Copley Connects Spring/Summer 2025

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon & A Midwife’s Tale by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich By Sally Bradley

diary into a broader tapestry, revealing an absorbing picture of the social, political, economic, medical, and religious practices of the post-revolutionary era. Furthermore, we are introduced to the Kennebec Valley community of Maine and the residents with whom Martha interacted. Using excerpts from the diary in each chapter combined with extensive research through historical documents and records Ulrich immerses us in the living experiences of these individuals — from the mundane to the scandalous. Lastly, we are gifted with an intimate portrait and legacy of one woman and the impact she made within her family and community. I, personally, am grateful to the generations of family members that preserved and passed down Martha’s diary and for the creative hand in which these two authors were inspired to breathe life (fact and fiction) into one woman’s chronicle. These books are genuine treasures for lovers of history. Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection

Part Time Weekend Supervisor The Frozen River is a riveting and tender historical fiction that follows the life of Martha Ballard, a real midwife and healer living in Maine in the late 1700s. I loved Martha so much and became engrossed reading about her fascinating life as a midwife, mother, friend, and feminist. She revealed herself as a true heroine for her time in my eyes. The storyline is a “slice of life” meets mystery meets revenge/justice. Themes of family love and loyalty, oppression and raw human experiences arise as we glimpse into a community — all within the framework of Martha’s insightful observations and courageous actions.

by John Green By Vincent Dang Access Services Night Manager Renowned educator John Green (of Crash Course fame) takes us through the interesting and terrible history of Tuberculosis, aka TB, Consumption, Phthisis, etc. Tuberculosis has been around for thousands of years and, despite now being treatable, has killed more people every year than every other disease

Just as captivating was the author’s note at the end of the story in which Lawhon explains how she is “a collector of people....in the same way that others collect rocks or stamps or coins,” whom she “finds in libraries, newspapers and strange corners of the internet.” How she found and was inspired by Martha is a moving account in itself that truly struck a chord in my soul. Delving further, if you read and love The Frozen River as much as I did, I highly recommend picking up a copy of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, A Midwife’s Tale , by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (a copy of which I found here in our own Copley Library). Here we meet Martha Ballard yet again. This biography, written in 1991, was one of the inspirations that set into motion the storyline of The Frozen River . Both books draw from the diary of Martha, in which she documented her daily life for nearly three decades. Ulrich does a brilliant job gleaning from and weaving the details of Martha’s

(with the exception of Covid in 2020). Because it has been around for so long, TB has shaped our culture for generations, even so far as to become trendy and desirable. Green’s book is a journey, and his writing oozes with comedy, sadness, sarcasm, and hard truths. It is at once a historical overview and a personal narrative. The story told is both enjoyable and powerful. I highly recommend it.

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