The Giver of Stars: A Novel

I am a former librarian, now a library school professor, and have long been fascinated by the women who in the 1930s-40s traveled on horseback to deliver books to customers who were too far from the library to be able to use it. They were the forerunners of today's bookmobile librarians, who do the same thing. These women were courageous, dedicated, and devoted to their profession and to their service. They went to towns and homes where no one else would go. They brought education, information, and entertainment to the people they served, including people that had mostly been forgotten about, discarded, or discriminated against. Moyes has done extensive research to create the story of one group of these women, who ran one of the first groups of librarians on horseback in the Appalachian Mountains. Her characters are well-rounded and realistic, appealing to the reader, who gets involved in their lives immediately. But they are not always well-liked by everyone in the communities they serve, and face those are hostile to their service and the people they deliver books to. They also faced physical hardships--the roads they travelled were impossible for anyone not on horseback, and even barely passable for those who were. As Moyes described these women, their lives together, their families, their loves and tragedies, their incredible strength and determination, I was so caught up in their stories, that I read slowly in parts, just because I wanted to enjoy every well chosen word and every well crafted scene. This is a book that you are likely to stay up all night with because you just cannot put it down. Moyes' other books are quality reading, but this one surpasses all others. Who would I recommend this to? Well, librarians of course! Especially to those librarians who are dealing with censorship, banning, hostility and harassment from their communities, and loss of their jobs if they do not knuckle under and purify their collections. Then I'd suggest it to people who want to know about the history of the Appalachian Mountains regions, and the people who lived there. And people who love romance novels who are outside the standard canon, mystery readers (I didn't figure out the central mystery until I finished the book and immediately went back to the first page to read it again! Then it all made sense!), women who like "woman's lit," book club groups who want something meaty to dig into for lengthy and deep discussions, history buffs who want a well researched view of a time and a place, fans of Moyes, and just about anyone who likes a well written story that echoes in their memory long after the book is finished. This one is the newest addition to my Top 10 of All Time List, and I'm betting some of you will feel exactly the same way. And no, it's always okay to go from the last page of a book to the first page, and start it all over again, cause it's so good. This title also joins my list of two that I also read front to back and front to back again. The first one was Linda Howard's "Mr. Perfect", a book you should never read in public if you have a laugh as loud as mine. The second was Lisa Gardner's "Perfect Husband," which wasn't so funny, but which has one of the most horrible villains I've ever read, and again, one that I didn't guess until Gardner revealed him. Two broken people work together, trying to heal both of them. Just remember, don't start Give of Stars when you have to get up early the next day--you'll certainly be dragging if you do--spoken from experience!

by Roses and Ink — written with roses, ink, and honest mistakes The Giver of Stars was a wonderful historical fiction novel that hooked me from the start. I was already drawn to the premise before I even opened the book, and once I began, I read it in a single day. Set in rural Kentucky during the late 1930s, the story follows the women of the Pack Horse Library — Eleanor Roosevelt’s initiative to bring books to people too far out or too isolated to reach traditional libraries. Moyes paints a vivid and respectful snapshot of that time and place, illuminating not just the mission of the traveling librarians but also the broader social landscape. While the library itself anchors the plot, the novel explores much more: the quiet courage of women, the weight of societal expectation, and the intersecting struggles of sexism, racism, and classism. The relationships between the women feel authentic, and the Kentucky setting comes alive through its rugged beauty and close-knit communities. Women’s friendships are written believably and respectfully, with each character contributing something vital to the story. I especially loved Beth — the fist-flying, cigarette-smoking firebrand whose mouthy charm and fearless spirit made her a joy to read. It was refreshing to see how a woman like her might have lived and fought to be herself in that era. Every woman adds depth to the narrative, and their relationships with the protagonist are distinct and beautifully drawn. There are two central female leads: Alice, through whose voice much of the story unfolds, and Margery, the seasoned leader who runs the library and knows every route and mountain pass by heart. Together, they embody the courage and conviction that define the novel — women who refuse to be limited by expectation or terrain. The central conflict of the story is believable and well thought out, and watching it unfold toward the end made the book impossible to put down. As I said, this was a one-day read for me — completely captivating from start to finish. It’s one of the best stories I’ve read in a while, and Moyes does an exceptional job with it. Kudos to her! That said, there were a few underlying storylines that leaned a little toward the Hallmark side — wrapped with ribbons and bows, perhaps softening what would have been harsher truths in 1930s rural America. The narrative dances right on the edge of neatening things too much but never fully crosses the line, keeping it an inescapable and emotionally satisfying read. If you enjoy women’s fiction or character-driven stories with a strong historical focal point, you’ll love this book. The Giver of Stars shines as both a love letter to books and to the women who risked hardship to share them.

I loved this story. There are two main characters, Alice primarily, and Margery, and their character arcs are beautifully wrought. Alice is an English girl who moves to America with her new husband. She goes from English well-to-do strictures to living in a Kentucky coal mining town in the 1940s, and her husband is the son of the mine owner, a cruel man who rules his son's life. The son is handsome but something is wrong with him, something intolerable to a marriage. Out of sheer desperation and boredom, Alice bucks her FIL and takes a job riding books around for the WPA Pack Horse Library. This was actually a thing, which Jojo Moyes has created a lovely novel around. In a world where families kept to themselves, off in the mountains, miles from any school, likely with parents who were illiterate, this mobile library was the only hope for the literacy of some families. The library is mainly operated by Margery, the daughter of one of the town's worst families. Think Hatfields and McCoys. She's the only one left, and the only good one. She is a free spirit, and as the strongest character, constantly bucking the townspeople, she suffers the most. Having such a rough childhood, she is challenged to trust again, and to allow herself to be with the good man who loves her. The novel culminates in a horrible situation that reminded me of the uncivil discourse so common today, and that challenge pulls the women together. No spoilers, but the "singing scene" made me cry, it was so lovely. I went to YouTube to listen to the particular song. What a well-written novel! First, an intriguing setting, where we get to see our America in a post-Depression coal country town. Moyes describes the families and their struggles with such clarity you'd think she grew up there, yet it's a tribute to the research skills of this former journalist who grew up in the UK. She describes a cabin in a holler as if she'd lived in one--and we wonder how anyone survived them at all. Second, the characters are intricately drawn. I can see and remember them as individuals, whether they were good or bad people. Bennett, Fred, Kathleen, Jim Harlan and his girls, and the women who became Alice's dear friends: Margery, Kathleen, Izzy, Sophia (who is black, which adds to the richness of the story, because racism and bravery), Mrs. Brady, and Beth. In the hands of a lesser writer, this would be too many characters, but they're so well written, they all stand on their own and have their own character arcs or at least their own stories. What a treat. What a fine book. Very highly recommended!

I have read other books on this topic and will search out more of her novels. She brings a true perspective of these times and characters. The strong social and moral perspectives of male/female roles, the closed community systems that reject outside influences contrasted with the sense of a fragile caring within the community for those who do “follow the rules” are what my husband grew up with as a young German immigrant in 1952. Vestiges of these social norms persist in parts of these Appalachian states. The devastating environmental, medical, educational, and cultural influences of the “Coal Barrons” and the “Chemical Kings” like Monsanto and DuPont are not overstated.

I picked up The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes after attending a life-long learning class where we discussed books about libraries. It caught my interest because I’ve always been drawn to stories that celebrate books and the impact they can have on people’s lives. I wasn’t disappointed. This book tells the story of a group of women in rural Kentucky who, during the Great Depression, deliver books on horseback to people in isolated areas. It’s based on real events surrounding the WPA's Packhorse Library Project. Moyes does a great job bringing the time and place to life. You can almost feel the rough mountain trails and the resistance these women face from those who aren't too fond of "educated" outsiders. But more than that, it’s a story about friendship, courage, and standing up for what you believe in—something that resonates regardless of the time period. The characters were what really made the story for me. Alice, an Englishwoman who feels trapped in her marriage, joins the library to find a sense of purpose. There’s also Margery, the strong, independent leader of the group. Their friendship and the way the women support each other through all kinds of challenges kept me hooked. I loved how each character grew in her own way. That said, I did feel like some parts of the story were a little predictable, and a few moments tied up a bit too neatly. But honestly, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. The themes of empowerment and the power of books to change lives made it a heartwarming read. If you’re a fan of historical fiction with strong female characters and a love of books, The Giver of Stars is worth checking out. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the role libraries have played in lifting communities, especially in tough times.

Liked it, didn’t love it. I felt it was a little over-done and I got tired of it towards the end. The Pack Horse Library Project was fascinating and the women were admirable.

Great heart-warming story about a group of strong women! The characters were well developed and I really enjoyed the book!

This was such a lovely story of female empowerment and friendship. I love historical fiction and this was easy to digest for a quick read.

Una lectura fabulosa.

Interesting read with a fantastic twist which keeps your pages turning

Não conseguia parar de ler!

The givers of stars is such a magnificent book. It looks into the life of a woman that goes through the discovery of herself and what is important in life. It explores the deep roots of friendships built on hard earned trust and women solidarity. It was an amazing book to read.

This is a beautiful novel with love at the heart, interwoven with greed, such terrible grasping greed, vile deception masquerading as the word of God and love. Love given, love stolen, love misplaced and love that feels like a warm hug that might just get you through the hard times. I have read this several times now as well as down-loaded the spoken word version, suffice to say every single time I read or listen the tears flow. Not always in the same places. It is set in the mid 1930s in a tough area, the mining area around Kentucky where life was harsh, sometimes short and education could be in short supply. Women often got the short straw in many things particularly in education so when The Packhorse Library scheme began it soon became popular with the women who were starved of many things particularly something to read. This was an initiative started by Eleanor Roosevelt to spread and widen educational opportunities. It ran up to 1945 and was extremely popular, delivering books, magazines, comics and various forms of reading material to a culturally starved populous and of course it was free. The pack-horse riders (women) were paid a small amount to do their job but they worked long hours in challenging conditions, earning chilblains (horrible things people are unfamiliar with now) frost-bite and risking hypothermia. But still they rode their rounds and got their books and reading material through. As I say these were tough people made from tough stuff growing up in tough circumstances. They wouldn't be put off by needing five layers to go outside because that would be normal life for them. People back then were quite used to having ice "inside" the windows and breaking the ice on the washing water. No house had heating unless you count the heat given off by the range and if you were better off like some of the people in this book, then you would have a fire in the drawing room but it wouldn't be as warm as we are used to. Hence draft excluders running along the bottom of doors everywhere and why women spent so much time making quilts from little scraps of fabric, every bit had to be used as the quilts were needed to try to keep the family warm. It was a constant fight to make enough quilt and blankets so quilting circles were an important social activity. Not only did it act as social cohesion but produced a steady stream of household items, so a women who did not want to belong to sewing or quilting circles was considered an odd bod unless she had a good reason not to. Such as being a pack-horse librarian, frankly after doing a week delivering all round the mountains nobody would expect you to pick up a needle much less expect your hands to be in any fit condition being as rough as shark skin from the weather, scratched by weeds, nettles and sundry other items. Hand creams being an almost unknown commodity at this time so hands stayed pretty much ruined. The mothers of two of the main characters could not understand why their daughters would sacrifice their beautiful hands to ride about giving out books, one when she had a perfectly good marriage, the other when she could have anything she wanted. Of course what the mother failed to grasp was the gift of freedom is beyond price and of course what both daughter desire more than anything is just that. Both wanted to get away from a suffocating life so turned to the library as a way to break free, neither were willing recruits at first but quickly grew to love the work and the people. Without giving anything away there is a scene in which a baby is born, as an ex-midwife I must say it is an excellent depiction of childbirth. This is one of the scenes that made tears flow, possibly memories of babies delivered and times passed. This is one of the loveliest books I have ever read and I shall be re-reading it again. I have lost count of the number of times I have recommended this wonderful read as all human life is encompassed within this wonderful story. It is one of my favourite books.