Haunted by her sister’s mysterious disappearance, Lucy Wilson arrives in Rowan County, Kentucky, in the spring of 1911 to work for Cora Wilson Stewart, superintendent of education. When Cora sends Lucy into the hills to act as scribe for the mountain people, she is repelled by the primitive conditions and intellectual poverty she encounters. Few adults can read and write.
Born in those hills, Cora knows the plague of illiteracy. So does Brother Wyatt, a singing schoolmaster who travels through the hills. Involving Lucy and Wyatt, Cora hatches a plan to open the schoolhouses to adults on moonlit nights. The best way to combat poverty, she believes, is to eliminate illiteracy. But will the people come?
As Lucy emerges from a life in the shadows, she finds purpose; or maybe purpose finds her. With purpose comes answers to her questions, and something else she hadn’t expected: love.
Inspired by the true events of the Moonlight Schools, this standalone novel from bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings to life the story that shocked the nation into taking adult literacy seriously. You’ll finish the last page of this enthralling story with deep gratitude for the gift of reading.
I was drawn to this book by the beautiful cover! I am a teacher so the entire storyline drew me in as well. I expected it to be a good read because I have read other books by Suzanne Woods Fisher. This one did not disappoint.
I liked getting to know main character Lucy. She had to keep telling herself in the beginning “it’s only for 6 months.” Everything was so new and unfamiliar to her as she met new people living life totally differently from her own lifestyle. I enjoyed going on this new adventure with her and learning along with her.
This is a beautifully written story I have enjoyed.
I also found it useful that at the beginning of the book the author has a listing of characters. This helped me keep them straight. Also the glossary was helpful and helped me understand the dialect.
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