This novel tells the epic and heart-breaking story of one young boy growing up in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Virginia.

Damon is ten when his drug addicted mother dies from an overdose. His father was killed in an accident before his birth and he is left homeless and without anyone to care for him other than the kindly, yet elderly next door neighbours. He ends up in the foster care system, which in America is a devastating system which Kingsolver explores in depth.

The story told from Damon or Demon’s point of view is blunt as it is brutally honest making the reader sympathise, worry and cheer for this boy. It is not without hope when Damon having had enough of adults who care only about his money earning potential, takes matters into his own hands to search for a long-lost grandmother.

It is a journey of poor choices and loss for Damon who despite finding his grandmother fails to find the thing he want most and that is to belong and be loved. And even when he does find it he fails to recognize it.

Kingsolver also explores the growth and abuse of prescription drugs as well as the community in which Damon lives. A coal mining area, investment is targeted in providing labour for the industry not for educating people to better themselves. A vicious cycle is perpetuated and when coal mining is no longer lucrative the community is left without anything. Kingsolver exploration of this cycle is sobering showing some of the disastrous and  sad consequences.

I really enjoyed this book with all it had to say about the foster and education systems as well as the social impacts at ground level not just for Damon but for everyone he comes into contact.

The only thing that I couldn’t quite buy was the behaviour of his grandmother. What she did made no sense to me particularly given that she had come looking for Damon when he was born. To say anymore would be to spoil the plot.

Nevertheless, it’s a powerful book, the voice so authentic sounding and the writing as always, superb. This is one to put on your list.