Blaylock's story centers around a packhorse librarian in 1930s Appalachian Kentucky and adds layers like a complicated past, second chances, mining tragedy, a bad guy who's pure evil, mountain justice, and the promise of a happy ending.
In Bonnie Blaylock's Light to the Hills, it's 1930 in the Kentucky Appalachians, and Amanda Rye is a traveling packhorse librarian, a widowed young mother, and somewhat of a local to the region, albeit estranged from her pastor father and her mother due to past scandal.
Amanda makes a special connection with a mountain family on her route that's facing tough times despite their double work at the coal mine and their small farm. The MacInteers--tough yet tender mother Rai, her clever daughter Sass, playful young adult Finn, and a hardworking father as well as the family's younger children--are hesitant to accept any semblance of help. But Amanda brings them reading materials, apples for treasured pies, and some joyful company, and a deep friendship develops.
The bond between Amanda and the family tempts her to share a dark secret from her past--one that caused a deep rift between Amanda and her parents when they (against all logic, but when faced with the threat of scandal) believed outlandish, harmful rumors without discussion, then cut ties with her.
When a haunting figure from the past shows up in town again, Amanda's history not only threatens to shake up her future, but turns out to be intricately linked to some of the MacInteers's emerging complications.
Blaylock celebrates tough women, stand-up men, and never-ending hard work. Mining's dangers aren't glossed over, and tragedies abound. But Light to the Hills seems destined to provide happy endings. Blaylock offers up second chances at love, avoidance of punishment for our heroes' missteps when they tell the truth about others' wrongdoings, and a heartwarming chosen-family element (one of my favorite themes).
The story showcases a love for books and the power of the written word.
The bad guy in the story is pure evil, and there's little doubt he'll get a comeuppance by the story's end. The mountain justice that's carried out by the women was thrillingly shocking.
I'd love to hear your Bossy thoughts about this book!
I love a historical fiction story set in Appalachia, and I also love to read books about books. You can check out some of my Bossy favorites at the links here.
Other books I've loved about traveling librarians include The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and The Giver of Stars.
Comments