A traveling librarian ventures into the mining towns of Kentucky on horseback—and learns to trust the One who truly pens her story—in this powerful novel from the best-selling author of A Silken Thread. During the Great Depression, city-dweller Addie Cowherd dreams of becoming a novelist and offering readers the escape that books had given her during her tragic childhood. When her father loses … When her father loses his job, she is forced to take the only employment she can find—delivering books on horseback to poor coal-mining families in the hills of Kentucky.
But turning a new page will be nearly impossible in Boone’s Hollow, where residents are steeped in superstitions and deeply suspicious of outsiders. Even local Emmett Tharp feels the sting of rejection after returning to the tiny mountain hamlet as the first in his family to graduate college. And as the crippled economy leaves many men jobless, he fears his degree won’t be worth much in a place where most men either work the coal mine or run moonshine.
As Addie also struggles to find her place, she’ll unearth the truth about a decades-old rivalry. But when someone sets out to sabotage the town’s library program, will the culprit chase Addie away or straight into the arms of the only person who can help her put a broken community back together?
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The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a beautifully written historical novel. The author captured the time-period and locale. I felt that the author transported me into the hills of Kentucky where working in the coal mines was the main occupation. There are some great characters in this story. Addie Cowherd was fortunate when she was adopted by Fern and Penrose Cowherd. They raised her to be resilient and to rely on God. Emmett Tharp is proud to have completed high school and college. He is a hard worker and a gentleman. Nanny Fay was my favorite character. She had such a cheery attitude despite how she is treated and the hardships she endures. Nanny Fay was a woman of strong faith. It was fascinating learning about the Kentucky Pack Horse Project. Eleanor Roosevelt wanted to feed people minds. Women worked long hours transporting reading materials by horseback or mule to remote farms. The point-of-view switches between Addie, Emmett, Nanny Fay, and Bettina (a horseback librarian from Boone’s Hollow). The author captured the mountain vernacular spoken by Bettina and the other mountain folk. I like how the Christian message was present through the whole book. It is wonderful that we are reminded to be kind to others and despite how one may be treated to “kill them with kindness” (a phrase my mother used with me when I was growing up). I also liked the Scripture passages used in the book that supported the various messages. The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow was a joy to read. There are references to physical abuse in the story which, unfortunately, was common. I like that the romance was not at the forefront. Some wonderful classic books are mentioned in the story. My favorite phrase came from Addie who loved books and said, “nothing more magical or as satisfying as a book.” If you like to read Christian historical novels, then you should read The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow. The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow is a special Christian tale with beloved books, a stubborn steed, a persistent person, a missing manuscript, surprising superstitions, and a gracious God.
I’ve been caught in the Great Depression lately, and oh the stories that time period can tell! Addie Cowherd has been enjoying her comfortable life with her adoptive parents when the world comes crashing down around her, and she’s forced to abandon her college degree. Thankfully fate smiles on her, and she sets off to earn a wage as a packhorse librarian with the WPA. Meanwhile, Emmett Tharp has no choice but to return to his hometown after graduation, and a wondrous series of events puts them in the same place at the same time. Their friendship develops, and Addie begins to settle in, becoming acquainted with the folks in Boone’s Hollow like Nanny Fay, Bettina, and more than a few shotguns and snubs from the folks on her route. Addie seemed a little too perfect to me, and I wish that the romance between she and Emmett had been a little more fleshed out, but I loved the little bit of mystery and the beautiful relationships demonstrated in the story, as well as the strong faith element. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a review.
I feel in love with every character, I felt as if they had become close friends. This is a story that fills your heart and soul. I absolutely consumed with this story and could not shake it from my thoughts after the last page. A story steeped in hard times but how love and Gods promises bring about big gifts. I felt the author did such a fantastic job of showing how God brings beauty out of ashes. My emotions were on a journey that had hills and valleys but in the end left me with nothing but smiles and a joyful feeling of love in my heart for this book! This is sure to be number one on the Christian fiction best sellers list.
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow is a fascinating look at the Great Depression and the packhorse librarians employed by the government during that time to remote regions of the Appalachian Mountains. Addie Cowherd had hopes of being a college graduate, but the economic difficulties mean she must quit and find a way to support herself. Through a connection with the local library, she acquires a job as a packhorse librarian, traveling to Boone’s Hollow, where she is most decidedly treated as an outsider by the majority of the townspeople. However, she is not without friends – Emmett Tharp moves back home to Boone’s Hollow after graduating from college, with hopes of finding a job closer to home, while Nanny Fay provides Addie with not only a place to stay, but a home away from home.
I appreciated the strong faith message in this novel, primarily to trust God no matter what circumstances life is bringing your way. Addie endears herself to the reader by being able to accept changes with grace, while also being a bit bewildered by her new surroundings and receiving treatment from others that she’s not used to receiving, while Nanny Fay reacts to even the smallest blessing with gratitude and warmth. Emmett attempts reconciliation, as he clashes with his father over what he feels he is called to do with his life. Throughout the story, Sawyer does well to highlight prejudices and ways of life that were realistic to the time, though heartbreaking and off-putting to the modern day reader. There is a slight thread of romance that is very light, but does have a happily ever after in the end.
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to post a positive review, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
I’m going to cut to the chase. Get this book. I read it in two sittings, only because I had to go to work. I was captivated from the first word.
Based on true events, author Kim Vogel Sawyer writes a fascinating story about traveling librarians in the hills of Kentucky, and the WPA program. That alone is interesting enough for those who enjoy history. But she created incredible characters with trials and tribulations, superstitions and celebrations. And does it in such a way that I wanted to pack my backs and head for the hills.
The descriptions in the story are incredible. You’ll learn about the living conditions, the terrain, and so much more. I promise you’ll feel placed right in Boone’s Hollow. To see the grit and fortitude that people had to have to live there will make you thankful for what you have.
If you enjoy Christian historical fiction with a light romance then run and get a copy of The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Appalachian Library During The Great Depression
This novel takes place in the mountains of Kentucky during The Great Depression. The story is mostly looking at the hard lives of the Hill people through the eyes of a young and naive city woman. The story is rich in the detail needed to color the mental pictures of that life. There are several background stories that also add depth to the story. I enjoyed this book immensely and plan on reading more of this author’s work. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Sharing her love of reading and her love of books, a young woman becomes a traveling librarian. While riding horseback to deliver books, she discovers unique personalities in the people she meets. The descriptions that the author provides takes the reader on a journey filled with emotions from heartache to joy. A great read. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.
Kim Vogel Sawyer has such incredible talent for bringing stories to life and The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow is yet another novel where her talent shines. Set during the height of the Great Depression, the novel follows four characters that have four very unique personalities and perspectives, a very character-driven approach to the narrative that gives each player such depth. I love that we (the reader) get to experience four different perspectives, receiving narration from Addie, Emmett, Bettina, and Nanny Fay.
Out of all the characters Addie is hands down my favorite. She is the strong heroine that has a heart of gold, and is beautiful inside and out. Her continued perseverance and determination, despite her circumstances, are very motivating, as is her faith and overall outlook on life. Things haven’t been easy for Addie in her young life, but she takes everything with such grace. It was truly a breath of fresh air to read such an authentic character, so much so that I put down the book feeling refreshed and motivated to follow Addie’s lead. I want to be Addie when I grow up!
Emmett is a genuinely sweet guy, and I enjoyed watching his relationship with Addie blossom throughout the story. One thing I really admired was that the focus wasn’t just on romance, but on building relationships, and helping each other, as well as the community.
The real treat was getting to see Nanny Fay and Bettina’s perspectives, each woman very unique from the other, giving a different flavor, yet at the same time giving balance to the narrative as a whole. Both Bettina and Nanny Fay are misunderstood, each in their own right, and I honestly don’t know how I would’ve felt about Bettina if I didn’t have her personal perspective to guide my emotions. She is definitely one of those characters that can be hard to love until you find out about her situation, and you switch from annoyance to pity.
The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow is a fascinating look into not only the economic effects of the Great Depression as a whole, but also on the Appalachian Mountain region and its hard working inhabitants. I love that we are learning more and more about the horseback librarians, and the WPA program. I think this was a genius idea from President Roosevelt that should be remembered.
Though I enjoyed The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow as a whole, I must say that the ending was a bit of a let down for me, even if it was a happy ending, but that is my only complaint in an otherwise flawless novel. You can feel such heart in the author’s writing, this story touching my soul in more ways than one, and I feel so honored that I was able to read it.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from WaterBrook & Multnomah through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.
The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow takes readers to the hills of Kentucky during the Great Depression. Those of us who didn’t live through it have no concept of the hardships that many people endured.
Addie Cowherd’s first indication that her life had changed came when she was called into the dean’s office and expelled from the University of Kentucky for nonpayment. Horrified, she calls her parents only to find a disconnected number, then her father’s office, only to find he’s lost his job at the bank. Finally, she tracks them down to a boarding house where they’ve taken a single room. Knowing she can’t move in with them, she stays in her room at the college – that she paid for herself, using her part-time library wages. Unable to complete her degree, she is determined to find a job and help her parents. When her mentor offers her a job delivering books by horseback to the hill people of Boone’s Hollow, she’s unsure of her riding ability, but willing to try anything. Can she find acceptance among these people for whom change is a bad word, and tradition is everything? Addie has so many strikes against her going in – she’s an outsider. She’s educated, and she lives with Nanny Fay, a woman ostracized by the locals for her healing potions – how can she ever make a place for herself when no one is willing to be her friend?
Emmett Tharp grew up in Boone’s Hollow and earned a scholarship to the University of Kentucky. His degree was supposed to get him out of the tiny mining town where the only jobs for the men of the community are in the coal mine. Unfortunately, the economic downturn has made jobs in the city nonexistent. He’s overqualified for the jobs that are open, and doesn’t have the right pedigree for the ones he’s qualified for. Forced to return to his parents’ home, he takes a job in the mine which gains him the pride and respect of his father. When the community’s head librarian collapses and is forced to resign, Emmett’s mother steps in and convinces him to apply. Taking the job puts him in close proximity with Addie, a young woman he met his last night at UK. It also puts him more firmly in the sights of Bettina Webber, a young girl from the community who has her sights set on Emmett to get her out of her abusive father’s home. How can he tread the fine line between boss and friend while keeping Bettina at arm’s length?
When someone vandalizes the library, Addies’ parents’ book donation saves the horseback librarian program, but can Addie keep her job when no one will accept books from her? Can Emmett find the saboteur, and keep his feelings for Addie under wraps?
This was such a powerful story! From the dark, oppressive feeling of the Depression, to the suspicions of the hill people for anyone who was even slightly different, to the joy and excitement over even a few crates of books, and the power of story to gain acceptance, this book has it all. Bettina’s story was so tragic but it showed pretty forcefully the differences between someone born in Boone’s Hollow and an outsider like Addie.
Readers who enjoy history will enjoy this step into the 1930’s in the hills of Kentucky. There is some romance, but it’s mostly a story of perseverance in the face of great adversity. I listened to part of this and read the rest, just to get a feel for both. I can definitely recommend this book. Sawyer did a great job of telling Addie and Emmett’s tale!
The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow is a sweet story, but it does not shy away from the ways humans can hurt each other. It addresses the themes of abuse, prejudice & bullying without being graphic, and presents authentic faith-filled answers. I cared about the characters & especially loved the faithful & forgiving Nanny Fay. I have a print copy of this book at school for my students, but I listened to the audiobook & really enjoyed it!
Adelaide Cowherd is forced to leave college just shy of finals, due to her father losing his job and financial struggles linked to the Great Depression.She takes a job as a packhorse librarian in Boone’s Hollow, working with the WPA.
Emmett Tharp returns to Boone’s Hollow with a college degree. But fitting back in a mining town proves difficult, even within his own family.
An entertaining read, set in 1936 during the Depression. I admired Addie for her never give up attitude and how she always tries to meet every prejudice with kindness.
I enjoyed getting to know the 4 main characters throughout, Bettina probably stands out as one of the most interesting. One minute I wanted to hug her and the next I wanted to give her a good talking to, I ached for her trapped in a situation not of her own doing and looking for escape. Nanny Fay is a sage woman, walking closely with the Lord, and I loved her heart for others, even when they had shown her nothing but unkindness in return. Emmett is hardworking and intelligent, he wants to contribute to his family, I liked that he was never ashamed of his humble beginnings.
Overall, this was a enjoyable read, with one of my very favorite settings the hard scrabble mountains of Appalachia during the 1930’s. It had endearing characters trying to navigate live in the unforgiving mountains, though I wished that we had gotten to know more members of the community and explored more of their personal challenges. Another wonderful novel by Kim Vogel Sawyer!
I received a complimentary ecopy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I enjoyed this compelling historical excursion into the tough mountain community during the Depression. Hard times force Addie Cowherd to leave the city for the unknown—she finds work as a rural library delivery girl, unaware of the difficulties she will face or how this experience will change her life. This novel makes a good companion to Suzanne Woods Fisher’s The Moonlight School and Ann Gabhart’s An Appalachian Summer and These Healing Hills, which I have also enjoyed and reviewed in the past. If you like a gritty story of determination and real life, this book offers that and much more. The characters tug at your heart as well as make you ponder life’s circumstances. I recommend this well-developed tale. I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This is the first book I’ve read by Kim Vogel Sawyer but it won’t be the last. Kim really pulls you into the story about Addie, Emmett and the citizens of Boone’s Hollow. In a chance meeting their paths cross at the University of Kentucky. Then they are reunited in Boone’s Hollow when Addie takes a position as a pack horse librarian. This was a quick and interesting read.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.
Title: The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow
Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer
Pages: e-book
Year: 2020
Publisher: WaterBrook
My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
The year is 1936. The place is Kentucky. Addie Cowherd is studiously preparing for her final exams to complete her junior year in college. She is called to the dean’s office, thinking she might be getting an award as she is at the top of her class academically. What he tells her stuns her. She has a large debt to pay for her tuition. If the debt isn’t paid, she must withdraw from college immediately. She contacts her parents who she thought were paying her college expenses and discovers her father has lost his job, they have had to sell their home and most of their possessions to pay debts. They now rent a room at a boardinghouse and her father who worked in a bank is now working as a part-time janitor. With no way to pay her debt, Addie is forced to leave college. Her part-time job at the local library gives her the chance at another job as a librarian, but upon arrival in remote Boone’s Hollow Addie discovers a whole new world and nothing is as she expected.
Emmett Tharp meets Addie Cowherd briefly at a college gathering at school and likes her, but he is graduating in a few days, hoping for a job at a corporation. When no jobs are to be had, Emmett returns home to Boone’s Hollow. He hopes to get an office job at the mining operation that has supported the local economy for years, but that comes to no fruition. He hears of a local job with the WPA program sponsored by FDR to put people back to work after the depression. The job is as the head librarian in charge of sending out delivery of books to the local population. He enquires about the job only to discover it has just been filled by someone else. With no alternatives left, he has his father teach him all he knows about mining to prepare him for a physically intense job in the mines. He thinks his college education was for naught and that it created a distance between himself and his father.
There is much more to this story than the romance between Emmett and Addie. There other people in the story are just as interesting. I think this story is about relationships and how each person finds his/her role. Sometimes what one thinks about someone can change when a relationship is engaged in rather than just observed from the outside. Prejudice, acceptance, love and determination are just a few of the many themes/topics present in the story. The author certainly did her research well and wove that into the story seamlessly. I always enjoy this author’s historical tales.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
As I worked in a library at school when I was a teenager and as I’m an avid reader, I was looking forward to reading The Librarian Of Boone’s Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer! I sure wasn’t disappointed, such a great read with all the elements of history, suspense, mountain folklore, and Christian romance.
Kim Vogel Sawyer writes about Addie Cowherd’s arrival into the community of Boone’s Hollow, an Appalachian small town during the depression era. As she was an “outsider”, she had a hard row to hoe to be accepted by the people. Did she succeed? Read this amazing saga of the lives of the people on Black Mountain and the Kentucky Pack horse Library Project women.
I sure will be reading more of Kim Vogel Sawyer’s novels as I loved her writing style, her portrayal of the characters, and her historical settings!
While the nation struggles to recover during the Great Depression, Addie must leave college just before the end of her junior year and find a job. At the same time, Emmett has just received a degree, but is learning that not many positions are open for a man with his education. Both end up in the small village of Boone’s Hollow–Emmett to look for any work he can get in or near the village where he grew up, and Addie to start a job as a packhorse librarian for a program that aims both to give people jobs during this difficult time and to get books into the hands of poor families in the hills. Though they both have grand plans for their future, both must take whatever work they can find. The people who live in the area, though, hold a lot of prejudices that turn into trouble for both Addie and Emmett. Will bigotry and sabotage ruin both of their chances at making their own way?
There’s a lot to try to put into the synopsis for this book, and I always prefer to keep it to one paragraph, so my blurb above doesn’t do the book justice. And while for some books, having so much going on can lead to a convoluted story, it all worked together so well in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the plots that threaded together, the characters, and the ending to all of those different storylines.
One of the the things that I loved most about this book was that every victory was hard-fought. Nothing just happened because the author said so, characters and their reactions were real, and the outcomes were believable. I also liked that, though there was a romance sub-plot, everything didn’t hinge around it, and obvious, over-done cliches weren’t forced into the plot in order to make the romance “interesting.” It was exact kind of subtle, sweet, clean romance that I love.
When I first realized that the story was going to be told from so many perspectives (4 total, if I’m remembering correctly), I thought it would start to bother me. But it never did, and the author did a great job of making each character’s narration feel like that person. Yes, some were similar to each other, but I was never confused, and really, it was interesting to get the little extra perspective from a few of the smaller characters (comparatively).
By the end of this book, I was really caught up in the stories. The themes presented throughout culminated in one really touching scene that made my eyes a little misty. The faith portrayed was the perfect balance of being woven throughout the story without being so in-your-face. It’s shown most in both of the main characters’ mothers, as witnessed by their children, and I loved that. “Look for the blessings,” “kill them with kindness,” using love and kindness to drive away hatred, all of these things were infused in the words, and it’s a lesson I learned right along with the characters. In case it’s not obvious, I highly recommend this book to any fans of Christian and/or historical fiction.
Thank you to Netgalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for providing me a copy of this book to review.
I truly enjoyed this story. I found myself thinking about it even after I’d finished reading it.
The characters were well developed and the story line itself pulled you in page by page. There were a couple twists that made the story that much more intriguing. The scenes were painted so well that there was no problem visualizing the town, the house, the library, the woods.
I highly recommend this book.
Disclaimer: I received a print copy of this book from the publisher with no expectation in return. The words and opinions above are my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this new book by Kim Vogel Sawyer. I was drawn into this story set during the Great Depression and the way the characters lived during this time. I loved learning about life as a Pack Horse Librarian. This was a real job of the WPA program instituted by President Roosevelt to try to boost the economy. Being an avid reader myself, I am so glad that books could be brought to this rural areas. Addie’s bravery after being forced to leave college and travel to Boone’s Hollow where she knew no one was inspiring. Addie, Emmett, and Nanny Fay were models of how a Christian should conduct themselves; though, at times they seem a little too good to represent real people. Their actions and reactions definitely show what Christians should strive to be. I felt terrible for Nanny Fay and how the people of Boone’s Hollow treated her, yet she had such a kind soul and temperament. In contrast, Bettina was spiteful and mean, yet I found myself feeling sorry for her due to how she was treated by her father. She really was just seeking love. My only disappointment in the book was that the romance between Addie and Emmett didn’t really play out the way I hoped it would. There just wasn’t enough told about their relationship. I would love to see these characters again in a future book and see what life is like for them.
3.5 stars
“You know what books can do. You know what words can do. Don’t give up. Will you promise me? Don’t you dare let them make you give up.”
Addie Cowherd’s reception into the small community of Boone’s Hollow is less than hospitable, and that’s putting it mildly. Automatically considered an “outsider”, Kentucky’s mountain folk are leery of anyone encroaching their territory, even if the comely horseback librarian is only bringing magazines and books. In spite of their rude treatment, Addie is thankful for steady employment through the Works Progress Administration; instead of finishing her college education she was forced to take an early leave due to her family’s financial difficulties. “Look for the blessings”, her mother would say, but right now her dreams of becoming a published novelist have been swallowed up by dusty trails and leveled shotguns.
Emmett Tharp wonders if his college degree is of any value; forced to return home to Boone’s Hollow, he is struggling to make sense of having to settle for mine employment, even if it does allow him to spend time learning the job that his father has held for so many years in order to support their family. So it was quite a pleasant surprise to discover a fellow college coed working at Boone Hollow’s tiny, remote library; he and Addie Cowherd were brief acquaintances at a university social, but what were the chances of ever seeing her again, especially deep within the Kentucky hill country.
Stories within stories invade every page of this sweet tale; grace, kindness, and forgiveness hover over inherent sadness and misunderstandings as Addie discovers that “every life is a story. . . . . and the lives of these folks on Black Mountain are so unique, so rich in tradition”. Perhaps Addie has found her calling after all, and perhaps hers is a story that will blend with another; with the right answer to just one question.
Kim Vogel Sawyer has once again written a beautiful inspirational story with her newest release The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow. I adored Addie’s Depression era tale. I was entertained from start to finish. I loved every single page.
I am giving The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow a very much well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who need a story of faith and inspiration. It is most definitely worth a read.
I received The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is one hundred percent my on honest opinion.