The Giver of Stars

Set in 1930s Depression-era Kentucky, this historical fiction follows a group of women who become part of Eleanor Roosevelt's Pack Horse Library initiative, riding horseback to deliver books to remote mountain communities. The story centers on Alice, a young Englishwoman who escapes an unhappy marriage by joining this unconventional group of librarians. The novel explores themes of female empowerment, literacy advocacy, social class divisions, and community building, while depicting the challenges faced by strong women in a male-dominated society.