The Giver of Stars

Genre: Fiction

This is the story of Alice, who recently married Bennett, and moved from her home in England to a small town in Kentucky during the depression era. Bennett has not lived up to Alice's expectations, but what can she do when she's on her own and Bennett's father is the town's richest man and resident evil-doer? The answer finds her in the form of Eleanor Roosevelt's new mission, a traveling library named the Packhorse Library of Kentucky. Margery, the head librarian, is a no-nonsense woman who is passionate about the work she does and the town's people she serves, but her past seems to follow her where she goes. Alice and her colleagues set-out every day to deliver entertainment, education and community in the form of books. But, as is sometimes the case in small towns, people gossip, a dead body is found and somebody has to pay! This is a story of passion: passion for books, passion for family, passion for love, passion for friendship and passion for justice.

Moyes had me when she dedicated the book to "librarians everywhere". What's not to love about a story about librarians and the books that change a community? This book is, at its essence, a love story, but one with historical, social and political significance. It has strong female characters who embody confidence, humility and perseverance. I really enjoyed this one. I highly recommend this one for book clubs as there are many great themes to discuss.