The Giver of Stars
Why this book?
This story, set in Depression-era Appalachia, depicts the brave women who brought literacy to rural America despite the many natural and human-caused obstacles thrown in their paths. As with a lot of good historical fiction, the strength of The Giver of Stars lies largely on its educational component. I, like many readers, had never heard of the Pack Horse Library Initiative in that period of time, and I found it fascinating. The other key reason I recommend this book is that it, like my novel, emphasizes how critically important friendship can be, especially when women are physically or psychologically threatened by the men in their lives.