The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek - Kim Michele Richardson - A Short Summary & Review
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek - Kim Michele Richardson - A Short Summary & Review
By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures
A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review
A short summary:
Set in the rugged hills of Eastern Kentucky during the 1930s, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek follows Cussy Mary Carter, a packhorse librarian delivering books to remote Appalachian families as part of the New Deal’s library program. Marked by her rare blue skin, a result of a genetic condition, Cussy faces suspicion, cruelty, and isolation wherever she goes.
As she navigates dangerous terrain and deep poverty, Cussy’s determination to bring books and dignity to her community becomes an act of quiet defiance. Through her work, she builds fragile connections with people who are themselves forgotten, revealing the transformative power of literacy, persistence, and human compassion in a place starved of resources.
My favorite quote from the book:
Questions to ponder while reading:
My review:
This novel offers a fresh, deeply affecting lens on an old, stubborn hatred. By centering the story on the Blue People of Kentucky, Richardson exposes how fear of difference compounds already devastating poverty, and how prejudice thrives where education and opportunity are scarce.
The depiction of Appalachian hardship is heart-wrenching without becoming exploitative. Hunger, illness, and neglect are constant forces, and the lack of institutional support feels as crushing as the mountains themselves. What makes the story bearable and compelling is Cussy’s resilience and sense of purpose. Her role as a pack librarian is not symbolic; it is practical, necessary, and quietly revolutionary.
The book is both informative and absorbing, weaving historical context seamlessly into the narrative. It’s difficult to put down not because it is sensational, but because it insists on being witnessed.
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a moving reminder that access to books, to knowledge, to empathy, can be an act of survival.
_____________________________________________________________________________
About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
✨ #TakeTheBackRoads
Enjoyed this post? Support the adventure by visiting my sponsors, shopping the gallery, or buying me a cup of coffee!
