Excerpt from Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"Well, you're not going to tell me she's dead, because I can see her," I said. Mom must have heard the truck because she'd come outside. She was up there waiting on the deck.

"No, nobody's dead. It's good news," Mrs. Peggot said. "You've got a daddy."

"And he's dead," I said. Even though trying to be respectful.

"Well, no, he isn't. Not the one I'm telling you about."

I thought about the grave where he was buried, which had been much discussed as regards my seeing it, and I blurted out, "Lazarus isn't real!"

She gave me a funny look. "No, not him. A new one. Now I've told you, so go on."

I didn't understand, even after I was up on the deck getting attacked by Mom's hugs and kisses. Then Stoner came out of the house. For a split second I wondered what he would think of me having a new dad, and then I got it.

Excerpted from Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Copyright © 2022 by Barbara Kingsolver. Excerpted by permission of Harper. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.