Promoted as an “Appalachian David Copperfield,” Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer. The boy has no assets other than his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair–although his helped immeasurably by his wit and drive to survive, whatever is thrown his way. 

The story is told by “Demon,” telling tales of modern struggles including the poor schools, addiction, and foster care system, all of which are part of his daily challenges. He feels totally invisible, and this retelling (or reimagining) of the Dickens tale is filled with the struggle he faces, told with repressed anger in the same way Dickens related the story of social injustice in Victorian England many years ago. The setting of this book is a sharply drawn look at the contemporary U.S. South, with its deeply entrenched rural white underclass and it provides a relentless exploration of institutional poverty. It’s A LOT. And extremely well written (as expected). Many thanks to Harper and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for this honest review. Five stars.