Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky

Good read about a unique time and place in history. Government helping people to work during the Depression and it was tough for these librarians on horseback.

This is such an interesting history of the librarians who rode through the mountains of Kentucky delivering books to people who otherwise would not be able to have the pleasure of reading or looking at pictures.I first learned about this from a historical fiction book I read by Lynn Austin titled "WONDERLAND CREEK".

What a great glimpse into history! During the depression president F. D. Roosevelt created the New Deal, then expanded by adding the WPA. One of the programs created jobs for women as pack horse librarians in the mountains of Kentucky. It is considered juvenile literature but this book, Down Cut Shin Creek, is filled with photos and true stories well worth the money.

Intended as a child's book, DOWN CUT SHIN CREEK: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky is filled with photos of the program established during the Depression of the 1930's. The story is significant in outlining the plight of ravished coal-mining communities in the rugged hills and valleys of eastern Kentucky. The story and photos will interest casual readers, historians and fiction writers for the human interest shown.I read Shin Creek in the company of a novel inspired by it: WONDERLAND CREEK by Lynn Austin. While the latter is a "Christian novel," it is not too strong on its "message." Well written by an experienced author, details and plotlines flourish around an unusual plot. Alice lives life through her books until she answers the muddy horse-back riding and difficult challenges of serving people eager for books, in need of help and worn down by the hard-times they experience.

Like many other reviewers, this little book stole my heart! I had never heard of pack horse librarians until I read the Lynn Austin novel called Wonderland Creek and learned that she got the idea for that novel from this book. So, of course I had to read this book for myself. It did not disappoint. This is a great little historical account that leaves you wanting to hear more stories of these down-to-earth, hard working people.

Loved this book ! The information was so clear . I knew nothing about this before I read this book , what a wonderful surprise to find out about these courageous and brave women . The photographs were very good . I recommend this book for any age ! I think a documentary needs to be made about these women .Thank you ,Lynn

It is part of history I didn't know.

Beautiful book!