Kerri Arsenault

Kerri Arsenault is an American author and journalist known for her 2020 book "Mill Town: Reckoning with What Remains," which examines the environmental and social impacts of the paper mill industry in her hometown of Mexico, Maine. As a book critic and contributing editor at Literary Hub, Arsenault regularly reviews works of literary fiction and nonfiction. Her writing has appeared in various publications including The Boston Globe, Freeman's, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and Air Mail. "Mill Town" received the Rachel Carson Environment Book Award from the Society of Environmental Journalists and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Leonard Prize. The book combines memoir, history, and investigative journalism to explore themes of environmental justice, corporate responsibility, and the complex relationships between industry and small-town America. Beyond her writing career, Arsenault serves as a mentor for PEN America's Prison and Justice Writing Program and is a former board member of the National Book Critics Circle. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from The New School.

Readers appreciate Arsenault's personal connection to her subject matter in "Mill Town" and her ability to weave family history with investigative reporting. Many reviews highlight her detailed research into the paper mill industry's health impacts on her Maine hometown. Liked: - Clear, engaging writing style that balances memoir and journalism - Thorough documentation of environmental and medical records - Connection between local history and broader societal issues - Personal stories that humanize the larger narrative Disliked: - Some readers found the pacing slow in certain sections - A few noted the narrative structure could be disorienting - Several mentioned wanting more conclusive findings about health impacts Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (300+ ratings) One reader noted: "She asks hard questions about corporate responsibility without oversimplifying." Another commented: "The mix of personal and investigative writing creates an intimate look at a universal problem." Critical reviews focused on organization: "The timeline jumps made it harder to follow the core investigation."

Mill Town: Reckoning with What Remains (2020) A blend of memoir, history, and investigative journalism examining the environmental and social impacts of the paper mill industry in Mexico, Maine, exploring how industrial practices affected the health and lives of local residents while sustaining the town's economy.

Rebecca Solnit combines personal narrative with social commentary and environmental themes in works like "Savage Dreams" and "A Paradise Built in Hell." Her investigative approach to place-based writing connects environmental degradation with community impacts.

Michael Pollan investigates relationships between industry, environment, and human health through books like "The Omnivore's Dilemma." His work blends research journalism with personal experience to examine corporate influence on American communities.

Terry Tempest Williams writes about environmental justice and community through works like "Refuge" and "When Women Were Birds." Her books connect personal family history with broader examinations of industrial impact on landscapes and public health.

Dan Fagin explores environmental health impacts on communities through works like "Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation." His reporting combines scientific research with narrative storytelling about industrial pollution's effects on specific towns.

Elizabeth Rush examines climate change impacts on coastal communities in works like "Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore." Her writing merges environmental reporting with first-person accounts of places and people affected by industrial development.