I have always been an avid reader — probably not a surprise, given my vocation.

These days, though, most of the reading that I do is for work, not for pleasure.

There was a recent exception to that pattern, however, when I had the rare opportunity to read a book that is unique in two ways — it focuses on the region that I call home, and it was written by a friend of mine.

“The Bonnie Belmont Underground Railroad Driving Tour” is a guide to an important chapter in the history of our local region that marries the past with modern technology. Angela Feenerty, president of the Mt. Pleasant Hisotrical Society and a Martins Ferry resident, researched and compiled the tome that directs readers to various locations associated with the Underground Railroad and the journey to freedom experienced by enslaved Africans who were making their way north.

The volume is based on the book “Bonnie Belmont, A Historical Romance of the Days of Slaves and the Civil War” by John Salisbury Cochran, published in 1907, and also draws from The Wilbur H. Seibert Collection at Ohio History Connection. Here in Eastern Ohio, much of the history of that era is still preserved in our historic structures and the routes that take us to them.

Feenerty’s book, published by The Printing Press of Mt. Pleasant last year, features maps, illustrations and photos of people and places that defined that time period. It also highlights the roles that important groups, such as the Quakers, played in the abolitionist movement both here and across the nation.

In addition to suggesting a route around Eastern Ohio that will take travelers past some of the actual stops on the Underground Railroad, the book provides a description of each site and some of what happened there. It also features directions to each location, as well as QR codes that can be scanned with a smart phone for guidance from Google Maps.

This book is not a novel that will carry you back in time to get lost in a riveting romance or tale of adventure. Instead, it is a literal road map to our own past — right here on the winding roads that meander through the woods and valleys that we call home.

It is a quick read that can be completed in a single afternoon or evening, if that’s your approach to the book. On the other hand, I can see a history buff turning it into a mobile project, consulting the book as they make their leisurely way from site to site.

For me, it was fascinating to read the text while imagining the locations being described. In many cases, I didn’t need to use my imagination — I knew exactly what spots Feenerty was describing and could picture them in my mind.

It is a book I highly recommend for anyone with an interest in our local history. It also would be a good way to enjoy sharing a lesson about our past with children or grandchildren.

The book is available via the The Log House of Mt Pleasant page on Facebook. That is the page for Feenerty’s shop, which literally occupies a historic log cabin that she and husband Don have carefully restored.

In fact, rather than ordering the book via Facebook, you might want to visit that quaint and fascinating store at 479 Union St., which offers other books, crafts, teas, antiques, collectibles and much more, including a real taste of our local past.