The gimmick of this novel is that the adventures of the titular character, Demon Copperhead, parallel the adventures of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield. And we’re not talking merely “inspired by” David Copperfield: the story arcs of the characters, the major plot points, even the character names – all nearly identical to the Dickens’ classic. Which makes it a challenge to critique the novel, since so much of it is derivative. However, everything that Kingsolver does well in her other novels is on full display here: her storytelling chops, her emphasis on the interdependence of humans and their communities, and especially her empathy for all the well-intentioned but flawed people of the world.

One of Dickens’ aims was to shed light on the plight of the Victorian poor. In this version, Kingsolver sheds light on the plight of the rural poor in America: teen pregnancy, domestic abuse, vanishing jobs, a broken foster case system, an unjust criminal justice system, the exploitation of children, and – of course - the rampant devastation of opioid addiction. In the end, our young protagonist’s dark sense of humor, formidable brain, artistic talent, and inherent mental resiliency, combined with a few positive role models, allow him to survive a hellish childhood … but all too many of the characters that intersect with his life aren’t so lucky.

All of which makes portions of this novel pretty bleak, but you keep reading because Kingsolver – like Dickens – is a gifted storyteller, adept in the art of wielding artful prose, deft sarcasm, and graceful empathy to create narratives that captivate even as they scald. Especially appreciated the way Kingsolver challenges readers to examine their prejudices about the rural poor, such as our tendency as a culture to dismiss the positive attributes of rural life: practicality, resourcefulness, resiliency, and – above all – an understanding of importance of interconnectedness, the bonds that tie us irrevocably to family, friends, community, and the Earth. Ultimately, it's these bonds - bonds of friendship, loyalty, acceptance, dependency/co-dependency, tradition, memory, and love - that both drag Demon down but also end up saving him. ( )

A believably told, tough first person narrative of growing up poor in America. I had recently read a Louise Erdrich novel and initially thought that a book with a single linear narrative might seem tame in comparison. However after the first couple of chapters I was hooked.

“Demon” Damon Fields never knew his Melungeon father (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melungeon) who died before he was born and his mother overdosed on OxyContin when he turned 11, by which time he had been temporarily fostered for about three months as his mother had already nearly overdosed and had had to go into rehab.
And the strength of Demon’s narrative keeps you feeling for him until he starts to make his life a slow motion car crash, which you, and probably he, can see coming. It’s the drug addiction, which I wouldn’t have known much about except that I had seen the Dopesick TV series.
If you’ve not known the dragon we were chasing, words may not help.. They don’t.
However, the book recovers and it’s then plain narrative driving to the conclusion.

I hadn’t read David Copperfield, so may have missed some of the literary allusions, but most are recognisable as so much Dickens is still culturally familiar. ( )

"Never be mean in anything. Never be false. Never be cruel. I can always be hopeful of you."

"No credit given for all the extra miles that take you nowhere."

“Certain pitiful souls around here see whiteness as their last asset that hasn’t been totaled or repossessed.”

Demon Copperhead was a tough read. Not because the writing wasn't great, because it was. And not because it wasn't an interesting story, because it was. However, it was incredibly dark, often quite sad, and at times, very slow. I learned a lot while reading this book -- about the opioid crisis, about how easy it was to get involved in it, and the history of the area. I thought about the book for quite some time after reading it. Not quite missing the characters, but hoping they were okay. It is not, however, a book I imagine I will be re-reading in the future. ( )

Set in the mountains of Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenage single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his 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 it all, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities. ( )

Damon Woodall is the narrator of the story of his life from his birth to a drug addicted mother to his reconnection with his “adoptive” sister Angus (Agnes).
Demon and all of his relatives and neighbours are the former miners, backwoods folks of Appalachia who scrape by on social assistance, part time labour, back yard gardens, living off the land and the kindness of neighbours. They are the the rural poor and the butt of many suburban jokes.
Demon’s mother dies of an overdose and he is placed in foster care as an 11 year old.
What saves him is his likability, intelligence, hard work, drawing skills and his empathy for others. Along the way he tracks down his paternal grandmother and she helps with her connections to get him settled with a high school football coach and his daughter Angus. He becomes a football star and local celebrity but his girlfriend Cori is a bad influence.
Demon’s character is so well described, his interactions with family and friends show his maturity, sensitivity, gratitude, intelligence and pain.
I’ve heard the book described a “trauma porn”. Not sure this is fair as I believe the novel accurately describes the opioid crisis and its impacts on rural citizens.
I think you will love or hate this book. ( )