A review by claudiaslibrarycard
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Demon Copperfield is a moving saga of one young man's experience growing up in Lee County, Virginia as the opioid crisis skyrocketed. Told in Demon's unflinchingly honest voice, we journey from stories he heard about his birth and early years to his experience with a mom recovering from addiction, his abysmal journey through the foster care system and DSS, and then to his early years as an adult. 

This novel hits hard, full of a very real emotional toll at every turn. But it is lightened by Demon's voice, which as someone from the South, struck me as sincere and at times humorous. I flew through this must faster than I expected to, feeling completely absorbed by Kingsolver's characters. 

I had no idea where this book was heading in the final quarter, and I was so worried about how it might end. The conclusion was tender, beautiful, and left a window open for hope after a book full of tragedy. I think it cannot go without saying that this book is very close to reality for many people hit hardest by the opioid epidemic. I highly recommend this book and Empire of Pain as a pairing.