The Mountains We Call Home: The Book Woman's Legacy

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek comes a triumphant tale of a librarian's fight to bring literacy to the prisons of Kentucky and the underserved neighborhoods of downtown Louisville, revealing a story of fierce love, quiet strength, and the healing power of books.

When Cussy Lovett, a Packhorse Librarian famed for bringing books to the people of Appalachia, is unjustly incarcerated, she finds a new calling as a prison librarian, bringing hope to downtrodden women and voiceless city residents alike, finding a home even while separated from those she loves. A vivid portrait of mid-century Kentucky, from the hills and hollers of Appalachia to a vibrant city neighborhood on the cusp of urban renewal, The Mountains We Call Home explores the effects of criminalization and incarceration on the poor and powerless, while tracing the societal consequences of fractured family bonds.

Gritty, heartbreaking, yet infused with hope, The Mountains We Call Home is an authentic American tale and a powerful testament of strength, survival, and the magic of the written word.

"Woven so seamlessly of important themes that it has the potential for changing lives." ―William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author

A native-born Kentuckian, Kim Michele Richardson is the *New York Times*, *L.A.

Times*, *USA TODAY* bestselling author who has written six novels, a memoir

and most recently, two children’s picture books The works have been

published in more than 16 languages. Her novel *The Book Woman of

Troublesome Creek* is taught widely in high schools and college classrooms

and has been adopted as a Common Read selection by states, cities, and

colleges across the country and abroad. Kim Michele lives with her family

in Kentucky and is the founder of Shy Rabbit, a writers residency, and a

literacy initiative *Courthouses Reading Across Kentucky & Beyond*.

"Brilliant storytelling. Cussy is one of the most dynamic characters in American fiction. Without Kim Michele Richardson’s heartfelt, uplifting storytelling, the world would be a sadder place, indeed. I loved The Mountains We Call Home, which is woven so seamlessly of important themes that it has the potential for changing lives." ― William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author

"Kim Michele Richardson brings the story of trailblazing packhorse librarian, Cussy Mary Carter, full circle in this mesmerizing tale of love, resilience, and hardscrabble determination. In the fight to survive prejudice, cruelty, and injustice, Cussy must draw upon her inner strength, the kindness of others, and the sanctuary that can be found within books. An ode to friendship, truth, and the power of the written word, this is a story readers will treasure long after the last page is turned." ― Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shelterwood

"In The Mountains We Call Home, Kim Michele Richardson once again displays her seamless blend of research and imagination that we expect in the best of historical fiction, yet as I read deeper I realized that Cussy Lovett’s journey and challenges (first inside a prison, then a large city), as vivid and compelling as they are, are only part of Richardson’s achievement: her latest novel is also a marvelous reminder of how literacy and literature can heal and give hope, even freedom." ― Ron Rash, New York Times bestselling author

"No one writes about gritty courageous women like Kim Michele Richardson. The Mountains We Call Home is an unforgettable page-turner that captures the dark beauty of Appalachia and its people of Kentucky, with their stealth intelligence and covert vulnerabilities." ― Jeannette Walls #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Castle

"A deeply satisfying companion novel to her “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” series, exploring injustice, belonging, and the transformative power of literacy with compassion and grace." ― Library Journal