This is not a Netgalley book--I borrowed it from the library, and finished it the night before it disappeared from my device! I will get back to Netgalley soon, though.
I'm including it here because it might be the best book I've read this year.
Demon Copperhead is a modern update of the Charles Dickens classic, David Copperfield. It revisits the topics of poverty and disadvantage, especially for children.
Barbara Kingsolver has set her story in Virginia, among a population in the Appalachian region, where many children are subjected to a flawed foster care system and lack of good education. Meanwhile, drug addiction and poverty are a fact of life and hope for a better future is not.
This newer tale, which is faithful to the older, follows Damon Fields, AKA Demon Copperhead, through the arduous and dangerous years of a childhood filled with unstable and tortuous living arrangements, neglect, and emotional harm. Along the way, Kingsolver makes a powerful statement about the history of this region and the poor, damaging conditions many children face, to this day.
Charles Dickens wrote about a time period when defenseless children could be worked as hard as adults, and that seems hideous, but in some cases, the modern story is every bit as bad, in different ways. Children in foster care are often used by their guardians, against their best interests, and Demon's personal history is additionally affected by the opioid crisis.
This novel is beautifully executed. Demon's voice is compelling, believable, and very likeable. I was fascinated by the way Kingsolver adapted and unfolded the plot. I rooted for Demon, even though I knew he would find his way to the other side of his nightmare childhood, even after all the adults failed him. Demon is like one of the talented superheros he enjoys drawing. Not all of his friends are so lucky.
Bravo! (That means, I highly recommend this)
Barbara Kingsolver has set her story in Virginia, among a population in the Appalachian region, where many children are subjected to a flawed foster care system and lack of good education. Meanwhile, drug addiction and poverty are a fact of life and hope for a better future is not.
This newer tale, which is faithful to the older, follows Damon Fields, AKA Demon Copperhead, through the arduous and dangerous years of a childhood filled with unstable and tortuous living arrangements, neglect, and emotional harm. Along the way, Kingsolver makes a powerful statement about the history of this region and the poor, damaging conditions many children face, to this day.
Charles Dickens wrote about a time period when defenseless children could be worked as hard as adults, and that seems hideous, but in some cases, the modern story is every bit as bad, in different ways. Children in foster care are often used by their guardians, against their best interests, and Demon's personal history is additionally affected by the opioid crisis.
This novel is beautifully executed. Demon's voice is compelling, believable, and very likeable. I was fascinated by the way Kingsolver adapted and unfolded the plot. I rooted for Demon, even though I knew he would find his way to the other side of his nightmare childhood, even after all the adults failed him. Demon is like one of the talented superheros he enjoys drawing. Not all of his friends are so lucky.
Bravo! (That means, I highly recommend this)
No comments:
Post a Comment