Native Kentuckian Kim Michele Richardson brings the story of Cussy Lovett, the book woman of Troublesome Creek, full circle in this final novel in the Bookwoman series, The Mountains We Call Home.
Coming out in April of 2026, this historical novel set
in the 1950s takes Cussy out of the mountains into a most unexpected turn, a
prison due to her marriage to a white man as “Blues” were not allowed to marry
outside of their own group. Both she and her husband Jackson are imprisoned for
their so-called crime.
Prison life is a whole different world for Cussy as
she learns to navigate the system, finding her place within its walls as she
proves her value as a woman who can keep the books for the kitchen as she makes
her case to become the prison librarian. Soon she becomes valuable as a loaner
to the men’s prison library as well as to a library outside the penal system
that will lead to a path forward for the former packhorse librarian…and her
husband.
While the third in the Bookwoman series, this book can
be read as a standalone as Richardson provides plenty of background information
from the two previous novels. Not only does the author connect the three
stories, but she also provides a wealth of information about Kentucky, the way
of life there, and some of its historical citizens.
Kim Michele Richardson,
best known for The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek which is taught in
many high schools and colleges, brings history to life as she is inspired by
both the “blue people” of Kentucky and the brave packhorse librarians who
contributed to increased literacy levels among those isolated in the hills.
I would like to thank Sourcebooks Landmark and
NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.
