The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is set in the 1930's with Cussy Mary, one of the mountain folk of Kentucky. She is one of the last blue people, medically known as methemoglobinemia. Cussy is a Book Woman with the Pack Horse Library project in order to deliver books in a time where everything is scarce. Going into this novel, I knew nothing of this condition and had to look it up in the early parts of the book because I didn't understand why she was blue.

This novel is a five star read. I loved absolutely everything about it. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Kim Michele Richardson and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy. This has to be one of the best novels I have ever read for the genre.

"If only they could send a block of cheese with every book, a loaf of bread,"sighs Winnie the school teacher, who has a classroom of poverty stricken starving pupils many who will die from developing pellagra rash. Bringing hope through books (and often sacrificing her own welfare) and secret food sacks is Cussy Mary Carter who works as part of Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project. Her own route is around the town of Troublesome Creek and through the forests to the mountains and rural wilderness and desperate poverty again of families.
But Cussy is not just a librarian, she is one of a small group of Bluets - blue skinned people - who are labelled as 'coloreds' and treated with just the same hostiltiy and prejudice as others such as her wonderful co-worker, the ambitious and outspoken Queenie. Cussy's father (Pa) is a hardworking coal miner, trying to scrape an existence for him and his daughter after the death of his wife and worried that instead of this scheme helping his daughter, it is hindering her prospects of marriage.
When Pa arranges a courtship and marriage for Cussy with the fat, frightening old man Frazier, her life is turned upside down for the Fraziers' (including his Preacher brother Pastor Vesty Frazier) are not in the mindset to be charitable or caring. But still her need to share books continues taking her route with faithful mule Junia.
The author describes wonderfully the Kentucky landscape and it also often hard to believe we are in 1936 with the backdrop of harsh life, poverty stricken and deathly work and little or no literacy amongst many people. The novel is a story of raw courage, fierce strength not just of Cussy but of other characters thorugh medicine, engineering and education to advance this little world and save future generations. Above all the descriptions of the children Cussy shares her books with are the most heart rendering, especially when they sweep out of their classroom to meet the weekly Book Woman.
Learning about the lives of the Pack Horse Service Librarians and the Kentucky blue people who would have to wait for many decades to overcome their inherited division from society are two riveting plots that move the whole story along. The author uses some great time related references such as the links with the outside world (Sears Radio) and the books that are circulating at the time and inspire both Cussy and those she shares them with..
Excellent read and so informative. None of the research however took away from the wonderful characters and the realistic atmosphere being developed about Cussy and those within her small Kentucky community.

This book didn't work for me, but it might for others...

As a Kentuckian, this should have been the PERFECT book for me. But it wasn't. The story itself was a solid foundation, but the dialect killed me. Much the same as in Where The Crawdads Sing, the author tried so hard to emphasize the Appalachian dialect and pronunciation in the text that it was distracting. There were also several plot devices that I found a bit too melodramatic for my taste.

I do think this book had several strengths - the protagonist is passionate and relatable, her background and experiences with the Pack Horse Library Project felt authentic and engaging. The pacing and story were strong, and I really enjoyed the setting - Richardson's writing can be very atmospheric.

This one ultimately didn't work for me, but maybe it will for you! I'd give it a shot if you love southern fiction, beautiful settings, Appalachian history, or historical fiction with underpinnings in reality.

I loved this fascinating slice of historical fiction set in depression era Kentucky. It cleverly combines the stories of the Pack Horse Library project with that of the "blue people" known to have lived in the area at that time. Although the history behind the story is real, the story itself is a work of fiction, and I recommend that readers check out the author's notes at the end for more information.
Cussy Carter is 19, and the last of her family of blue skinned folk. Her miner father is determined to marry her off, but this is a difficult prospect as the local people look down on her blue skin, treating her as " colored" at a time when bigotry and ignorance was rampant. Cussy does not want to marry, especially since it would mean giving up her beloved job as a mobile librarian. She truly loves bringing the joy of books and reading to the poorest of people living in the most remote parts of the mountain, but will have to give it all up if she marries. As if that was not enough, a local preacher seems determined to bring her to his version of God by any means necessary, including violence if that is what it takes.
This book is beautiful, heartbreaking and emotional and I could not put it down. The bleakness, wild beauty and poverty of the time and place is vividly brought to life on the page, but so too is the strength and determination of Cussy in her mission to bring comfort and joy to those who have nothing, and to take them away from the harshness of their daily reality for even a brief moment. I had never heard of the Blue People of Kentucky before reading this book, but I found their story fascinating, and I loved that the author had given a voice to this unfortunate group.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher ,all opinions are my own.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a must read book for the year. This turned out to be a fantastic book and I loved everything about it. I can't wait to read more from this author.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is about Cussy Mary, or Bluet, as she's know locally. She is a Book Woman, a librarian who delivers books on a horse/donkey/mule in Kentucky. Cussy Mary is one of the blue people of Eastern Kentucky.

I was so interested to read a fictionalized version of the Blue Fugates of Kentucky, and I loved that it brought the WPA's mobile library service into the story. This was a fascinating story about being different and treated as less than your peers.

5 fantastic blue stars to “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek”

Every once in a while, a book turns out to be an amazing surprise, not much hype yet, but something about it draws you in. This is the case with this book. I found it very intriguing to read about women (mostly) who would take books to isolated folks in Kentucky and other rural spots via horseback. Imagine my surprise when the main character is described as having blue skin – I had to rethink the genre of this book, was this science fiction? No, it turns out that there were some people in Kentucky with this very condition. The first surprise of this book!

I loved Cussy Blue, the amazing Appalachian woman in this story. Extremely poor, she still gave away food and medicine to others rather than keep it for herself. So giving of her time to read to folks and select books and magazine that they would want to read. Braving treacherous paths to get to her patrons as a Pack Horse Librarian. The discrimination she faced was difficult to read at times, but somehow, she overcomes all of that to be a generous person and beloved to many in the community.

She is faced with an option to “cure” her condition and there are some very interesting interactions with this – does her appearance change who she really is at heart? Will others see her differently?

This book demanded my attention and I highly recommend it to everyone! This was my first read by this author, but it won’t be my last! She has such an authentic writing style, I felt I was there with Cussy and the townspeople. Many of the townspeople hang on to old superstition and dangerous religious beliefs.

Thanks to SourceBooks Landmark, Netgalley, and the author Kim Michelle Richardson for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*my GoodReads review will be updated once this book releases

Truthfully, I was unprepared for how much I enjoyed this book. Not only was it excellent historical fiction that taught me about a place and experience I was unfamiliar with, but it was also a powerful tribute to the impact reading can have on lives. Cussy Mary is one of the traveling "book women", delivering reading material in rural Kentucky. She's also one of the last "blue people" of the area, a genetic trait that is misunderstood and feared, leaving her pretty isolated and often having to fear for her safety. However, her passion for her job comes through. This book shows the deep roots of social justice work in librarianship- despite her own hard circumstances, Cussy Mary works as hard as she can not just to bring literacy to those on her route, but also strives to find ways to help with the other issues in their lives. Leading to an astounding ending, Cussy Mary's story was fascinating and powerful.

This is an excellent book club read! I had no idea about the Blues of Kentucky. I enjoyed it very much.

One of my favorite reads this year! Cussy Mary Carter will ride her mule Junia right into your heart. She is one of the blue-skinned people of Kentucky (later found to have a congenital condition called methemoglobinemia) and a Pack Horse librarian for the WPA. The year is 1936 and the folks in the hollers near Troublesome Creek are suffering. Cussy takes pride in her role as a provider of books and other written materials for the patrons on her route despite the prevailing prejudice concerning her skin condition. The Blues rank below the Negroes in the economy of people in these parts. This story will remind you of the power of books and introduce you to the scrappy Book Women who enlightened the lives of the people in Appalachia. Reminded my of the classic book "Christy" and would make a fantastic book group read.

A big thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fairly engrossing read. Enjoyed learning about the disorder Cussy Mary had which turned her skin blue. In the afterword the author mentions the real blue people of Kentucky, which I had already known about, but there wasn't any mention of them actually enduring racism due to their blue color or if there was then I missed the reference.

I think I'd have given a higher rating if it weren't for the ending. Honestly I felt the ending to be too abrupt and somewhat unfinished. The whole book went very slow at a nice leisurely pace then sped up at the end with time jumps and major plot points, not a fan of that.

Guess I wish this book had been more about Cussy's life as a book woman vs her medical disorder.

Junia was a highlight.

This is a fascinating historical novel that sheds light on two ideas – the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project and the real blue-skinned people of Kentucky. 19-year-old Cussy Carter is a “Blue” and a “book woman.” She and her father, a coal miner, eke out a subsistence in the face of horrible racism and poverty, as “Blues” are considered lower than Negroes in 1930s Kentucky society. In spite of everything, Cussy is dedicated to her job – riding many miles on her ornery mule to provide reading, educational, and informational materials to her patrons who live deep in the hills. She provides not only old books, but also magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, and home-made “scrapbooks” that contain recipes and farming tips. During her weekly visits, Cussy often reads to people, and brings medicine and food, when she can find them.

The poverty is difficult to read about, as are the horrible wrongs brought on Cussy. But ultimately, reading the novel is uplifting and positive, as it is a true testament to the power of books and reading material. Cussy is a shining example of all the librarians and library workers, past and present, who provide materials to those who want them. I don’t think I will ever take a new book for granted again!

I love historical fiction that makes me want to research a subject and this book did just that. Set in Kentucky during the Depression, it covers both the Pack Horse Library Project and a rare congenital disease first discovered in the hills and hollows of Kentucky. Cussy Mary is a heroine who has been continually beaten down but manages to keep hope for a better life alive.

This was an interesting read. Overall, I did enjoy it, it just didn’t suck me in. The storyline was intriguing.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I love bookish books and I was intrigued by this story as soon as I first read the blurb. What makes this historical fiction story set in 1936 Kentucky so fascinating is that it's based on true events. Both the Kentucky Pack Horse Librarians and the blue-skinned people of Kentucky have existed and it's fascinating to learn more about them. The Book Woman Of Troublesome Creek is well researched and gives you a lot of details about the Pack Horse Librarians, created after the Roosevelt's New Deal Acts. It also gives you insight in the condition of the blue-skinned people of Kentucky, and while some aspects have been altered (dates of the medical research for example), it gives you a general idea of the phenomenon. This story is also about race problematics and racism; the mountain folk discriminating all non-white inhabitants without exception. While it took me a considerably long time to warm up to the writing style, once I finally did I finished the story in one sitting. The driving force behind this story is Cussy Mary, a character that will win over your heart and one that will probably stay with me for a long time. She is what you call a flawed character, but the good parts of her personality really shine through and I loved reading about her, her job and her patrons. A little warning: some scenes are a bit graphic and there are definitely a few devastating and heartbreaking moments included especially in the second half. Make sure to have your tissues close just in case! I personally found The Book Woman Of Troublesome Creek a fascinating story and while it had a slow start for me, I soon found myself I couldn't stop reading.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek was a historical fiction gem! Combining the blue people of Kentucky, a group of people who had a skin disease called methemoglobinemia (I actually googled that and it was a thing! Who knew?,) and the Pack Horse Library Project, a part of FDR’s Works Progress Administration (WPA), I learned so much about about parts of history I never knew existed. Cussy Mary, also known as Bluet or Book Woman, is the daughter of a miner. The last of the Blues (or so she’s been told), she lives a life of isolation and suffers from shame and prejudice by those in her Appalachian community, Bluet delivers books, though, and as the Book Woman is able to establish relationships with those patrons on her route. This is a love story: a love of books, a love for community, a love for family, and also a special love Bluet discovers with Jackson Lovett. This story takes a minute to get into, but once in you fall hard, or at least I did. I truly enjoyed The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and highly recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced e-book! #netgalley #thebookwomanoftroublesomecreek

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson is a historical novel of Appalachia specifically Kentucky during the depression era. I believe this is an important book because of the historical details and research.
There are so many aspects of this book that make it special to me. Kentucky is home and has been my family’s home since before the American Revolution. This book appealed to me because of the pack horse librarian and medical elements as many family members have been in education and the medical field.
I first heard of Troublesome Creek, Kentucky from my mother and the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Hindman Settlement School of Troublesome Creek still exists today as an NSDAR approved and supported school. It has been exciting to read and learn more about the people of this area.
I recommend all of Ms. Richardson’s books but this one is exceptional and opened my eyes to new historical facts about Kentucky. I hope in the future that there may be a new historical book from this author about the frontier nurses of Kentucky.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this excellent book.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this ebook for review. The opinions given are entirely my own. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek focuses on the "Blue" people of Kentucky in the 1930's. Yes, there really are blue skinned people. It is a genetic abnormality that causes the blue tinge to their skin. In this book, Cussy, a young girl of 19 has joined the pack library in which she rides her mule into the mountains to deliver books from the library to the people who otherwise would not have the opportunity. The book focuses on her life and the hard times and the prejudices that ran rampant during the late 30's and early 40's, particularly in this region. The book's premise was so interesting to me and I feel like I learned a lot about this culture. I even took a break from the book to do some research on the topic. In case you are wondering, the condition is called methemoglobinemia, which causes methemoglobin levels in the red blood cells to rise above 1 percent, which turns the skin blue, the lips purplish, and the blood a chocolate brown. Fascinating! But, back to the review: I absolutely loved Cussy. She had such a big heart and was such an endearing character. The book, however, was told using the language/dialect spoken by the people of Kentucky during that time period and was quite distracting at times (at least it was to me). It took me quite a while to get into the groove of the story. The book has some difficult topics (abuse, rape, prejudice), but all in all was a heartwarming story of Cussy and the people she met in her young life as she tried to find her place in the world.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance read in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book. The author calls it a footnote to history and one I had never heard before so I found this extremely fascinating. From the rare blood disorder to the pack horse librarians, I drank this story up as quickly as I could.

This book takes place in the late 30’s in the mountains of Kentucky. The main character is a pack mule librarian bring books into the poor and remote areas of the mountains. She also happens to be a woman of color - her skin is blue. The story shows us her struggles and triumphs. It shows us family - blood and neighborhood. It shows us how ignorance is bitter and cruel and acceptance is light and beautiful.

A beautifully crafted historical fiction novel that delivers history lessons on steroids. The author delivers us into the Great Depression where we find ourselves front and center with people dying from starvation. We are introduced to specifics about FDR’s New Deal. We see the results of his programs and how they packed a significant punch in the rebuilding of America.

I had no previous knowledge of the blue people of Troublesome Creek, Kentucky or their affliction. I must admit at the beginning of this novel I was confused about their color, where they white, black, blue?? What...the ...WHAT?? I had to look up the blue people of Troublesome Creek to educate myself and relieve some of my confusion. The author jumps right in assuming we know or I guess figures we will eventually figure it out. I remained clueless until I Googled it. If I had any criticism at all, it would be that it would have been nice to get a preface on the affliction of the blue people.

This story centers around the traveling library program created by FDR to bring books to remote areas in the Appalachia’s where people were starved for both food and knowledge. The terrain was difficult and remote. The book women we’re hired to bring used cast off books to the people by horse, boat, on foot. Bluet or Cussy our protagonist is one of these hired book women who is fiercely dedicated to delivering reading materials to her customers. At a time of great loss, her visits were a single glimmer of light for many. She suffers many prejudices because of her unique color but carries on with grace and unconditional kindness,

The magnitude of research that went into this novel is staggering. I get so much satisfaction when I read a book and am enlightened on subjects I had no previous knowledge of. This novel had my cup full.

Heartwarming while simultaneously heartbreaking. Superbly written with strong characters. This one is a solid 5 stars.