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Junia the mule has two symbolic functions in The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. The relationship between Junia and Cussy Mary Carter shows how autonomous individuals can still be interdependent; and, along with her mistress, Junia is responsible for carrying the hope of books throughout the land. Junia originally belonged to Charlie Frazier; after his death, Cussy Mary claimed the mule, named her, and nursed her back to health, even though Pa was doubtful that the mule would have much value. In return, Junia protects Cussy from people (mostly men) and the dangers of the trail. When Vester Frazier stalks Cussy in the woods, Junia runs him off, and when he creeps into the Carter property late at night with the intent of raping and murdering Cussy, Junia breaks free from her stall and tramples him. Mules are, by nature, stubborn and independent creatures, and throughout the book, Cussy proves to be stubborn and independent, too. But she and Junia need and rely on each other for safety, companionship, and affection in a world that is often cruel and harsh. Their relationship shows how valuable independence is, but how important it is to have others to rely on in times of need.
Usually, Junia serves as Cussy’s protector, but sometimes the mule seems to stand as a sort of double for her owner. People consider Cussy and Junia worthless because of their external appearance (Cussy because her skin is blue, and Junia because she’s old). The way that people treat Junia predicts whether they are kind or cruel towards Cussy; and both are an integral part of the Pack Horse Library’s project in and around Troublesome Creek. Cussy and Junia are partners in bringing the hope and enlightenment of books to the poorest and most remote of Kentuckians, so it’s fitting that Cussy Mary named the mule “Junia,” after the only female apostle. In the Christian Bible, the apostles are the people charged with bringing the “good word” (the message of Christianity) to people. Cussy and Junia are a sort of apostles for literacy and the forces of modernization and progress with the library project.
Junia Quotes in The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
The The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek quotes below all refer to the symbol of Junia. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 3
Quotes
The brisk morning nipped at my face, and I buried my chin deeper into Pa’s oilskin coat and nudged the mule ahead to the home of our first library patron. We crossed over into the fog-soaked creek before sunrise, the dark waters biting at the beast’s ankles, a willingness to hurry pricking Junia’s long ears forward. Late April winds tangled into the sharp, leafy teeth of sourwoods, teasing, combing her short gray mane. Beyond the creek, hills unfolded, and tender green buds of heart-shaped beetleweed and running ivy pushed up from rotted forest graves and ancient knobby roots, climbed through the cider-brown patches of winter leaves, spilling forth from fertile earth.
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Chapter 25
Quotes
For a minute I envied her, wanted to send Junia home, unlace my heavy, tight shoes, and run free with her to escape Frazier, the doc and his medical tests, and everything damning to me—to hunt and fish in the woods like I’d done as a child. To be wilded. Have a wilded heart in this black-treed land full of wilded creatures. There were notches in these hills where a stranger wouldn’t tread, dared not venture—the needle-eyed coves and skinny blinds behind rocks, the strangling parts of the blackened-green hills—but Angeline and hillfolk here were wilded and not afraid. And I longed to lift bare feet onto ancient paths and be wilded once again.
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Chapter 32
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I’d been foolish. Reached the worse. The drug had not redeemed me. I didn’t belong at this bright, happy gathering with these lively folks and bubbly chatter. I belonged in darker places where darker thoughts kept me put, where sunlight, a cheerful voice, or a warm touch never reached me. Weren’t no pill ever going to change that.
I threw the cake into a bush and mounted Junia, glancing once more at the crowd. Across the street, Jackson talked to a group of smiling men and women. He lifted his head my way, raised a hand, and called out, “Cussy Mary…”
I couldn’t bear for him to see my disgrace, see me for who I really was—who I’d become in their eyes. “Ghee!” I kneed the mule hard, and she raced off toward our dark, dead holler.
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Junia Symbol Timeline in The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
The timeline below shows where the symbol Junia appears in The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
Cussy Mary’s brief marriage left her with broken bones, a mule she names Junia, and a pregnancy. She pulls Charlie’s root from her womb with an herbal tea. And...
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On her first day back, Cussy Mary rides Junia up into the mountains. Before her marriage, she’d rented a horse. But she rescued poor,...
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As Cussy Mary and Junia come beside the trail that leads to Charlie’s home, Junia startles. Cussy can’t hear anything...
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Junia’s snorting pulls Cussy Mary from her reverie. They have reached the Moffit place. Seeing a...
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Chapter 4
...the yard for Cussy Mary and chastises her for staying away so long. Cussy introduces Junia and Angeline recognizes the mule’s biblical name. Junia was the only female apostle named in...
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...repairs. Cussy promises to fix the book herself. As Cussy prepares to leave, Angeline gives Junia half of a scrawny carrot from her tiny garden. Then she asks Cussy to see...
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Angeline tells Junia to keep Cussy Mary safe. Somehow, she heard about another librarian, whose horse broke a...
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Chapter 5
Halfway through the woods that lie across the route, Junia suddenly stops when she hears a twig snap. Out of the corner of her eye,...
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Cussy Mary tries to get Junia to brush past Vester, but Junia refuses. When she dismounts to lead the horse by...
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Cussy Mary begs Vester to let Junia go. He does, but grabs Cussy instead. He snarls that her books are sinful, she...
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...to strangle and kiss her. But Cussy Mary sees a shadow, hears a smack, and Junia charges into the clearing, scaring Vester off.
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Chapter 6
Finally, Cussy Mary and Junia reach Lovett Ridge. It’s a lovely place, with a view of the mountains below and...
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Jackson offers Junia a piece of apple. Her desire for the treat overcomes her mistrust of men, and...
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Chapter 7
Junia and Cussy Mary arrive home after dark. Pa was worried because she’s late, and she...
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Later, Cussy Mary startles awake to the sound of Junia braying in the yard. With Pa’s shotgun in hand, she ventures onto the porch. She...
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Chapter 8
Outside, Junia nickers, and Cussy Mary looks up to see Jackson coming out of the Company Store....
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Suddenly, Harriett realizes that Jackson is feeding Junia. Turning to ask Cussy Mary why, she brushes against her sleeve and reacts with horror....
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...up behind her, snatches the newspaper from her hands, and warns Cussy to tie up Junia behind the building. In the front, she is accosting passers-by. Harriett chimes in to say...
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Cussy Mary turns to leave and bumps into Queenie Johnson. Queenie says Junia got “the devil inside her” when Vester walked by and hit her with his stick....
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Chapter 10
...Mr. Prine’s Time magazine, the only loan he’ll accept, on his porch. She must lead Junia by hand through the thorny path of Saw Briar Trace. Hungry, although she’s eaten all...
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A few miles past the Smith place, Vester lies in wait for Cussy Mary, but Junia spots him, panics, and leaves him behind as she runs off the path. They run...
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...loneliness and shame most people make her feel. After tucking Loretta into bed, Cussy mounts Junia and heads home in the dark, frightened to know that Vester is hunting her in...
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Chapter 12
...Wednesday. To pass time, she reads a passage from Wind in the Willows aloud to Junia in her best newscaster voice, stumbling over some of the longer words. When Queenie rides...
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Chapter 13
Junia’s screams—and a shotgun blast—rouse Cussy Mary from a deep sleep. She rushes down from the...
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Chapter 14
Doc pulls a sheet over Vester Frazier’s dead body. Junia trampled his ribs and “other innards,” but Pa also gave him some foxglove to stop...
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Chapter 18
...R.C. Cole. Cussy packs Doc’s medicines and the letter into her satchel, then tends to Junia. In the warmth of the evening, she goes to the creek to bathe, taking a...
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Chapter 20
...place. He looks up from tending his garden with a happy greeting for her and Junia. Cussy hands him a copy of Brave New World, which used to belong to her...
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...him for the book and prepares to leave. She’s astonished when Jackson walks her to Junia. After feeding the mule a bit of apple, Jackson offers Cussy a slice. But as...
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Chapter 22
...the medical tests to Jackson to new songs on the radio, and she’s surprised when Junia stops up short in alarm. Fortunately, it’s not another Frazier. It’s Martha Hannah’s husband, the...
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Chapter 24
...miners, one of whom is Pa. When he didn’t come home one night, Cussy and Junia checked his route for signs of animal attack. Finding nothing, Cussy sent a letter to...
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Cussy Mary hears Junia fussing outside, and she looks up to see Jackson Lovett approaching the post office with...
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Chapter 25
...Company harasses or harms anyone they catch passing union notes. Cussy waits until she and Junia are completely alone on the trail before opening the letter. Pa is in “family talks”—code...
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When Junia halts, Cussy puts down the letter and sees the rattlesnake directly in their path. She...
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Chapter 26
...Pa’s return. She’s too anxious to wait, or read Jackson’s book, so she finally rides Junia into town, where the Pie Bake Dance is in full swing. Cautiously, she peeks through...
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...and her at the same time; she must go home right away. As she mounts Junia, he asks if she’s seen or heard news of Vester. Cussy, the knowledge and fear...
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Chapter 32
...Bible cake,” while others call her a disgrace and a spectacle. Cussy scurries back to Junia, realizing that the drug hasn’t redeemed her. The people in this bright, happy place will...
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Chapter 33
On Friday, the day after the celebration, Cussy Mary and Junia take a heavy load through dark passes and steady rain to bring books to Oren...
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Chapter 35
Cussy Mary is lost in grief as she rides away from Henry’s house, so Junia notices Devil John first. He has found her to report that his children are working...
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On the way home, Cussy Mary and Junia stop to rest by the creek. Cussy’s water bottle is empty, but she doesn’t trust...
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Chapter 38
...one of her saddlebags, lines it with her cushion, and places Honey inside. She tells Junia that they must carry Honey to safety, very gently, for Angeline’s sake. Then she points...
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