The Coal Miner's Daughter Is Blue: Book Review of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

 

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

Description

In The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson, Cussy is a proud book woman–a packhorse librarian employed by the federal government during the Great Depression to deliver reading materials to people who would not usually have access to books due to their remote locations. She travels her route through rural Kentucky on her trusty mule and brings books, pamphlets, and scrapbooks she makes filled with interesting articles, cleaning tips, and local knowledge, such as how to divine a well or crochet patterns. While her patrons live in poverty and many are starving, Cussy believes that the service brings them comfort and fulfills a different kind of hunger.

Before her position as a packhorse librarian, Cussy found it even more difficult to fit in—she has blue skin, a real condition that a Kentucky family lived with. Many people treat Cussy as though she is repulsive and making a match has proven quite difficult. It has also encouraged creepers to hunt and threaten her. But on her librarian route, most are grateful, even elated, to see her.

Two main themes of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek are prejudice and poverty. Cussy suffers at the hand of both. Her father is a coal miner, which is difficult and dangerous work as well as paying below subsistence living.

Would I Teach This Book?

Would I teach The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek? This book gives an interesting snapshot of rural America during the Great Depression. It is fascinating to learn about the packhorse librarian program begun by the WPA. The genetic condition of the people whose skin appears blue added another level to the story. Ultimately, though, the book seems to rely more on historical aspects than creating a character with significant depth. Cussy is lovable—and, as a reader, it is easy to cheer her on—but she is far from being one of the great characters of literature.

It is unlikely that I would teach The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, though I do think there is plenty for a book club to discuss.

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