverished families. Cussy faces prejudice due to her unusual blue-tinged skin (she's actually considered to be "colored" like her black neighbors) and her role as a working woman; her resilience and love for books help her to keep forging connections and transforming lives in her community.
Kim Michele Richardson, a Kentucky native, is deeply connected to the region she writes about. She is also the author of a memoir, The Unbreakable Child, which explores her own experiences of abuse in a Catholic orphanage. Her personal history and love for her home state infuse her writing with authenticity and compassion.
This book introduced me to two fascinating pieces of history I previously knew nothing about:
1. The Packhorse Librarians: This program was part of FDR’s New Deal during the Great Depression and aimed to increase literacy in remote regions while giving people in need work so they could survive. The mostly female packhorse librarians rode miles on horseback, often through treacherous conditions, to bring books and education to families in rural areas who had little to no access to them otherwise.
2. The Blue People of Kentucky: Cussy Mary is based on a real genetic condition known as methemoglobinemia, which caused the skin of some families in Kentucky to appear blue. The condition, though harmless, made them the subject of ridicule and discrimination.
While the plot was somewhat formulaic, I still enjoyed this book. The details about the packhorse librarians and the struggles of the blue-skinned people brought a new perspective on resilience, prejudice, and the transformative power of books.
If you’re looking for a story that combines history, heart, and a unique heroine, this one is well worth your time!
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Medical content
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual violence
Minor: Stalking
lillian_hallelujah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Classism
shh_reading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
chocolatechump's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
khaben31's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
finessa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying, Vomit, and Stalking
giraffefightinggravity's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Hate crime, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, and Murder
Minor: Forced institutionalization
anenome's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The book is very informative, I learnt so much about the Pack Horse Library and blue people.
So many traumatic things happen at breakneck speed, it's incredibly emotionally affecting.
The audiobook narrator Katie Schoor was outstanding.
The writing style isn't very poetic and feels unsophisticated, it makes sense because the story is told in Cussy Mary's voice but it sometimes grated.
The plot is repetitive;
There was some oppression olympics saying anti-blue sentiment was worse than racism which was really unnecessary.
I would recommend this book as I learnt a lot from it and I enjoyed the rollercoaster of emotions it put me through.
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
justmys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, Incest, and Excrement
dblue236's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was one of the best books I've read so far this year, for a number of reasons. I loved the setting and the beautiful descriptions of the time frame and rural Kentucky. The characters were well rounded and felt real, and the historical aspect of it that was clearly very thoroughly researched really added depth to the story. This was the first book I've read by this author, and if it was any indication, I definitely need to seek out more of her work. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Incest, Miscarriage, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail