Jojo Moyes’ The Giver of Stars is an inspiring historical fiction novel that takes readers to the mountains of Kentucky during the Great Depression. The story centers on Alice Wright, an Englishwoman who marries a man from a small town in the U.S. in an attempt to escape her stifling life back home. She soon finds herself in rural Kentucky, where life is challenging and her marriage is less than what she had hoped for. Alice joins a group of female librarians who deliver books to the isolated communities of the Appalachian Mountains, known as the Packhorse Library Project.
Moyes beautifully captures the rugged terrain and the harsh realities of life during this period, while also celebrating the resilience of the women who pushed against the boundaries of their time. The character development is strong, particularly Alice, who grows from a passive, reluctant woman into someone who fiercely fights for independence, equality, and love. The relationships between the female characters, built on shared experiences and mutual respect, form the heart of the novel.
While the novel is a slow burn at times, the strength of the characters and their stories more than compensate. Moyes’ prose is rich and evocative, painting a vivid picture of both the beauty and hardship of rural America during the 1930s. The Giver of Stars is an uplifting and thought-provoking read that reminds us of the importance of courage, sisterhood, and the power of books in times of adversity.
