The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer

This book was a refreshing change then some of the more depressing books I have been reading. I give it a solid 5 out of 5 stars.


This book is about the Pack Horse Library of Kentucky set during the great depression. The book is told by four of the main characters. Addie, Emmett, Bettina, and Nanny Fay. Which gives it four unique viewpoints and adds depth to the story.


Addie is a city dweller that moves to a poor coal mining town and has to get used to going without all the luxuries of a big town. Emmet is a recently returned college graduate who does not think he will be able to use his degree in a small town. The town is very wary of strangers and is deeply superstitious of many things. So Addie has to overcome those challenges and Emmet is finding it hard to fit in again.


It is a Christian Fiction genre and that was also a fun thing for me to read as I have not read this genre for a long time. I found the spiritual and Biblical quotes great. The Biblical quotes are from the King James Version of the Bible. They are very understandable even in the older format. There are also quotes from major literary works.


I enjoyed the friendships that were made and how they overcame a lot of difficult situations. The book has it’s ups and downs but everything turns out in the end. 


This book has a tentative on-sale date of September 15, 2020.


Some Historical Facts: The first Packhorse Library was created by May F. Stafford in 1913 but fizzled in 1914 due to lack of money. In 1934 it was started up again when a Presbyterian minister donated his entire personal library to the WPA (Works Progress Administration.) It flourished in the remote regions of the Appellation Mountains from 1935 to 1943. It helped employ around 200 people (mostly women.) They were paid roughly around $28 a month which today would be roughly $537.


All books were donated and were rotated between locations. The books were delivered to schools as well as private homes. The book packs could hold around 100 books! 

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