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lilyarnprstr's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lindamarieaustin110159's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Its length is a bit intimidating, but it is a page turner.
I’m glad this ended the way it did because this is a heartbreaking book. Although it is the story of one young boy’s journey into adulthood, it highlights the poverty, poor education and drug addiction prevalent in Appalachia. I was cheering for Demon the whole way through, but he kept making bad choices. It made me so sad.
Damon Field is a young red-haired boy when the book opens. He is the only child of a single mother who has drug and alcohol addiction problem. Damon finds himself being responsible for making sure she gets to work on time. Their neighbors, the Peggots, keep a close eye on him. He spends a lot of time at their house as best friend, Matthew Peggot (Maggot) their grandson. Although it is not the best of situations for young Damon, nicknamed Demon Copperhead, things take a severe turn for the worse when his mother begins dating a man named Stoner. Unfortunately, and to Demon’s surprise she ends up marrying him. Stoner is a master of mental abuse and makes life hell for both Demon and his mother. She is driven from sobriety back into addiction and ends up in rehab. Demon is placed in foster care with an old farmer named Crickson where he meets Fast Forward, a high school football player who sells drugs to a group of boys in foster care. On Demon’s eleventh birthday he loses his mother to an overdose from Oxycontin. Demon is placed in his second foster home with the McCobbs, parents to four children and in desperate need of money. Demon practically starves during his stay with them. Eventually he runs away to find his grandmother (his dead father’s mother). She finds a somewhat stable home for him and he becomes a star football player. Demon dreams for years of seeing the ocean. Will he ever get thee?
I’m glad this ended the way it did because this is a heartbreaking book. Although it is the story of one young boy’s journey into adulthood, it highlights the poverty, poor education and drug addiction prevalent in Appalachia. I was cheering for Demon the whole way through, but he kept making bad choices. It made me so sad.
Damon Field is a young red-haired boy when the book opens. He is the only child of a single mother who has drug and alcohol addiction problem. Damon finds himself being responsible for making sure she gets to work on time. Their neighbors, the Peggots, keep a close eye on him. He spends a lot of time at their house as best friend, Matthew Peggot (Maggot) their grandson. Although it is not the best of situations for young Damon, nicknamed Demon Copperhead, things take a severe turn for the worse when his mother begins dating a man named Stoner. Unfortunately, and to Demon’s surprise she ends up marrying him. Stoner is a master of mental abuse and makes life hell for both Demon and his mother. She is driven from sobriety back into addiction and ends up in rehab. Demon is placed in foster care with an old farmer named Crickson where he meets Fast Forward, a high school football player who sells drugs to a group of boys in foster care. On Demon’s eleventh birthday he loses his mother to an overdose from Oxycontin. Demon is placed in his second foster home with the McCobbs, parents to four children and in desperate need of money. Demon practically starves during his stay with them. Eventually he runs away to find his grandmother (his dead father’s mother). She finds a somewhat stable home for him and he becomes a star football player. Demon dreams for years of seeing the ocean. Will he ever get thee?
cmhenderson6's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
alovejoy14's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
debrapboyd's review against another edition
5.0
I was immersed in this book. Maybe because I spend so much time in Appalachia. It was long and confusing at parts, but I didn’t mind. Great story.
wizardswild's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cmh1234's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
tcronic's review against another edition
5.0
I only give 5 stars to books that pull me in for the ride and will change my perspective long after the last page. This book did just that. I might have even become a little antisocial while reading it, just wanting to curl up and turn more pages.
Demon Copperhead is a story with a purpose. The characters became my friends, my family and (sadly) my problems too. I learned a ton about an overlooked region and it’s people that geographically are practically my neighbors.
Some books we read because they’re good. Others because they’re important. This one is both.
Demon Copperhead is a story with a purpose. The characters became my friends, my family and (sadly) my problems too. I learned a ton about an overlooked region and it’s people that geographically are practically my neighbors.
Some books we read because they’re good. Others because they’re important. This one is both.
poopie123's review against another edition
4.75
Unfortunatley I will be a normie and say I am really glad I read this book. It is interesting because I did not necessarily always enjoy reading it (it could be incredibly depressing and bleak) but after finishing it, I was thinking about the characters and scenes non stop (for at least a day and half as of now). The ending was satisfying and hopeful, but it is hard to say it was a crowd pleaser because so much fucked up stuff happened. It was also interesting to see how Barbara Kingswood has evolved as a writer since she wrote the Poisonwood Bible (the only other book of hers I have read). From what I remember the characters in this book seem much more real and multifaceted (even the children.) After finishing the book you really feel like you know many of the characters as people/friends. Ultimatley I am glad I read this book because it made me far more empathetic (I hope) and exposed me to very different narratives/worlds that are difficult to understand through TV, other media, etc
lowcountry_badger's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Self harm