The Book Woman's Daughter

 

The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson. Sourcebooks Landmark, 2022. 320 pages. ***** Publication Date May 3, 2022.

In this sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, after both of her parents are arrested for having an illegal marriage, Honey Mary-Angeline Lovett, the daughter of the Troublesome Creek book woman realizes that she is on her own. Determined to avoid the House of Reform or the orphan's home, Honey sets out with Junia, their difficult mule on the long journey to Miss Loretta's house in Troublesome. On the way to Miss Loretta's, Honey stops at the Troublesome Creek Library branch and is surprised to see a posting for an assistant librarian, pay is $98 a month. Taking over her mother's route may be the answer that will keep her free. Hoping to find a safe haven, Honey is unprepared for the way women are mistreated and the harshness of some of the miners. Making friends with Pearl, the new female fire-tower watcher, helps ease the burden of being without her mother and father. Standing up to the societal norms that allow medical experimentation, imprisoning orphans, sexual harassment, and murder is no easy task, however, Honey is tough and up to the challenge. 

I was so excited to receive a copy to review and I read it in two days.  Sometimes, sequels disappoint, not this one! Life is grim in the hills and Richardson doesn't pull any punches. Women are treated as a commodity and have no independence. The Fugates, or the Blue People of Kentucky are discriminated against and prohibited from marrying a person of another race. Fans of the first book will thoroughly enjoy this one too. A Note from the Author is a must read, complete with pictures, Richardson has thoroughly researched before writing this story. As a retired librarian, I question whether I would have survived the roughness of the terrain and the harshness of life in the hills. This title will make an excellent Book Club choice, many topics to be discussed.

I received an ecopy of this book to review.

Review of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. with additional information.

The NEW YORK TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author, Kim Michele Richardson has written five works of historical fiction, and a bestselling memoir, The Unbreakable Child. 

Her fifth novel, The Book Woman’s Daughter is both a stand-alone and sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Kim Michele lives with her family in Kentucky and is the founder of Shy Rabbit. For more information, click here.

Follow me on IG at flamazing_books for more book reviews.

@Bookmarked  #bookwoman'sdaughter #fugates #bookstagram @KimMicheleRichardson