The Giver of Stars Book Summary

In 'The Giver of Stars,' Jojo Moyes weaves a tapestry of love, determination, and the power of books during the Great Depression. Set in rural Kentucky, a group of courageous women defy societal norms to deliver books to the isolated mountain communities. Their journey illuminates the transformative power of literature and the bonds of friendship forged in adversity. As they face challenges from both the harsh wilderness and the prejudices of their town, their resilience shines through. Dive into a story that explores the strength of the human spirit and the magic that books can bring to life.

By Jojo Moyes

Published: 2019

"In a world where stories were the threads that wove lives together, each book delivered by a brave heart held the power to change destiny."

Book Review of The Giver of Stars

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK “A great narrative about personal strength and really captures how books bring communities together.” —Reese Witherspoon From the author of the forthcoming Someone Else’s Shoes, a breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond in Depression-era America Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve, hoping to escape her stifling life in England. But small-town Kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic, especially living alongside her overbearing father-in-law. So when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library, Alice signs on enthusiastically. The leader, and soon Alice's greatest ally, is Margery, a smart-talking, self-sufficient woman who's never asked a man's permission for anything. They will be joined by three other singular women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky. What happens to them--and to the men they love--becomes an unforgettable drama of loyalty, justice, humanity, and passion. These heroic women refuse to be cowed by men or by convention. And though they face all kinds of dangers in a landscape that is at times breathtakingly beautiful, at others brutal, they’re committed to their job: bringing books to people who have never had any, arming them with facts that will change their lives. Based on a true story rooted in America’s past, The Giver of Stars is unparalleled in its scope and epic in its storytelling. Funny, heartbreaking, enthralling, it is destined to become a modern classic--a richly rewarding novel of women’s friendship, of true love, and of what happens when we reach beyond our grasp for the great beyond.

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In a world where stories were the threads that wove lives together, each book delivered by a brave heart held the power to change destiny.

The Giver of Stars

By Jojo Moyes