The Horseback Librarians

Written by Jane Yolen · Illustrated by Alexandra Badiu

A lone librarian braves the wilds to deliver books in Depression-era Appalachia.

3.9 Goodreads · 358 ratings

32 pages· 815 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud· AD630L

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In the rugged hills of 1930s Kentucky, Anna Mary rides through remote farms, delivering books to isolated families. As a horseback librarian, she faces harsh conditions and long journeys, driven by a mission to spread the joy of reading. Will her determination be enough to keep the love of books alive in a world where libraries are a distant dream? Discover the courage and resilience of a woman who becomes a beacon of hope in the Great Depression.

From the publisher

Anna Mary brings books to children and adults in Appalachia during the Great Depression.There were no libraries in the backwoods of Kentucky in the 1930s. Librarians there and throughout the South delivered books to families by horseback and mule, sleeping outdoors or sheltering in barns when they could, going from farm to farm in remote areas. In this story, a woman named Anna Mary stands in for all the real-life horseback librarians who helped keep the love of books alive in Appalachia during the Great Depression.

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