Moonshiner's Son - Softcover

Carolyn Reeder is an avid history buff with a longtime interest in the civil war. Her other historical novels for young people include Grandpa's Mountain, Moonshiner's Son, Across the Lines, and the award-winning Shades of Gray, which was an ALA Notable Book and winner of the 1990 Scott O'Dell Award, the Child Study Association Award, and the Jefferson Cup Award, among other honors.

Grade 5-8-- In the hills of Virginia during Prohibition, moonshining is an accepted way of life for 13-year-old Tom and his father, June. The boy plans to follow in this chosen career until a Bible-thumping preacher moves into the area to rid the country of the evils of liquor. As he becomes friendly with the preacher's daughter, Tom begins to wonder about the negative effects of whiskey on their customers. Conflict builds between the mountain people and the outsiders--revenuers, the preacher, and an unscrupulous bootlegger. Another stranger, a folklorist gathering material for a book, finds his way into the hearts of the native people through his interest in their crafts and tales. Tom's pa is a renowned local storyteller and the boy has inherited the talent. However, a great deal of the tension in the story lies between father and son. Tom longs for praise and approval, which the man seems incapable of giving. This is a story with a strong regional flavor. The mountaineers are portrayed as self-possessed, dignified people who have much knowledge despite their lack of book learning. The characters are well-developed individuals. The plot moves along quickly and with enough suspense to hold readers' interest. They will identify with Tom's moral dilemma and his need for parental love. A good, readable addition to historical fiction collections. --Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
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