"In the mid-nineteenth century, one woman changed the American cultural landscape through sheer determination, a passion for reading, and an unwavering belief that people of all ages and classes should have access to books. That woman was librarian Mary Lemist Titcomb, inventor of the bookmobile. Glenn’s account of Titcomb’s impressive story reveals a life undeterred by such obstacles as limited educational and career opportunities for women, a life defined by admirable accomplishments. After tracing her successes as a librarian in Vermont, the story takes off when Titcomb accepts a position at Maryland’s Washington County Free Library, where she dedicates herself to expanding the library’s reach to its rural population. This was first accomplished by establishing outposts akin to branch libraries and later by her revolutionary idea of a book wagon—an idea initially met with great skepticism. Readers will be inspired by Titcomb’s dedication to her work and indifference to naysayers. The book’s attractive layout resembles a scrapbook, where archival photos, reproductions of letters, and other historic ephemera grace most pages. Glenn’s accessible writing provides just the right amount of historical context to highlight the extraordinary nature of Titcomb’s work and unquestionably establishes her as a true American pioneer." — Booklist, starred review