The Appalachian region of the US is huge, spanning 13 states and over 200,000 square miles, stretching from Mississippi to New York. But as Kendra Winchester, founder of Read Appalachia notes,

"Appalachia is more than just a geographic location: it's a region with a diverse range of peoples and cultures. No single story can define the region, which is why it's so important to read a wide range of Appalachian Literature. Poetry, memoirs, novels, and picture books--Appalachian authors write it all."

This month the library is celebrating Appalachian Literature by displaying books by authors from the region, and about the region. Included are novels, poetry, essays, memoirs, and anthologies.

Check out the display and discover the rich diversity of Appalachian writing!

Even As We Breathe: A Novel

by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle

(PS3603.L35169 E94 2020)

Cowney Sequoyah longs to leave his hometown of Cherokee, North Carolina, nestled in the Smoky Mountains. To earn money for college he gets a summer job at the upscale Grove Park Inn and Resort in Asheville, moving closer to his dream of escaping his stifling surroundings. Here, he befriends Essie Stamper, a young Cherokee woman with similar aspirations.

With World War II winding down in Europe, the resort is being used to house Axis diplomats and their families as prisoners of war. Cowney and Essie discover a hidden room where they can momentarily escape the racial tensions of the Inn and envision brighter futures. Outside the refuge, however, racism and prejudice persist. When the daughter of one of the detained diplomats disappears, Cowney suddenly faces accusations of murder.

Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle is the first enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to publish a novel. Her debut, Even As We Breathe, opens a window into the racial politics of 1940s South Central Appalachia, while also exploring themes of family, belonging, identity, and roots.