Imagine living an isolated life in a remote part of Wisconsin in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Imagine having no literature to read for entertainment, no nonfiction books to teach you about the latest farming techniques or newest food recipes, no books whatsoever. Such a book-less environment was common for thousands of families spread across the rural Midwest, and Lutie Stearns made it her life's mission to change things. From the young girl who stuttered after teachers refused to allow her to use her left hand to write to a formidable library advocate who worked with senators and embarked on a national speaking tour, the work of Lutie Stearns should serve as an inspiration to young and old book-lovers alike. This fictionalized biography draws from actual letters and reports written by Stearns as well as magazine articles written about her. While much of the text and dialogue comes from the author's own imagination and is at times slightly melodramatic, material quoted directly is italicized for clarification while facts are shored up by a decent bibliography. In addition, black-and-white photographs depicting Sterns and the boxed libraries she circulated pepper the book. The author does an excellent job of showing the impact that Stearns had on rural communities, including the emotional impact her work had on immigrants who were able to find books in their own native languages. This book would make a very interesting selection for students interested in history, sociology, reading, libraries, and community development. 2005, Big Valley Press, Ages 8 to 14.
—Ramirose Attebury Wendt
