The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
Reviewed by: Becky Houghton, Reference Assistant
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Suggested Age: Adults and Teens
What is This Book About?: During the Depression years in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, the WPA Packhorse Librarians delivered books by horseback to remote cabins and homes throughout the region. This book is a fictionalized account of the courageous women who defied convention and rode horses and mules to deliver library materials to the residents of this remote countryside. Margery O’Hare, Alice Van Cleave, Beth Pinker, Izzy Brady, and Sophia Robinson are the librarians who brave all weather conditions, dangers and challenges to help spread literacy throughout the mountains. Intertwined are the stories of the personal lives, romances and other events experienced by these brave, trendsetting women.
My Review: I had not heard of the Packhorse Librarians of the WPA era until I saw a review of this book. I choose to read it because, as a librarian, I was intrigued by this early, innovative version of the bookmobile. The book was an enjoyable read. Alice Wright of England marries Bennett Van Cleave and moves to America unaware that she will be living in a small Kentucky town in the Appalachians in a home that is maintained as a shrine to her late mother-in-law by her father-in-law, Geoffrey who also lives with them. Geoffrey runs a mining operation and employs most of the local residents. Alice chooses to help Margery O’Hare, a bootlegger’s daughter, and begins delivering books to escape the oppressive atmosphere at home. The five librarians develop a camaraderie and friendship that can only be achieved through the sharing of trials, difficulties and triumphs. Jojo Moyes is an outstanding storyteller and this book makes the historical events on which it is based come to life through her excellent characterizations and narrative.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Enthralling, Funny, Heartbreaking
Give This a Try if You Like: Me Before You, After You, and the Lonesome Dove series by Larry McMurtry
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
