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Demon Copperhead: A Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Barbara Kingsolver (Author), Charlie Thurston (Narrator), HarperAudio (Publisher)
#1 Best Seller in Small Town & Rural Fiction
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WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION

A New York Times "Ten Best Books of the Year" An Oprah’s Book Club Selection An Instant New York Times Bestseller An Instant Wall Street Journal Bestseller A #1 Washington Post Bestseller

"Demon is a voice for the ages—akin to Huck Finn or Holden Caulfield—only even more resilient.” —Beth Macy, author of Dopesick

"May be the best novel of [the year]. . . . Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, this is the story of an irrepressible boy nobody wants, but readers will love.” (Ron Charles, Washington Post)

From the acclaimed author of The Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees, a brilliant novel that enthralls, compels, and captures the heart as it evokes a young hero’s unforgettable journey to maturity

Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.

Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society. Those problems have yet to be solved in ours. Dickens is not a prerequisite for readers of this novel, but he provided its inspiration. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens’ anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can’t imagine leaving behind.

Amazon.com Review

An Amazon Best Book of October 2022: Kingsolver takes a literary classic and makes it her own, peering into the dark corners not of Dickensian England, but of present day in the neglected hollers of Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains. Damon Fields, nicknamed Demon Copperhead, came into the world already behind the eight ball of life, and before long he’s in foster care placements that resemble work camps more than loving homes. Throughout this coming-of-age novel, the rug is constantly pulled out from under him but Demon has reserves of Olympian endurance that somehow, like the man in the arena, enables him to get back up again and again. His knees get dusty—he faces hunger, cruelty, loss, and is swept up in the tidal wave of OxyContin that overtakes his tiny county—but he never loses his love for the place that claims him as its own. Kingsolver’s writing is arresting and illuminating; in baring Demon’s soul on the page she gives voice and visibility to a place and its people where beauty and desperation live side by side. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor

About the Author

Barbara Kingsolver was born in 1955 and grew up in rural Kentucky. She earned degrees in biology from DePauw University and the University of Arizona, and has worked as a freelance writer and author since 1985. At various times she has lived in England, France, and the Canary Islands, and has worked in Europe, Africa, Asia, Mexico, and South America. She spent two decades in Tucson, Arizona, before moving to southwestern Virginia where she currently resides.


Her books, in order of publication, are: The Bean Trees (1988), Homeland (1989), Holding the Line: Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike (1989), Animal Dreams (1990), Another America (1992), Pigs in Heaven (1993), High Tide in Tucson (1995), The Poisonwood Bible (1998), Prodigal Summer (2000), Small Wonder (2002), Last Stand: America’s Virgin Lands, with photographer Annie Griffiths (2002), Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (2007), The Lacuna (2009), Flight Behavior (2012), Unsheltered (2018), How To Fly (In 10,000 Easy Lessons) (2020), Demon Copperhead (2022), and coauthored with Lily Kingsolver, Coyote's Wild Home (2023). She served as editor for Best American Short Stories 2001. 


Kingsolver was named one the most important writers of the 20th Century by Writers Digest, and in 2023 won a Pulitzer Prize for her novel Demon Copperhead. In 2000 she received the National Humanities Medal, our country’s highest honor for service through the arts. Her books have been translated into more than thirty languages and have been adopted into the core curriculum in high schools and colleges throughout the nation. Critical acclaim for her work includes multiple awards from the American Booksellers Association and the American Library Association, a James Beard award, two-time Oprah Book Club selection, and the national book award of South Africa, among others. She was awarded Britain's prestigious Women's Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize) for both Demon Copperhead and The Lacuna, making Kingsolver the first author in the history of the prize to win it twice. In 2011, Kingsolver was awarded the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for the body of her work. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.


She has two daughters, Camille (born in 1987) and Lily (1996). She and her husband, Steven Hopp, live on a farm in southern Appalachia where they raise an extensive vegetable garden and Icelandic sheep. 

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  1. Listening Length
    21 hours and 3 minutes
  2. Author
    Barbara Kingsolver
  3. Narrator
    Charlie Thurston
  4. Audible release date
    October 18, 2022
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    HarperAudio
  7. ASIN
    B09QH6C42C
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 21 hours and 3 minutes
Author Barbara Kingsolver
Narrator Charlie Thurston
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date October 18, 2022
Publisher HarperAudio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B09QH6C42C
Best Sellers Rank #91 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1 in Small Town & Rural Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#2 in Coming of Age Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#4 in Literary Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
107,488 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and relatable, with insightful content and hope at the end. They also describe the writing style as great, wild, tragic, funny, and endearing. However, some find the length too long and repetitive. Opinions are mixed on the plot, with some finding it riveting and consistent, while others say it drags on with unnecessary detail. Readers also disagree on the emotional tone, with others finding it beyond heartbreaking and beautiful, while still leaving you with a glimmer of hope.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
Writing styleContentCharacterizationCharacter realismEntertainment valueEmotional tonePlotLength
502 customers mention "Writing style"414 positive88 negative

Customers find the writing style sublime, vivid, and rich. They also say the book inspires them to keep writing. Customers also describe the novel as long with strong messages.

"...And Kingsolver is way, way up there. This is some of the finest writing I've ever read...." Read more

"...about Demon Copperhead but one of the main things is that it’s so breezily readable. For a 546-page epic, it goes down fast...." Read more

"...It inspired me to keep writing. And I'm willing to bet it will stir something new and unique inside you, too. Mature readers, grab a copy and savor...." Read more

"I consider this one of the best books I have ever read. Her descriptions, her insights, her love and appreciation for the Appalachian people comes..." Read more

321 customers mention "Content"308 positive13 negative

Customers find the book insightful, touching, and descriptive. They also say it's an important, great American novel that provides a revealing glimpse into the marginal lives of the downtrodden. Customers also say the theme of hope runs deep, with stoicism and self-knowledge. They appreciate the author's trademark extensive research and celebration of nobility.

"...I laughed and had my mind opened. A deeply real and life-affirming journey. My first Kingsolver but not my last!" Read more

"...It's a fresh take on a beloved story.Powerful Exploration of Social Issues: Kingsolver tackles relevant issues like poverty, addiction,..." Read more

"...Her descriptions, her insights, her love and appreciation for the Appalachian people comes through on every page...." Read more

"...off the page with both confidence and world-weariness, with stoicism and self-knowledge, with everything the character is going to exhibit in the..." Read more

279 customers mention "Characterization"258 positive21 negative

Customers find the characters in the book well described and interesting.

"...There are plenty of characters to keep track of, but Kingsolver gives them juicy nicknames (again, a la Dickens) or colorful descriptions so they..." Read more

"...And I loved how Barbara gave this resilient, rough-edged character an artistic, soft side without making him a stereotypical beta male or heaven..." Read more

"...for a well-written story with a strong sense of place and relatable characters, then Demon Copperhead is definitely worth considering...." Read more

"...The author gave detailed descriptions of the characters to the point it feels like I know them personally...." Read more

101 customers mention "Character realism"101 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters in the book real, true, and heartfelt. They also say the book illuminates the history of difficult things in society and helps readers understand how we live. Customers describe the book as an important point in American literature and a modern-age Appalachian twist on the classic book David.

"...I laughed and had my mind opened. A deeply real and life-affirming journey. My first Kingsolver but not my last!" Read more

"...It was real. It was raw. It gave me a range of emotions...." Read more

"...This is a revolutionary piece of literature that I would imagine helps those not close to the opioid abuse epidemic, have a bit more empathy for..." Read more

"...Lots of interesting parallels with Dicken’s D. Copperfield, too. 😊..." Read more

91 customers mention "Entertainment value"86 positive5 negative

Customers find the book engaging, approachable, and memorable. They also say it makes them laugh, cry, and get angry.

"...especially Demon Copperhead himself, are well-developed and memorable. You'll find yourself invested in their struggles and triumphs...." Read more

"Keeps your interest but is pretty depressing especially about drug addiction and the drug culture. Also the sorry state of the foster system...." Read more

"...The characters are all very different and deeply interesting. Lots of interesting parallels with Dicken’s D. Copperfield, too. 😊..." Read more

"...It's sad, funny, tangled, and rewarding. I never gave up hope for Demon. Some readers may think it is a hopeless story and too depressing...." Read more

313 customers mention "Emotional tone"205 positive108 negative

Customers are mixed about the emotional tone. Some find the book very emotional, sad, inspiring, depressing, and real. They also say it clearly shows all the horror of growing up and a family. However, other customers say the book is often depressive, shocking, heartbreaking, and an eye opener. They mention that the book contains much pain and anguish.

"DEMON COPPERHEAD delighted, engaged, educated, depressed and hooked me beyond all my expectations...." Read more

"...It was real. It was raw. It gave me a range of emotions...." Read more

"...and this place that’s been damaged, and it seemed like a really hopelessly sad story...." Read more

"...So much happening in this incredible journey. It's sad, funny, tangled, and rewarding. I never gave up hope for Demon...." Read more

175 customers mention "Plot"78 positive97 negative

Customers are mixed about the plot. Some find the story riveting and consistent, while others say it drags on and on.

"...while certainly important and timely, is often depressing and repetitive. Most members read only part of the book...." Read more

"This book draws you in and holds you captive. I literally read it in 1 week...." Read more

"This book was a different sort of tale. Not very many unexpected plot twists but enough to keep you going...." Read more

"...So don't let this novel's size put you off, it's an easy read and has a “what could happen next (flips page)” pace. It's truly remarkable...." Read more

78 customers mention "Length"18 positive60 negative

Customers find the book far too long and repetitive.

"I admire the writer. But the book is far, far too long...." Read more

"I read this book for book club. It was long… over 500 pages… and often depressing...." Read more

"...This book is also too long, the ending especially dragging on and on. And it way oversimplifies historical issues...." Read more

"...It’s long, but it’s very worth it. I’m on to see what other Kingsolver novels I’ve slept on since reading Poisonwood in college many years ago." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

susan
5.0 out of 5 stars POWERFUL! Depressing, energizing, totally engrossing.
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2024
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Demon Copperhead is without a doubt the most powerful novel I've read in 25 years. Or more. (I read 20-30 novels a year, minimum. I devour good literature.) Yes, Kingsolver modeled her blockbuster novel after David Copperfield, BUT I declare her the TOLSTOY of our modern age. She's far beyond Dickens, who was great, of course, but not one of the world's finest writers, by any means. Tolstoy, on the other hand, is way up there.
And Kingsolver is way, way up there. This is some of the finest writing I've ever read. Kingsolver's understanding of human emotion and human attachment, and her ability to capture these, is beyond fabulous, Her grasp of the sweep of history behind her characters, and within her characters, creates a depth not found elsewhere. Her depiction of people bound to each other, to their community, to the earth, to a way of life they will never escape—nor want to—is her gift to humanity. Appalachia is a world unto itself, and yet it is a world we can (and should) all identify with, a world where people care for each other and are bound to each other by love, by need, by experience, by joys and sorrows. By human experience. This is a book of nightmares. And of wild-eyed dreams. Of far-flung expectations, and deep hope. Tolstoyan, at its best. This is a book for the ages. It will be as relevant in 2124 and 2224 as it is now. This book should be assigned to every single junior in high school. This is the book that promises to grab every young person and never let go.
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Mark Stevens
5.0 out of 5 stars Copperhead Road
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2024
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In an interview with Ezra Klein on his podcast, Barbara Kingsolver said she wanted to write “the great Appalachian novel.” She conceded, however, that the notion “probably sounds ridiculous.”

In particular, Kingsolver said she wanted to write about the fact that the people who live in Appalachia “are the most resourceful Americans you’re probably going to find anywhere.” Kingsolver, who was raised in rural Kentucky and now lives in rural Virginia, said she wanted to explore the shame she had internalized from her choice of a place to live.

“How many people well-meaning people have asked me, ‘how could I live there in the middle of nowhere?’” said Kingsolver. “People, this is my everywhere. This is my everything.”

Later in the chat: “Everybody looks down on the country people and the country people sort of absorb that. You can’t help but absorb it. So when I set out to write my great Appalachian novel. I was paralyzed with self-doubt because, I mean, my starting point was that I wanted to write about the opioid epidemic, which is become a huge assault on our culture, our families, our communities. It’s devastated so many of the good things about this region that we value and that we love. And so I wanted to write about these kids who’ve been damaged and this place that’s been damaged, and it seemed like a really hopelessly sad story. Plus, it’s about people that I didn’t feel the outer world cared about. And so I just really, I spent a couple of years walking around and around this story, trying to figure out how to break into that house because I really felt sure nobody wants to read it.”

Well, Kingsolver was wrong. At least, she was wrong about the interest in her topic—not her take on the people of Appalachia. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and 85,000+ ratings on Amazon (4.6 stars).

There’s so much to like about Demon Copperhead but one of the main things is that it’s so breezily readable. For a 546-page epic, it goes down fast. It’s episodic, a la Dickens, but the character flow is organic, unforced. Demon’s voice is engaging and his struggles are real, particularly when it comes to the challenges of the foster care system and the brutality of OxyContin addictions. Kingsolver’s empathy for addicts comes pouring out of the story. She is non-judgmental, plays it straight.

Here is Demon, somewhat early on, looking back on the power of addiction: “I had roads to travel before I would know it’s not that simple, the dope versus the person you love. That a craving can ratchet itself up and up inside a body and a mind, at the same time that body’s strength for tolerating is favorite drug goes down and down. That the longer you’ve gone hurting between fixes, the higher the odds that you’ll reach too hard for the stars next time. That first big rush of relief could be your last. In the long run, that’s how I’ve come to picture Mom at the end: reaching as hard as her little body would stretch, trying to touch the blue sky, reaching for some peace.”

That’s as good a passage about the feeling of addiction, and a description of its power, that I’ve ever read. (Kingsolver also read that section on Klein’s podcast.)

Kingsolver is a deceiving writer. Her style is unassuming and keen-eyed. The text is full of specificity. And energy. If you have any doubts about tackling this book because it looks too heavy, squash those notions. Here’s the beginning of Chapter 34:

“A lot of firsts that school year. First scrimmage, first JV game, first tackle, first passing yards made. First school dance, with an eighth-grader girl that was dead serious about it. So, my first real date, evidently. Angus and Sax went together dressed as Planet of the Apes, loser of their grade contest (Sax) being the human on a leash. This is Homecoming mind you, not Halloween, so. Not a date. But Angus took mine over, ordered the corsage from Walmart, took me to Goodwill where we found this dope white suit from the sixties. In my size, unbelievable. I’ve grown into my hands and feet by this point, and I’m pushing 6 feet. Thank you, Mattie Kate.”

Mattie Kate is the housekeeper who worked for football Coach Wingate, where Demon lived while he was being developed as a potential football star. There are plenty of characters to keep track of, but Kingsolver gives them juicy nicknames (again, a la Dickens) or colorful descriptions so they are easy to track. U-Haul. Fast Forward. Waddles. Mouse. If you know David Copperfield (it’s been decades since I read it) you’ll have a great time with what Kingsolver did with her names. For instance, Uriah Heep becomes Ryan Pyles.

The “resourcefulness” of Demon is apparent in his stubborn ability to survive. He’s smarter than he acknowledges, and very observant. In Demon Copperhead, bad things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people, too. Many around Demon are not so fortunate and literally or metaphorically drown. You can’t help but think about the failure of our institutions around child welfare, the foster care system, adult welfare, and drug abuse. But Demon finds his talent, develops a passion, and puts it to use. Hello, the power of art. And love. Every great novel, and this is one, is a love story in the end.

Demon Copperfield was written with passion for Kingsolver’s very personal reasons. The execution is a thing of beauty—and something we can all admire.
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Stephanie McCall
4.0 out of 5 stars I Found Myself Challenged, and Yes, Strangely Blessed
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2023
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Demon Copperhead. Holy moley, what a book. It's one of those books I made myself put down just because I didn't want to finish it too soon. At the same time, it's one I probably wouldn't have read at all, except that a friend recommended it, based on the fact that one of my own writing projects is dealing with some of the same themes. That, plus its connection to David Copperfield and the almost lyrical prose of the free sample chapters, convinced me to pay the exorbitant-for-Kindle price of the whole book.

Well, I'm glad I did. Demon Copperhead is one of those books that gets in your head and stays stuck there until you finish and even afterward. Your pages turn a mile a minute because not only do you want the characters to be okay, you want to know what happens. You want to see Demon and his compatriots either triumph over their hardships or, if they choose a path that won't end there, at least get to an ending that makes sense and leaves a logical and lasting impression. Which in both cases, oh boy, do they. These characters don't just feel like real people, they are real. I know I say that a lot, but man! I was not one of them; I was your classic straight-A, straight edge student who went home to stable parents every night. But I knew these kids existed. I lived (still live) in a town with problems and stories similar to Lee County's. I didn't have the same problems or story as Demon, but straight A's and straight edge or not, I had my own reasons for being, let's say, in the "orphan class" of my circle. Like Demon, I spent a lot of years feeling like I had a lot of shine, but if it came off, people would see coal underneath and be repulsed.

Beyond that, Barbara Kingsolver just plain nailed these characters, these settings, this life story of her modern, Appalachian David Copperfield. I not only felt for, but felt with and not only traveled with, but traveled inside, Demon all the way from his home next door to the Peggott's, to Creaky's farm, to the McCobb's, to Coach Winfield's and everywhere in between. I can't say every place and character was one I grew to love. I mean, come on, some of these people are downright cruel or downright creeps. But, they were three-dimensional and I could at least understand them. And even the situations and scenes at which I cringed, left an impression on me. Special mention goes to:

-The Squadron at Creaky Farm. Every kid needs a friend like Tommy, I don't care who or how old you are. And as dysfunctional as the Squadron was, I got behind the brotherhood. I've written situations and characters like that, not as well as Barbara has, I'll grant you. The commitment to survival, the heart, the unbroken spirits, will do something to you.
-Demon's developing drawing talent and cartoons. I loved seeing those, from his first superhero drawings all the way up to the Red Neck comic strip. I kept thinking, how would he draw me? And I loved how Barbara gave this resilient, rough-edged character an artistic, soft side without making him a stereotypical beta male or heaven forbid, what folks in Appalachia might think of as a sissy.
-Mr. Armstrong and Ms. Annie, of course. Not just because they're "good teachers trying to save the poor foster kid," either, which I've seen done and done poorly. No, you get the sense they're learning and growing right alongside Demon, making their own mistakes and learning how to save up and give away their own juice. Plus, I absolutely loved Mr. Armstrong's way of showing his students their history and how it has contributed to their current poverty, educational lack, drug-related temptations, "and etc."
-Angus Winfield, oh my gosh, I just love her to bits. She is the coolest and least stereotypical high school student you'd ever want to meet. If we were in high school together, we might've blown each other off, but I'd like to think we could've been friends. Maybe we would've reluctantly partnered for one of those stupid Antarctica projects and laughed over the fact that Bettina Cook thought penguins lived with Santa at the North Pole.

Aside from settings and characters, Barbara also nailed her themes. As mentioned, the one that sticks with me the most is the history, present situation, and future outlook for the kids of Appalachia, especially considering the current prescription drug situation. Now again, I was not one of those kids and am not one of those adults. But, having lived with cerebral palsy from birth, having gotten nothing but the runaround and the "we give up, you're too 'high-functioning'" from those who should've fallen all over themselves to help--yeah, I got Demon's frustrations, from a different place. It's no picnic when over 90% of your income comes from a government check--and that's *with* four-year college, Aunt June. So yeah, I was with Mr. Armstrong, and Ms. Annie, and Angus. Wake up, stupid school board, napping principal, whoever. Get off your butt and give these kids a future, even if it has to start with one little academic team. Wake up, medical system, one kid's overdosed mom oughta be enough to make you think, what's going on with these prescription drugs? Wake up, social services, what part of filthy farmhouse, slave labor, and flat broke family with four kids under seven don't you *get?*

The other themes, especially resilience, jump off the page, too. I rooted for Demon the whole time because, as Mr. Armstrong says, he is the driver. He walked out of the major car wreck, not once, but many times. Sometimes I cringed at his naivete, as with the original David Copperfield, especially when it came to Emmy and particularly Dori (who I felt sorry for, but my Lord)! But pair that resilience with the darker side of the human condition, such as which lives get celebrated and which lives just get the casket lid closed on them, and it shines all the brighter.

Several scenes "popped" all over the book, so many it would take too much time to enumerate them all. And some I can't tell you about without spoiling the ending, although the ending is that little bit of hope and happiness I hung on for. And you *do* have to hang on, through a lot. One reason I took a star is sheer length. This thing is a doorstop. Now, that's not a problem on its own. Barbara Kingsolver is kinda known for doorstops. But it doesn't work as well here as I've seen her work with it, because what you have with this book is Demon's entire, literal life story. For me personally, there were a few times where I asked myself, "Do I really need all this?" And there were times where Demon seemed to relive versions of the same kind of experience. I felt like, "Okay, I've seen this once and it was powerful enough that I think we can move on."

I also took a star because, as much as I loved all these characters, sometimes they crowded the stage. Sometimes there'd be characters in a scene or an arc who I didn't think needed to be there. I completely understood Barbara's desire to make Lee County one of those places where you keep coming back and you keep running into people you knew and they in turn touch your life again. It happens, I should know. But truth is stranger than fiction, and in fiction, all these people popping in and out just cramps the book's style. Some characters, like Tommy and Fast Forward, it works for. Others it's like, "Okay, move along."

Perhaps this is why I thought a few threads weren't developed at the pace they should've been. For instance, Fast Forward is a monster and I'm totally behind that. And you do see hints of his true character throughout the novel, like at Creaky Farm. But he's in and out of the story so much that the actual revelation of how deep Fast Forward's problems go--well, it works, but it also feels a bit out of left field. The same is true for Betsy's thread, in that yeah, I buy Demon having a grandma he doesn't meet until he's twelve, and I buy her not wanting to be in his life. But then, as Angus says, her desire to basically take over makes no sense.

Finally, yes. I did take off points for language. That's not because I can't "handle" it. I'm an adult, for goodness' sakes. But the near-constant F-bombs just got on my nerves after a while because, just, really? And as you might know, the misuse of Jesus' name is a very personal pet peeve. Now, I'm sure Jesus Himself had to tell His disciples to clean up their language now and again, especially Peter. And it's my personal theory that our beloved St. Paul had a potty mouth, at least to a point. But it does wear on you. So, not a major issue for adult readers, but if it's not your thing, caveat emptor. And yeah, I'd say don't give this one to your teen, it's got some pretty heavy depictions of addiction in it, as well as a couple of sex scenes I freely admit I skimmed.

All that aside though, I don't regret spending a minute with Demon Copperhead. He is a perfect modern David Copperfield, he got me thinking, and in a weird way, yeah, the book blessed me. It inspired me to keep writing. And I'm willing to bet it will stir something new and unique inside you, too. Mature readers, grab a copy and savor. There's redemption to be had if you're looking.
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Top reviews from other countries

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melinda
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book and author
Reviewed in Canada on July 13, 2024
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Barbara Kingsolver is an exceptional author. The way she is able to weave a beautiful tale and bring the reader into the kind and circumstance of a character is magical. This is one of her best books. I could not put it down. I worked for years with trouble youth and this book is so accurate and so poignant to the real lived experience of the characters, it was haunting at times. These characters are going to stay with me for a very long time.
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Stephany andrews
1.0 out of 5 stars Only received four chapters
Reviewed in Mexico on May 10, 2023
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I want to finish reading but I only received four chapters on this device.
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William A. Wolfe
5.0 out of 5 stars Get it
Reviewed in France on May 16, 2024
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One of the best novels from one of the best living writers (in English)
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Nandini
5.0 out of 5 stars Heart-breaking, beautiful, amazing, poignant, and funny
Reviewed in India on May 15, 2024
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It’s depressing and heartbreaking to read with little respite. There is a social message here, but it’s not just told with statistics of addictions, deaths, but through the moving story of a character as a little boy and then as a young man, with all of the horrors he faced in between, feeling as real as it gets .
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JRW
5.0 out of 5 stars Verstörend großartig
Reviewed in Germany on March 27, 2024
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Dieses Buch lässt den Leser nicht los, obwohl das, was Demon erlebt, teilweise schwer zu ertragen ist. Empfehlung an alle, die mit der Erziehung von Kindern und Jugendlichen zu tun haben: Lesen Sie dieses Buch und lassen Sie es nie so weit kommen!
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